Hale’ta: CHamoru Cultural Glossary

Alåguan- Åtgedon

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 if 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

Banidosa-Buteyan Hånom

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 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’

CHamoru Word	English Meaning
chachafflek	quivering or jerking behavior when one is very ill or at point of death
chafflek	quiver or jerk
CHamoru	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

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

Eskomme – Fruta

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’
fi’esta	celebration or party in honor of a patron saint
fina’denne’	CHamoru dipping 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

CHamoru Word	English Meaning
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

CHamoru Word	English Meaning
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

CHamoru Word	English Meaning
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

CHamoru Word	English Meaning
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	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 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

CHamoru Word	English Meaning
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

CHamoru Word	English Meaning
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 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	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

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/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

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	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

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

Tabetdiyu-Tun

CHamoru Word	English Meaning
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

CHamoru Word	English Meaning
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 CHamoru Affairs, Government of Guam.