Hale'-ta: CHamoru/Chamorro Cultural Glossary

First Holy Communion, 2006 Wedding Traditions Tuba Pre-Latte Pottery Pugua Mamå’on (Chewing Quid)

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Editor’s note: This glossary was reprinted from ”Cultural Traditions,” of the Hale’-ta Series, with permission from the Department of CHamoru Affairs, Government of Guam.

CHamoru Word English Meaning
alåguan soupy dish made of rice, water, and coconut milk
Amotsan Kumuñon First Holy Communion breakfast
Amotsan Nobia bride’s breakfast
anibat tuba tuba (liquid obtained from tapping coconut tree) syrup
ansopblan mañågu leftover food of one who just gave birth
apigige’ dessert made of young coconut meat, starch, and sugar wrapped in banana leaf
atuli soupy dish made of ground corn, water, and coconut milk
ayuyu coconut crab
å’ok wedding gift of the bridegroom to the bride
åbas guava
åfok lime
åguaguat stubborn, naughty, or non-conforming behavior
åkgak pandanus tree of which the leaves are commonly used for weaving
åmot CHamoru siha Chamorro medicines
åmot gine’he medicine for strength
åmot laboratoriu douche medicine
åmot maipe medicine for one who is restless in his/her sleep or has a sore in his/her mouth
åmot påsmo medicine for pneumonia
åmot siha medicines
åmot tininu medicine for one who has piles or back pain
åntes di before
asta until
åtgedon cotton
CHamoru Word English Meaning
banidosa show-off, female
banidosu show-off, male
baotismo baptismal celebration
båsta para håfa it’s alright; it’s not necessary
båtso CHamoru waltz
bela wake or vigil
belembaotuyan musical string instrument which is held against the belly
bilen nativity
binådu deer
bongbong bamboo container to hold liquids
bongbong tuba tuba bamboo container
buñelos dågu donuts made of ground yam
buteyan hånom bottle of water
CHamoru Word English Meaning
chachafflek quivering or jerking behavior when one is very ill or at point of death
chafflek quiver or jerk
CHamoru/Chamorro the indigenous people of the Mariana Islands and the language of the
indigenous inhabitants
chåda’ egg
chåda’ fresko fresh egg
che’lu sibling, brother, or sister
chenchule’ assistance given to a person or family in the form of money or appropriate items for the occasion
CHamoru Word English Meaning
dågu yam
desde from
difunta deceased female
difunto deceased male
dikike’ na råmas small branch
dogga footwear
dotrina religious pre-nuptial class
CHamoru Word English Meaning
eskomme corn soaked in lime and water in order to remove the hull
famagu’on children, three or more
familia family, clan
fandånggo pre-nuptial celebration
Fandånggon Nobiu groom’s prenuptial celebration or party
fanihi fruit bat
Fanohge CHamoru Guam Hymn translated by Tan Lagrimas Untalan
fanohge plural form of ‘to stand’
fiesta celebration or party in honor of a patron saint
fina’denne’ CHamoru dipping sauce made of hot peppers, lemon or vinegar, and salt or soy sauce
fina’mames sweets or desserts
finakpo’ the last day of a novena or rosary
finañågu the birth process
finatai the rituals associated with a death
Fino’ Engles pao asu ungrammatical English
fritåda type of food made from viscera of ruminating animals such as pig, deer, or cow.
freskon chåda’ fresh egg
fruta fruit
CHamoru Word English Meaning
gaddo’ wild yam
gaimamåhlao having shame
gådao type of fish, red snapper
gimen to drink or a drink
gollai siha vegetables
grånon hågon atmagoson hålom tåno’ pieces of wild bitter melon leaves
grånon golendrina (Euphorbia hirta) pieces of grass used in mixture for douching
grånon låssas banålu (Thespesia populnea) pieces of plant’s bark
guagua’ gollai vegetable basket
guagua’ guihan fish basket
guåfak mat to rest or sleep on
guihan fish
guma’ taotaomo’na house/home of the taotaomo’na, the first people
gupot åtof a roofing party
CHamoru Word English Meaning
haggan turtle (Green Sea Turtle [Chelonia Mydas])
håda goddaughter
hådu godson
hågon åbas guava leaf
hågon alageta ni’ matai (ånglo’) dead or dried avocado leaf
hågon maigo’ lålo’ (Phyllantus amaris) type of plant used for medicinal purposes
hågon nunu banyan tree leaf
hågon siha leaves, dual and plural forms
håle’ siha roots, dual and plural forms
håle’ tinanom katso root of a type of plant used for medicinal purposes
hålom tåno’ woods, jungle
hånao to go
hinetnon babui baked pig
hinetnon kåtne baked meat
hereros blacksmiths
hues judge
hulo’ gi i langet up towards the sky
CHamoru Word English Meaning
i the
ifit (Intsia bijuga) type of plant with a very heavy and hard wood resembling black walnut in color
ika assistance given to the family of the deceased person
inafa’maolek harmony
inakkamo’ marriage ceremony
inasnen ti’ao goatfishes preserved in salt
inasnen tukong salting process used to preserve fish
inayudu assistance, help
inifresi offering (noun)
CHamoru Word English Meaning
kado’ ha’ pretending
kakana sorcerer
kamisola woman’s slip
kamuti sweet potato
kådu soupy dish
kådun kåtne soupy dish made with meat
kådun månnok fresko soupy dish made with fresh chicken
kåmyo coconut grater (noun); to grate on the coconut grater
kåntan Chamorrita Chamorrita sing style
kåtne meat
kelaguen dish made with meat or chicken or fish mixed in lemon juice or vinegar
komfetmasion confirmation
kompaire the relationship between a child’s father and godfather
komple’åños birthday or anniversary
