Palåbra para på'gu: songge (light on fire)

Songge [SONG-gi]: Burn; light; set on fire; ignite.

Ehemplu:
"Chule' basula para i santatte ya un songge." = "Take the trash to the back and burn it."
"Hu songge i danges gi hilo' kek." = "I lit the candles on the cake."
"Kao siña un songge chipå-hu sa' malingu laitå-ku." = "Could you light my cigarette because I left my lighter."

Palåbra para på'gu: åmot (Take away from)

Åmot [AH-mut]: disspossess; deprive by force; hinder from possessing; take (something) away; grab from; snatch from.

Ehemplo:
"Åmot i neni ni tenidot!" = "Take the fork away from the baby!"
"Håfa na un åmot gue' ni hugeti?" = "Why did you grab the toy from him?"
"Ti siña yo' mañugon sa' ma'åmot yo' karetå-hu..." = "I can't drive because they took away my car..."

Nota:
Åmot when used as a noun means "medicine."

Palåbra para på'go: gonaf (scale)

Go'naf [GO'-naf]:
/noun/: Scale--a thin coating, covering, film, or incrustation; fish scale.
/verb/: To scale; separate and come off in scales; shed scales; pare off.

Examples:
"Na'gåsgas maolek i guihan sa' ti månnge' i ge'naf." = "Clean the fish well, because scales aren't tasty."
"Kalakas! Un sotta' i ge'naf gi labadot." = "Gross! You left the scales in the sink."
"Tåya' go'naf i asuli." = "Eels don't have scales."

"Magåhet un go'naf este?" = "Did you really scale this?"
"Go'naf fan ya guåhu bai tunu." = "Scale it please and I"ll be the one to grill it."

Palåbra para på'gu: dingu (to leave behind)

Dingu [DEE-ngoo]: depart; leave behind; abandon; desert; forsake

Ehemplo:
"Ha dingu nobiå-ña." = "He left his girlfriend."
"Esta bibiha si nåna, munga dumingu." = "Mom is already getting older, don't forget/abandon her."
"Cha'-mu didingu famagu'on-mu gi halom kareta." = "Don't leave your kids in the car."

Nota:
"Madingu" can mean "abandoned" or "left behind," but it is mostly understood to mean "late" as in tardy.

"Laguse' sa' madingu hao esta." = "Hurry up because you're already late."

Palåbran 05/03/2015: gånna (to win)

Gånna (GUN-nah): Win--something as in a raffle; defeat; overpower--someone; beat--an opponent; outmaneuver; earn.

Uses:
"Hu gånna hao gi karera." = "I beat you in the race."
"Kuåntu ginannå-mu gi painge?" = "How much did you win last night?"
"Kao manggånnana hao?" = "Are you still winning?"

Notes:
gånna + -in- => ginanna = winnings/profit/gains/victory

man- + gånna + -na => mangånnana = winning (still/continuously)
Some consider this form of syllable reduplication as a child-like construction or at best less than formal. Another way to state the last example would be to use the phrase "åsta på'go (until now)." So, something like "Kao manggåganna hao åsta på'go?"

Programan Diksionarion CHamoru para Android

Buenas yan håfa adai todos!

I just want plug a new Chamorro Dictionary app on the Google Play store. It's a really simple and comprehensive dictionary app for Android systems, which will allow you to search terms in English and Chamorro.

Palåbran 01/25/2014

Såkkan (SOCK-can): Year; season--for planting or harvesting.

Note: The words åñu (year) and tempo/tiempo (time, season) are the borrowed from Spanish, and can be interchanged with såkkan, especially when used for specificity.

Uses:
"Na'listu i talåya yan i lagua' sa' esta måtto i sakkan mañåhak." = "Prepare the throw net and scoop net, because it's already mañåhak (juvenile rabbit fish) season."
"I primet na såkkan, ma silebra i ha'ånen mafañagu-ña gi tasi." = "The first year, they celebrated her birthday at the beach."
"Tåya' lemmai, sa' trabiha ti sakkån-ña." = "There are no breadfruit, because it's not yet it's season."

