Pålåbran 04/08/2010: Ekulo'

Ekulo' (EH-ku-lu'): Climb up, get on top of.

Note: Kahulo' can be interchanged with ekulo' in many instances, but ekulo' draws more attention to the actual act of climbing, whereas kahulo' doesn't necessarily do so. Feddos is also another word that can be used for "climb."

Uses:
"Ekulo' fan i atof ya un chule' påpa' i bola." = "Please get on top of (climb up to) the roof and bring down the ball."
"Umekulo' gue' gi tronko ya u tife' lalanghita." = "He climbed up the tree to pick a tangerine."
"Manekulo' yan manunok i famagu'on gi tronko." = "The kids were climbing up and down the tree."

Leksion Chamoru: Prefix gi-

The prefix gi- is not used as frequently anymore as it once was, but the concept is rather simple. Gi- just represents origin and/or residence. Here are some examples:

• Gi- + Luta => Gilita (a person from Rota)
• Gi- + Yo'ña => Giye'ña (a person from Yona)
• Gi- + Guåhan => Giguahan (a person from Guam)

This construction is still used, but is often replaced by "taotao ___."

When you add the prefix gi- to a noun the rules of vowel harmony apply. The prefix "pulls back" the sound of the vowel that follows, where applicable. I.e.: In general, we change the first vowel in the root word from å to a, o to e, and u to i.

Pålåbran 04/02/2010: Appleng

Appleng (APP-pling): Slang, markedly colloquial language, nonsense, incoherent speech.

Note: Appleng also means sprained.

Uses:
"Ti komprendiyon gue' sa' appleng i fino'-ña." = "He's incomprehensible, because his words are nonsensical."
"Adahi na un måsångan appleng." = "Careful or it will be said that you can't speak well."
"Ai gof appleng gue' kumentos." = "Oh how slangy his speech is."

Pålåbran 03/24/10: Atanon

Atanon (a-TA-none): Handsome, good looking, pretty, appearance, decent looking.

Uses:
"Ti gof bunita gue', lao atanon." = "She's not that pretty, but she's decent."
"Måtto gi chatpa'go gue', ni didide' atanon." = "He is very ugly, he's not even slightly good looking."
"Atanon i hatdin gi me'nan guma'-mu." = "The garden in front of your house is pretty."

Pålåbran 03/19/2010: Frihon

Frihon (free-HON): Joker, jester, buffoon.

Uses:
"Frihon si Jose, ya-ña umossitan." = "Jose is a joker, he likes to play tricks."
"Ha eståni i che'lu-ña, sa gof frihon gue'." = "He played a trick on his brother, because he's a joker."
"Gof ya-ña si Juan frumihon." = "Juan likes to be a joker (to joke around)."

Pålåbran 03/10/10: Nå'yåni

Nå'yåni (nah'-DZAH-knee): Serve food (to someone), prepare a plate (for someone), give food or drink (to someone).

Uses:
"Ha nå'yåni yo' ni na'-hu." = "She served my food to me."
"Nå'yåni i patgon fan, sa' ñålang." = "Give the kid some food, because he's hungry."
"Hu nå'yåni si nånå-hu nenkanno' ginen i gipot, sa' atrasao macho'cho'." = "I made my mother a plate of food from the party, because she worked late."

Pålåbran 03/08/10: Po'lo

Po'lo (PO'-loo): Place, set, arrange, establish, put, invest.

Note: Po'lo also means "wait, hold off, set aside, etc." but that's for another post.

Uses:
"Po'lo i plåtu-mu gi lamasa." = "Put your plate on the table."
"Ha po'lo i salåpe'-ña gi kapetå-ña." = "He put his money in his wallet."
"Kao hågu pumo'lo i kahita gi papa' i siya?" = "Were you the one that put the box under the chair?"