talofa
/ˈtɑːləʊfə/exclamation
A Samoan greeting: he’ll call me, even if it’s just to say talofa or taunt me with how good the surf is there...
- A very informal greeting in Western Samoa is 'talofa', but for more formal greetings at home, neither person speaks until the visitor is seated.
- Kia ora, talofa, and warm Pacific greetings.
- "I want to say, talofa," says a woman, "but I think that's Samoan."
Origin
Late 19th century: Samoan.