Hale’ta: Chamorro Cultural Glossary

Alåguan- Åtgedon

Chamorro 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 if which the leaves are commonly used for weaving

åmot Chamorro 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

Banidosa-Buteyan Hånom

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 while the musician plays

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

Chachafflek-Chenchule’

chachafflek—quivering or jerking behavior when one is very ill or at point of death

chafflek—quiver or jerk

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

Dågu – Dotrina

dågu — yam

desde — from

difunta — deceased female

difunto — deceased male

dikike’ na råmas — small branch

dogga — footwear

dotrina — religious pre-nuptial class

Eskomme – Fruta

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 Chamorro —Guam Hymn translated by Tan Lagrimas Untalan

fanohge — plural form of ‘to stand’

fi’esta — celebration or party in honor of a patron saint

fina’denne’ — Chamorro sauce made of hot peppers, lemon or vinegar, 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

Gaddo’-Gupot Åtof

gaddo’ — wild yam

gaimamahlao — 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

Haggan- Hulo’ gi i Langet

haggan — turtle (Green Sea Turtle [Chelonia Mydas])

håda — god-daughter

hådu — god-son

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 — foots, dual and plural forms ??

håle’ tinanom katso — root of a type of plant used for medicinal purposes

hålomtåno’ — 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

I-Inefresi

i—the

ifet—(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

inefresi—offering (noun)

Kado’ ha’-Kusinan Sanhiyong

kado’ ha’—pretending

kakahna—sorcerer

kamisola—woman’s slip

kamuti—sweet potato

kåddo—soupy dish

kåddon kåtne—soupy dish made with meat

kåddon månnok fresko—soupy dish made with fresh chicken

kåmyo—coconut grater (noun); to grate on the coconut grater

kåntan Chamorrita—vChamorrita 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 god-father

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

Labatoriu-Lusong

labatoriu—to douche

lamasan matlina—the god-mother’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

Machete-Misan Gåyu

machete—machete

maga’låhi—governor

ma gutos i finiho’—marriage agreement

mahongngang—lobster

maigo’ lålo’— [phyllanthus amarus] – type of plant used for medicinal purposes

makåhna—ancient Chamorro 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 –—bettlenut mixed with lime, pepper leave, tobacco, etc.

mamåhlao—ashamed, embarrassed

mana’amte—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

manggaimamahlao—to have shame, plural form

manaimamahlao/mantaimamahlao—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—god-mother

målle’—address term for the mother and god-mother of child used by the child’s parents and the child’s god-parents 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

Na’-mañågu-Ñot

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/sea) 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 god-child towards his/her god-mother

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 god-child towards his/her god-father

nipa—a palm that grows by the river that is very good for making thatch

nobena—novena

Nobenan Niñu—Baby Jesus novena

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

Olios-Pupulu

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 -– god-father

Patrosiñu –- patron saint; usually used with Saint Joseph, the patron saint of Inalåhan (Inarajan) celebrated in March

pattera—midwife

pånglao—crab

påpa’såtge -– the bottom part of a structure built on stilts

pårre –- address term used towards the god-father and father of a child between his/her parents and god-parents

påtgon-hu or mu—child

platerus –- silversmith, plural form

Primera Kumuñon –- First Holy Communion

prima –- female cousin

primu siha –- male cousin, dual and plural forms

promesa –- a religious devotion to a patron saint

pugua’ –- betel nut

punideran månnok -– hen

pupulu –- pepper leave chewed with betel nut

Råmas Yetbas Babui-Suruhånu

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

Tabetdiyu-Tun

tabetdiyu –- ailment attributed to the taotao mo’na

taimamahlao –- 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.

tåotaomo’na –- person from before

tåotaomo’na siha –- plural form of people from before

tåno’—land

tåpes—apron

tåsi –- ocean, sea

techa -– prayer, novena or rosary leader

tife’ –- an apron like covering

tiha—aunt

tiha siha –- aunts, dual or plural form

tiheras pugua’ –- betel nut cutter/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 – -coconut sap

Tun –- respect address term for elderly man

Un-Yanggen

un –- a, one

yan—and

yanggen –- when

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