Palåbran 08/19/2013: To'a

To'a (TOE'-uh): Mature (fruit); ripe; fruit--ready for picking; mature mind.

Note: Usually you will hear to'a to refer to fruit that has reached full maturity, but it can also be used to mean a wise or mature mind.

Uses:
"Hånao ya un gaole i bilembines, sa' esta manoto'a." = "Go pick the star apples, because they're already becoming ripe."
"Maseha gada' pat to'a, gof månnge' många!" = "Whether immature or mature, mango is delicious!"
"Angokkuyon gue' sa' kalan to'a hinasso-ña." = "He's trustworthy, because his mind seems matured."

Palåbran 08/07/2013: Adahi

Adahi (uh-DA-hee): Careful; watch out; look out; beware.

Uses:
"Adahi hao gi chalan." = "Be careful on the road."
"Adahi i patgon na u sulon." = "Watch out for the child so he doesn't slip."
"Pineddonguan gue' ni våsu sa' ti ha adahi bidå-ña." = "He accidentally dropped the glass because he wasn't careful of what he was doing."

Note:
Adahi is sometimes written/said hadahi and/or adai.

Palåbran 08/01/2013: Malångu

Malångu (ma-LONG-oo): Sick; ill; not well.

Uses:
"Kao malångu hao?" = "Are you sick?"
"Taigue gue' sa' malångu." = "She's not here because she's ill."
"Adahi i sirenu na un malångu." = "Be careful of the night air so you don't get sick."

Palåbran 07/23/2013: Kabåles

Kabåles (ka-BALL-is): Complete; brought to completion or perfection; finish; fully realized; intact.

Uses:
"Håfa bali-ña i ti kabåles na balåha?"
   = "What is an incomplete (not complete) deck of cards worth?"

"Hunggan, mababa esta i kahita, lao kabåles sinahguan-ña."
   = "Yes, the box was already opened, but its contents were intact."

"Kao kabåles magagu-mu para i konfitmasion?"
   = "Are your clothes ready (intact) for the confirmation?" = "Have you finished (putting together) your clothes for the confirmation?"

Palåbran 07/19/2013: Gosa

Gosa (GO-sa): Enjoy; have satisfaction from; take pleasure in.

Uses:
"Kao un gogosa hao på'go?" = "Are you satisfied with yourself now?"
"Kao ya-mu apigige'? Uhu ya un gosa!" = "Do you like apigige'? Here, take it and enjoy!"
"I saina, ha gof gosa i minagof-ña i patgon-ña." = "The parent took much pleasure in the happiness of his/her child."

Palåbran 07/14/2012: Oggan

Oggan (OH-gan): Stuck on, run aground, stranded, to land on accidentally.

Note: Oggan can also be used figuratively, as in ending up somewhere other than your intended destination.

Uses:
"Bai fa'maolek i batko-ku sa' kanna' ma'ippe' annai oggan yo' gi acho'." = "I'm going to repair my boat, because it was almost split when I accidentally landed on a rock."
"Oggan i boti gi chepchop unai, lao gi mayamak." = "The boat ran aground on the sand, but it wasn't broken."
"Ai, sa' oggan gue' otro båndan siudåt, sa' ti ha atetendi i siñåt siha." = "Oh [...], he ended up on the other side of the city, because he wasn't paying attention to the signs."

Palåbran 01/24/2012: Nuebu

Nuebu (new-EH-boo): New, modern, strange, unfamiliar, fresh.

Note: Some also write/pronounce it as ñuebu.

Uses:

"Kao nuebu i karetå-mu?" = "Is your car new?"
"Gof bunitu ennao na nuebu na chininå-mu." = "Your new shirt is very nice."
"Trabiha ti hu bisita i nuebu na tenda." = "I haven't visited the new store yet."

