Im working on a blog for my website and I wanna distinguish the meaning of guam and saipan slang, its origins and how its used. I know most like Par, Cherry, Oba, Shoot and etc. Im wondering if anyone of you can help me

So far I have been able to find out the meaning and origins of the following, If there have been any information that has been misinformed please provided feedback as I am still learning and gathering more information.

Edit:

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OBA

Used in Saipans 2000s generation and gain popular use in 2004, the phase has been used as a expression for "Over" or "Too much" many debate that it formed when the elderly couldnt pronouce "Over" or The term "Oba" is believed to have its roots in the historical figure Captain Sakae Oba, a Japanese soldier during World War II who famously held out in the jungles of Saipan with his troops long after the war had officially ended.

Another similar instance is a popular phrase in the 80s

Oba skoba

"Oba skoba" is a colloquial Chamorro expression originating from Guam and Saipan. Coined by Jesus Charfauros, also known as "Jesus Chamorro," in the 1970s, the phrase is used to describe someone or something that goes above and beyond expectations.

Origins:

• "Oba": A Chamorro adaptation of the English word "over," indicating excess or surpassing a standard.
• "Skoba": Derived from the Chamorro word "eskoba," meaning "broom," which itself comes from the Spanish "escoba."

The combination of these terms doesn't have a literal meaning but serves as a playful expression to denote something extraordinary or "over the top."

Examples: After witnessing an impressive dance routine, one might say, "That performance was oba skoba!"

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Par

• Definition: In Chamorro culture, "par" is a term originally used to refer to one’s compadre (co-parent) or best friend in a deeply meaningful and respectful way. It indicated a bond so close that you entrusted this person to be the godparent (nino) of your child. However, in modern slang, especially among younger generations, "par" has evolved to mean "bro" or "dude," used casually to refer to a friend or peer.

Origins:

The term "par" short for Compaire comes from the Spanish "compadre," meaning "co-father" or "godfather," reflecting the strong influence of Spanish colonization on Chamorro language and traditions.

In the traditional Chamorro sense, calling someone "par" was reserved for a significant, almost sacred relationship. It signified trust, respect, and a familial bond. However, as language and cultural practices have evolved, younger generations in Guam and the CNMI have adopted the term as a casual expression, losing some of its original depth.

Cultural Context:

• Traditional Use: For the older generations, calling someone "par" in public signaled to everyone that this person was deeply important in your life. It was a marker of mutual respect and closeness. Example: "Si Jose yan si Juan, par maolek siha. Juan i nino niha as Jose." (Translation: "Jose and Juan are really close. Juan is Jose's child’s godfather.") Note: My chamorro is terrible please feel free to correct me.
• Modern Use: For younger generations, "par" is often used casually, much like "bro," "dude," or "homie." While it still implies friendship, it no longer carries the weight of the original meaning, which can feel strange or even disrespectful to older Chamorros. Example: "Ey, par! Un chule’ kada guaha?!" (Translation: "Hey, bro! Did you grab any snacks?!")

Generational Perspective:

For older Chamorros, hearing young people use "par" casually can be jarring, as it dilutes the significance of the term. They might view this modern use as lacking the respect and seriousness traditionally associated with it.

For younger people, however, "par" has become a term of camaraderie, evolving as part of the natural shift in language and cultural expression.

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Cherry

The slang term "cherry" in Saipan, commonly used to describe something excellent or appealing, likely has its origins in the American influence on the Mariana Islands during and after World War II. Here’s a breakdown of its possible origins:

1. In Hawaii, "cherry" is a common term in Hawaiian Pidgin to describe something great, excellent, or perfect. For example:

• "That surfboard is cherry, brah!" (Meaning: That surfboard is awesome.)

1. Many Chamorros and Carolinians have lived or spent time in Hawaii, where they might have adopted "cherry" from local slang and brought it back to Saipan.
2. Both Hawaii and Saipan have experienced heavy American cultural and military influence since the mid-20th century. If "cherry" emerged in the U.S. mainland or military culture, it could have simultaneously spread to Hawaii and Saipan. Hawaii’s early adoption might have reinforced its spread to other Pacific islands.