komplemento wedding ritual held the night before the marriage
kumuñon communion
kostat chå tea bag
kostombren Chamorro way of life of a Chamorro or culture
kusinan sanhalom kitchen inside the house
kusinan sanhiyong outside kitchen
CHamoru Word English Meaning
labatoriu to douche
lamasan matlina the godmother’s table at a wedding which is usually breakfast
latte stone pillar with capstone made by the ancient Chamorros
långet sky, heaven
låtan pritolio big can of oil
lechen guaka cow milk
lechen chiba goat milk
lechon piglet
lemon china / lemon di china (Trifasia trifolia) type of lemon tree
lisåyu rosary
lisåyon familia family rosary; the second nine days of a deceased ‘s rosary
lisåyon komple’åños first year anniversary rosary for a deceased person
lumot moss used in the building of novenas
lusong mortar
CHamoru Word English Meaning
machete machete
maga’låhi governor, leading male
ma gutos i finiho’ marriage agreement
mahongngang lobster
maigo’ lålo’ (Phyllanthus amarus) type of plant used for medicinal purposes
makåna ancient CHamoru priest
malågu to run
mamaisen saina ritual in tradition Chamorro courtship where the parents of the groom-to-be ask for the hands of the bride to be
mamå’on betelnut mixed with lime, pepper leaf, tobacco, etc.
mamåhlao ashamed, embarrassed
mana’åmte healers, plural form
ma na’muñera siha they made themselves behave like cry babies
manåmko’ the elderly, plural form
mañaina parents, plural form
mañåhak rabbit fish
manggaimamåhlao to have shame, plural form
manaimamåhlao/ mantaimamåhlao to have no shame, plural form
mañe’lu siblings, brothers, sisters, plural form
mangnginge’ to show respect to elders by kissing/sniffing the right hand of the elder
matlina godmother
målle’ address term for the mother and godmother of child used by the child’s parents and the child’s godparents between each other
månnok fresko fresh chicken soup
måsa cooked, done, ready to eat
mestisa formal blouse used by elderly women especially for religious or formal ceremonies
minamåhlao shamefulness
misan gåyu midnight mass or mass held pre-dawn
CHamoru Word English Meaning
na’mañågu food for the one who just gave birth
na’taotao tumano’ food for those who came from afar to participate in the celebration in honor of a village’s patron saint
nåna’yan to prepare a plate of food for oneself, progressive tense
nåpu (ocean) wave
nengkanno’ food
nengkanno’ måsa food that has already been prepared or cooked
nengkanno’ måta’ food that has not yet been prepared or cooked
Nina address term used by a godchild towards his/her godmother
nina’i a gift
nina’yan food that is to be given to someone as a form of assistance
nina’yan måta’ uncooked or unprepared food given to someone as a form of assistance
Ninu address term used by a godchild towards his/her godfather
nipa a palm that grows by the river that is very good for making thatch
nobena novena
Nobenan Niñu Novena to the Christ Child
nobia bride-to-be
nobio groom-to-be
ñora (shortened version of Siñora) word uttered when one shows respect by kissing the hand of the female person being respected
ñot (shortened version of Siñot) word uttered when one shows respect by kissing the hand of the male person being respected
CHamoru Word English Meaning
olios extreme unction, last rites
orinola bedpan
palai to spread
palapåla roof extended from end of house to provide shelter form rain and sun; a pavilion
pat or
patlinu godfather
Patrosiñu patron saint; usually used with Saint Joseph, the patron saint of Inalåhan celebrated in March
pattera midwife
pånglao crab, land crab
påpa’såtge the bottom part of a structure built on stilts
pårre address term used towards the godfather and father of a child between his/her parents and godparents
påtgon child
platerus silversmith, plural form
Primera Kumuñon First Holy Communion
prima female cousin
primu male cousin
promesa a religious devotion to a patron saint
pugua’ betelnut
punideran månnok hen
pupulu pepper leave chewed with betelnut
CHamoru Word English Meaning
råmas yetbas babui (Blechum brownei) a type of grass used for medicinal purposes
respetu respect
responso prayer ritual given by a priest just before a deceased person is buried
saina parent or elderly, singular form
sakman large ocean-going canoe
senadot male senator
si’i a tool used to prepare leaves for weaving
simenteyu cemetery
suni taro
suruhåna female medicinal/herbal healer
suruhånu male herbal/medicinal healer
CHamoru Word English Meaning
tabetdiyu ailment attributed to the taotaomo’na
taimamåhlao to have no shame, singular form
Tan address term used towards elderly women to demonstrate respect
tareha one’s assigned or volunteered contribution such as to a party, etc.
taotaomo’na person from before
taotaomo’na siha plural form of people from before
tåno’ land
tåpes apron
tåsi ocean, sea
techa prayer, novena, or rosary leader
tife’ to pick from a tree (fruits or flowers)
tiha aunt
tiha siha aunts, dual or plural form
tiheras pugua’ betelnut scissors
tihu siha uncles, dual or plural form
tinala’ food items that have been dried
tinifok things that are woven
tinifok guåfak woven mat
tininu food that has been barbecued
titiyas tortilla
trongkon nunu banyan tree
tuba fermented alcoholic coconut sap
Tun respect address term for elderly man
CHamoru Word English Meaning
un a, one
yan and
yanggen when
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