Palåbran 06/30/09: Hånao

Hånao (HAW-now): (verb) Go, leave, depart.

Uses:

"Kao humånao gue' esta?" = "Did he leave already?"
"Agupa' para bai in fanhånao para Disneyland." = "Tomorrow we are going to go to Disneyland."
"Manhånao siha para u fanegga' mubi." = "They went to watch a movie."

Palåbran 06/29/09: Taiguihi

Taiguihi (tie-GWEE-he): (adverb) That is the way (something is done), that is how, that is why, that is the reason--talking about a third person or persons.

Uses:

"Taiguihi un fa'tinas i hineksa'." = "That is how you make rice."
"Munga taiguihi as Juan." = "Don't be like John."
"Cho'gue ha' taiguihi as Maria." = "Do it like Maria does."

Palåbran 06/26/09: Eppok

Eppok (EP-puck): (verb) Persuade, entice, urge.

Uses:

"I palao'an ha eppok i asaguå-ña na para u fåhan i kareta." = "The woman persuaded her husband to buy the car."
"Ha e'eppok yo' si Maria na para bai falak i Grand Canyon." = "Maria urged me to go to the Grand Canyon."
"Håyi umeppok hao na un fa'tinas empanåda?" = "Who urged you to make empanadas?"

Palåbran 06/25/09: Låhi

Låhi (LAW-hee): (noun) Man, male, boy.

Note: This is another word that has an "irregular" plural. Instead of saying "låhi siha" we say "lålåhi siha."

Uses:

"Estegue' i lahi-hu si Juan." = "This is my son, John."
"Mamåmålågu mo'na i tres lålåhi siha." = "The three men/boys were running ahead."
"Gof åguguåt i lahen Maria." = "Maria's son is very naughty."

Leksion Chamoru: The prefix acha-

Acha- is called a similative prefix. That means we add it to a word to indicate equality or similarity to something. I know that's a little confusing, but hopefully the examples will help.

1. Guaguan = Expensive.
   Achaguaguan = As expensive, equaly expensive.
   "Guaguan i rediu." = "The radio is expensive."
   "Achaguaguan i rediu yan i TV." = "The radio is as expensive as the TV."
2. Åmko' = Old, with age, elder.
   Acha'åmko' = As old, same age.
   "Guiya i mas åmko' gi familiå-ña." = "She's the oldest in her family."
   "Acha'åmko' si Jose yan si Juan, sa' dinga siha." = "Joe and John are the same age, because they are twins."
3. Dånkolo = Big, large.
   Achadåmkolo = As big, equal size.
   "Dånkolo i gima'." = "The house is large."
   "Manachadånkolo i kuåtto-ta siha." = "Are rooms are the same size."

This prefix forces the primary stress of the word to fall on the 2nd syllable. For the examples above:

1. Achaguaguan => a-CHA-gwa-gwan
2. Acha'åmko' => a-CHA'-um-koo'
3. Achadånkolo => a-CHA-dun-koh-loo

Some people (myself included) usually use cha- rather than acha-.

Palåbran 06/24/09: Påtgon

Påtgon (PUTT-gun): (noun) Child, infant, kid, baby.

Note: Påtgon is one of very few words in Chamorro that has an "irregular" plural. The plural is famagu'on.

Uses:

"Kuånto famagu'on-ña?" = "How many children does s/he have?"
"Sumalamånka i patgon sa' inalulala gue'." = "The kid stumbled because he was rushing."
"I nana ha tågo' i patgon-ña." = "The mother ordered around her child."

Palåbran 06/23/09: Dinga'

Dinga' (DEE-nga'): (noun) Twin, double, fork (of the tree), junction, crossroad.

Uses:

"Kao dinga' siha si Juan yan si Jose?" = "Are Joe and John twins?"
"Hånao para i agapa' gi dinga' chålan." = "Go right at the fork in the road."
"Må'usa i dinga' na råma gi paken goma." = "A forked branch is used for a slingshot."