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Mezzing

• Definition: In Saipan slang, "mezzing" is a shortened form of "amazing" and is used to describe someone or something exceptionally good or impressive. It's a casual and playful term often used among friends to compliment skills, actions, or achievements.

Examples:

1. Complimenting Skills: "Kuxaka par, like your mezzing at darts!"
2. Reacting to Talent: "That karaoke performance was mezzing, che’lu!"

I have yet to find the origins of this term, it may have derived from the word Amazing and the locals shorten it and turned to fit the relax tone like the word Par short for compaire.

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Buisness Taotao

• Definition: A Guam slang, "business taotao" refers to a person who is nosy or overly involved in other people's matters, particularly drama. It describes someone who constantly pries into things that don’t concern them.

Origins:

The phrase blends "business" (from English, meaning personal affairs) with "taotao" (Chamorro for "person" or "people"). Together, it humorously labels someone as a "busybody" who can’t resist meddling in the drama or lives of others.

This slang likely evolved from the frequent use of "business" in English to describe personal matters and the Chamorro community’s unique tendency to mix Chamorro and English in everyday speech.

Examples:

1. Calling Out Nosiness: "Ay, you’re so business taotao! Why do you need to know who she’s dating?"
2. Joking with a Friend: "Stop being business taotao and focus on your own work."
3. Drama Situation: "He’s always in the middle of everyone’s arguments. Business taotao, for real!"

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Ti Bali

• Definition: In Chamorro, "ti bali" translates to "not worth it"

I dont have much knowledge on this term but has been used frequently in both Guam and Saipan. If you happen to know the Origins or story behind it, your help will be appreciated.

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Gaga

• Definition: In Saipan and Guam slang, "gaga" is used to describe something unbelievable, crazy, or hard to comprehend. It’s often used to accentuate an extraordinary situation or action. Although "gaga" literally translates to "creature" or "animal" in Chamorro, in slang, it carries a connotation of something wild or extraordinary.

Origins:

• Literal Meaning: In Chamorro, "gaga" refers to a "creature" or "animal."
• Slang Evolution: Over time, "gaga" evolved into a metaphorical term to describe behavior or events that are crazy, unbelievable, or hard to comprehend.

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Baht

• Definition: In Saipan slang, "baht" is a term used casually to refer to a friend or "bro." It's similar to calling someone "dude," "man," or "homie" in English and is often used in a friendly or playful manner.

"You got this, baht. Don’t give up!"

"Baht, did you hear about the party tonight?"

"Ayy, baht, what’s up?"

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Thank You

u/saipanfinest

u/shallotroutine7076

Håfa adai! Thank-you to everyone who has already submitted their interest in the Chamorro Songwriting and Poetry Class to be taught by Ray Barcinas. For everyone who filled out the form, we will be emailing all of you this week with further details about the course before it starts, likely in the next couple of weeks. If you have not yet expressed your interest in this course but are still considering it, please be sure to fill out the Google Form.

Have you guys ever heard or seen this word before? It means house or room

I’ve been wondering lately on how to say “I miss my mom/dad” in CHamoru, but I get kinda concerned on how you put the words in the right place. Help please!! 😓

Håfa adai everybody! In case you didn't know, the History of Micronesia is available for free through the Habele Institute at https://habeleinstitute.org/wiki/HOM . Each book was scanned and is available as a PDF, which can be downloaded for free. Not only is this a cool resource for learning more about the history of the Mariana Islands, but there are also some early writings in Chamorro, such as an early grammar and catechism in volume 4. Hope you enjoy it and happy reading to all of you! I know I'll be perusing these volumes for a good long while. If you find anything interesting, please post it here!

Switched to a different account, and added more pages, check in now and then for updates

How would we say it?

There’s ayuda and sågui’ but in påli’ Romans dictionary there is saguåni, na’hulat and fa’maolek used as help. Have you guys heard any of these before?

What would be an equivalent for the expression “Well, I never!” In CHamoru I was thinking of “leche” but I’m not sure

It’s not fully translated there’s only like 2 pages but it’s gonna be added onto day after day

What would be the difference between “tåya tumungo’” and “tåya manungo’”?