Palåbran 11/05/2012: Må'gas

Må'gas (MAH'-gas): Boss, master, superior, foreman, manager, be master.

Uses:

"Mångge ma'gås-mu?" = "Where is your boss?"
"I ma'gas ha deskuentåyi yo' ni finahån-hu." = "The manager gave me a discount on my purchase."
"Båba gue' na må'gas, sa' ti ha na'fandeskånsa i emplehao-ña." = "He's a bad boss, because he doesn't let his employees take a rest."

Palåbran 09/14/2012: Saina

Saina (SIGH-na): Parent, elder.

Note: Saina also shows up as Asaina, and can be used for "Lord" as in "Lord God." The plural of saina is mañaina.

Uses:
"Hu bisita i saina-hu gi gimå'-ña." = "I visited my parent/elder at his/her house."
"Sumåsaga i dos mañaina-hu gi sanlagu." = "My two parents are living/staying stateside."
"Hånao ya un åmen i mañainå-mu siha fine'nena." = "Go and show respect to your elders first."

Palåbran 07/23/2012: Kalaktos

Kalåktos (ka-LUCK-tus): Sharp, keen, acute.

Uses:
"Adahi sa' kalåktos ennao na se'se'." = "Be careful because that knife is sharp."
"Hu guåsa' i fesiños sa' ti kalåktos." = "I sharpened the hoe because it wasn't sharp."
"Usa fan i mås kalåktos na machete." = "Use the sharpest machete."

Usually, kalåktos is reserved specifically for the keen edge of something, but I've also heard it used in another way:

"Gof kalåktos i palabrå-mu." = "Your words are sharp/to the point/harsh."

Kåntan Chamoru: Kao Guåhu Ya-mu (J.D. "Crutch")

Thanks to Sue Quitano who did the bulk of the work figuring out the lyrics and translating them. The chords I put here are very simple and not exactly what you hear in the recordings, but they're close enough to sing along to.


Kao Guåhu Ya-mu
as J.D. "Crutch"



    [G]                   [C]                    [G]
Ai neni, ya-hu lokkue' na un na'klåru
      [G]                       [D]       [G]
kao guåhu ya-mu pat guåha otru,
(Oh baby, I'd like you to make it clear
if it's me you like or if there's another,)

   [G]                                [C]               [G]
Sa' hu tungo' na hagas lokkue' i payon-mu
    [G]                                   [D]                     [G]
an håfa para un cho'gue, un cho'gue malago'-mu,
(Because I know it's been your habit that
if you're going to do something, you'll do what you want,)

       [G]                             [C]     [G]
Lao, neni, komprende fan nai på'go
     [G]                  [D]               [G]
sa' esta ha' guåha, neni, asaguå-mu.
(But, baby, now please understand
because you already have a husband, baby.)

         [G]                        [C]                  [G]
Ya hu tungo' ha' ta'lo na makkat para hågu
   [G]                 [D]                 [G]
para un tulaika, neni, siniente-mu,
(Again I know that it's hard for you
to change, baby, your feelings,)

     [G]                         [C]           [G]
Sa' guåhu, magåhet, hågu hu guaiya
    [G]                      [D]         [G]
ya eyu yo', neni, na matulalaika.
(Because me, really, it's you I love
and that is why, baby, I've been changing.)

       [G]                  [C]            [G]
Pues hasso neni ya un komprende
     [G]                     [D]                [G]
na debi ha', neni, di guåhu un atende,
(So remember, baby, and understand
that it's me, baby, that you should be with,)

     [G]                       [C]             [G]
Sa' guåhu ilek-mu, neni, asaguå-mu,
    [G]                   [D]                  [G]
ya guåhu ai hågu, neni, guinaiya-ku.
(Because it's me you said, baby, your husband,
and me, oh it's you, baby, my love.)

