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lavalava

lavalava

1 9.9
A flat cloth that people wear around the waist like a skirt in Samoa
  • noun
  • /ˌlɑːvəˈlɑːvə/
  • Australian
: lavalava
  • The lavalava is a traditional garment in Samoa.
  • wear a lavalava

Examples

  • He wore a colorful lavalava to the beach.

  • The bright patterns on her lavalava reflected the vibrant colors of the tropical island.

  • He wore a colorful lavalava during the traditional Samoan ceremony.

  • Tourists sometimes buy a lavalava as a souvenir from Samoa.

  • Women in the village often make their own lavalavas with beautiful patterns.

  • In Samoa, men often wear a lavalava as a traditional garment during cultural events.

  • He wrapped the rectangular piece of cloth around his waist to create a lavalava for the informal gathering.

Surface Forms

lavalava singular
lavalavas plural

Etymology

Lavalava comes from Samoa in Polynesia and originally named the simple rectangular cloth people wrap around their waist. It means a 'wrap' or 'skirt', so today a lavalava is that traditional garment you wear at ceremonies or every day.