Hale’-ta: CHamoru Cultural Glossary
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.
| 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 | |
| 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 |
| 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 | |
| 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 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 | |
| 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 | 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 | |
| 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 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 | |
| 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 |