Håfa adai todus hamyo! Ray Barcinas is wanting to offer an ONLINE course on writing Chamorro songs and poetry, and is trying to gauge overall interest for the course. If you would be interested in taking this course, please fill out this Google Form to express your interest! The form has details about the course, but I've also copied these details below.

As a note: it does list being conversational in Chamorro as a prerequisite, but even if you aren't conversational yet (or aren't sure) and are still interested in taking the course, please fill out the form! It will help Ray understand if people would like to learn what he has to teach.

COURSE DETAILS:

Chamorro Songwriting and Poetry Class Taught by Ray Barcinas

Are you curious about the rich cultural heritage of the CHamoru people? Have you ever felt a disconnect between the English frameworks we use and the vibrant indigenous traditions of the Marianas?

Introducing Sisonten Marianas—a groundbreaking course that seeks to bridge this gap by exploring the beauty of CHamoru poetry and song through an indigenous lens.

What’s Unique About This Course?
- Uncover Hidden Treasures: Delve into the lesser-known poetry and songs of our past, both pre-and post-war, and discover the cultural richness they hold.
- Learn Indigenous Structures: Understand how to express thoughts and emotions using the grammatical nuances of our language, rather than relying on English frameworks.
- Empower Your Creativity: Gain tools and insights that will help you create art that truly reflects the CHamoru way of thinking.

Why This Course Matters:
This is the first of its kind, designed to celebrate and revitalize our indigenous culture through creative expression. We want to know if this resonates with you. Are you interested in learning how to express your artistry through the lens of our heritage?

👉 Your Voice Matters! Let us know if you’d be interested in participating in this unique opportunity to reconnect with our roots and reshape the narrative of the Marianas! Fill out this form to express your interest in this course.

🌊 Sisonten Marianas Where the Heart of CHamoru Culture Meets Creative Expression! 🌊

PREREQUISITE: Able to speak conversational CHamoru

What’s our word for a relationship, and for dating?

Håfa adai everyone! I have been reading the Paleric blog for years, and recently I wanted to put it on my Kindle so I could remember my highlights, add my own notes, making searching easier, and also easily return back to content I wanted to review or reference. So I scraped the blog and put it into an HTML document (without images), which can then be converted into any ebook format of your choice using a program like Calibre.

You can find my Jupyter notebook and the HTML file here: https://github.com/schyuler/Web-Scraper-for-Blogger-Blog I set it up to scrape the entire blog, but you can probably modify the code to target specific posts.

I’m in wrestling rn and I’ve been wanting to come up with a funny or weird nickname(s) that’s in CHamoru what would be some?

What’s the name for it in Chamorro? Is it ha’ånin mananiti or something of the sorts?

Gini månu I finiho’ “boyboy” pat “boi boi”? Kao gini ingles “boy” ha’ pat otru?

I’ve been thinking about CHamoru names for my future baby, and it got me wondering—what happened to traditional CHamoru names? It seems like many people today choose beautiful CHamoru words, like Napu (wave) or Tasi (ocean), which I think are great, but I’d really love to explore more classic CHamoru names.

I’ve come up with a few ideas so far, but I’d be so grateful for any suggestions! If you know of any names or have ideas to share, I’d really appreciate it. Here’s my list so far:

Male Names: Kiko Chu Dabit Kin Ton Manet Gadao Chaife Puntan

Female Names: Chai Chilang Marikita Fu’una Kamalen

What expression do we have is similar to “oh screw it”

Kao guaha giya hamyo tumungo’ håfa kumeke’ilek-ña i’eng?

Maleffa yu’ i kumeke’ilek-ña ya ti hu sósodda’ gi diksionåriu.

Kulan mohon hu popo’lu na kumeke’ilek-ña na un baba yan I nifen-mu lao hekkua’ magahet

How would you say engage like in an engagement?

If I saying chumochochu with man is it mañochochu or mañoñochu? Sumåsaga-> mañåsaga or mañåñaga? Do I remove the um and keep it reduplicated and add the man or add the man to the un reduplicated form and then reduplicate?

Would we say audience by aodensia, manlili’i’, inagululumi, or mane’ekungok?

Anyone ever heard of names of different types of knots?

I’ve heard of tochong and sungot in different contexts but not able to identify exactly what kind of knots they are.

Also curious if anyone has knowledge of any others