        [G]                         [C]                    [G]
Pues puedi ha' mohon, neni, un komprende
        [G]                       [D]             [G]
na siakåsu yo' lachi munga ma'atende,
(So I hope, baby, that you understand
that if I'm wrong just ignore it,)

     [G]                   [C]             [G]
Sa' hågu, neni, yo' muna'pininiti,
     [G]                          [D]                   [G]
ya' gos makkat, neni, para hu komprende.
(Because it's you, baby, that hurt me,
and it's hard, baby, for me to understand.)

      [G]                            [C]              [G]
Lao guåhu masångan lokkue' asaguå-mu,
     [G]                      [D]               [G]
ya hunggan, neni, hågu i mås ya-hu.
(But also, me, your so-called husband,
and yes, baby, it's you I love the most.)

     [G]                      [D]               [G]
Ya hunggan, neni, hågu i mås ya-hu
     [G]                      [D]               [G]
ya hunggan, neni, hågu i mås ya-hu.
(And yes, baby, it's you I love the most,
and yes, baby, it's you I love the most.)

Leksion Chamoru: Yanggen/anggen/an/annai (If and when)

In Chamorro when we want to say "when" we have a few different ways to say it. There is the word "ngai'an," but that is strictly used in questions, and we can discuss it in another post. For now let's focus on the words "annai" and "anggen."

"Annai" simply put is "when."

• Maigo'ñaihon yo' annai umåsson yo' gi sofå.
  
  •  I took a nap when I laid down on the sofa.
• Annai humånao yo' para i tenda hu fåhan i pån.
• When I went to the store I bought the bread.
• Taigue hao gi gimå'-mu gi annai måtto yo' guihi.
• You weren't at home when I arrived there.

Chamorro (English as well) has another form of the word, namely "anggen." Many times we translate this word to "if" in English, but it is really the conditional, uncompleted form of "when" ("annai"). All that means is that when you want to say "if," or "when" in the future, you use "anggen," or it's shortened form "an." If we alter the examples above we can begin to see the difference.

• Bai maigo'ñaihon, anggen umåsson yo' gi sofå.
  (Bai maigo'ñaihon, an umåsson yo' gi sofå.)
• I will take a nap if/when lay down on the sofa.
• Anggen humånao yo' para i tenda, bai fåhan i pån.
  (An humånao yo' para i tenda, bai fåhan i pån.)
• If/when I go to the store, I will buy the bread.
• Para un taigue gi gimå'-mu gi anggen måtto yo' guihi.
  (Para un taigue gi gimå'-mu gi an måtto yo' guihi.)
• You will not be at home if/when I arrive there.

 The word "anggen" also shows up in other ways, "yanggen" and "an." Fortunately, "yanggen" is just the form of "anggen" that connects phrases or clauses, and can even be thought of as the contraction of the phrase "ya anggen." Also, "an" is once again the shortened form of "yanggen."

• Ågang gue', yanggen ha oppe hao, kuentusi gue'.
  (Ågang gue', an ha oppe hao, kuentusi gue'.)
• Call her, and if/when she answers you, talk to her.
• Yanggen para un hånao mågi, sangåni yo' fine'nana
  (An para un hånao mågi, sangåni yo' fine'nana.).
• If/When you are going this way, tell me first.
• Chule' yanggen malago' hao.
  (Chule' an malago' hao.)
• Take it if/when you want.

Palåbran 04/23/2012: Fa'maolek

Fa'maolek (Fa'-MAU-lick): Fix, repair, make good.

Uses:
"Fa'maolek i grifu fan, sa' sume'." = Fix the faucet, because it's leaking."
"Kao siña un fa'maolek i karetå-hu, sa' esta mayuyulang." = "Can you fix my car, because it's already breaking down."
"Fa'maolek i pusision-mu fan... kalan påtgon mayute' hao." = "Fix yourself (appearance)... you're like a neglected child."