samoan
UK[səˈməʊən]US[səˈmoʊən]
adj
Relating to Samoa, its people, or their language.
n
A member of the Polynesian people who are the indigenous inhabitants of Samoa.
n
The Polynesian language spoken by the Samoan people.
Etymology
The word 'Samoan' originates from the name of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific. The indigenous name 'Samoa' is believed to derive from a compound in the Samoan language, possibly meaning "sacred moa" or "place of the moa," where 'moa' may refer to a now-extinct, chicken-like bird. The English suffix '-an' is a common adjectival and nominal suffix of Latin origin (via French), used to form words meaning "belonging to" or "relating to" a place or people, as in 'Roman' or 'American'. Thus, 'Samoan' linguistically marks something or someone as pertaining to the land and culture of Samoa.
Analysis
This is a proper noun/adjective derived from the name of a place and its people. It is not productively formed from smaller, independent morphemes in English.
Examples
She is learning traditional Samoan dance.
The Samoan language is known for its elegant phonetic system.
He is a Samoan who now lives and works in New Zealand.