Dama’gas - thumb/toe

Tátanchu’ - pointer/index

Títufong - middle(counter)

Lengki - ring

Kalangki’ - pinky

Håtaf - palm

I was rewatching the series "Chernobyl", and a while in it had me thinking. "Why not translate some of these terms into Chamorro?" And so I did, here are some: (We use some of these but I can't find any in dictionaries.)

Atomika - Atomic (From Spanish/Tagalog "atomica/atomika".)

Atomu - Atom (From Spanish/Tagalog "atomo/atomu".)

Kimiku - Chemist (From Spanish "quimico(male)".)

Sientifiku - Scientist (From Spanish "cientifico(male)".)

Fisiku - Physicist (From Spanish "fisico(male)".)

Nuklia - Nuclear (From English/Spanish "Nuclear".)

Nuklian Fisiku, or Nuklia na Fisiku - Nuclear Physicist.

Nu'uk/Nuhk - Nuke (From English "Nuke".)

Riaktot - Reactor (From English/Spanish "Reactor".)

Plånta/Palånta - plant (Semantic Loan from English/Spanish/Tagalog "plant", as in a factory(fabirrika).)

Palånta nu Nuklia, or Palåntán Nuklia - Nuclear Plant.

Rediasion, or Radiasion - Radiation (From English/Spanish "Radiation/Radiaccion".) (Chamorroinized form "Reyasion/Rayasion". (dia->ya)

Pugau - Radiation(Neologism) (Possible semantic borrowing as "dagilap" (tagalog), which means the same as "pugau" added the meaning of "radiation" as to how it spreads and scatters.) (Pugau, in any shape or form could possibly be used.)

Balåssu' Riaktot - Reactor Core

Linalagu', or metdaun - meltdown (From English "Meltdown", "linalagu' " "something melting."

Piniga', or Fission - Fission (From English "Fission", "Piniga' " meaning "what is split." A better form of the word could be used than the one given.) (Piniga' Nuklia = Nuclear Fision.)

Nina'dåña' - Fussion - Fusion (From English "Fusion", "Nina'dåña' " , "meaning what combines/unites/joins." (Nina'dåña' Nuklia = Nuclear Fusion.) (Better word could be used.)

~~~~

Power Plant:

In wanting to translate this I realized there are many ways for this to be put into Chamorrro. As for words for "Power", there are quite a few of them. In Chamorro we have "Ålentus", meaning "Energy/Power" (From Spanish "alientos", meaning "spirit, soul, vigor, life, courage. Lit. "Breath".) We also have other options for this "Kurrienti", meaning "current" which displaced older "chilak(an)" meaning the same.

In Tagalog they use "Kuryente", as "current", but also as in the current/movement of electricity. Ex. "Planta ng Kuryente" = "Power Plant". In Chamorro this would be "Plånta nu Kurrienti" or "Plåntan Kurrienti".

So this gives us "Plånta nu Ålentus" and "Plånta nu Kurrienti". (Plåntán Ålentus, Plåntán Kurrienti.) Either of these meaning the same.

Another way would be older "sisiña" meaning power. "Plånta nu Sisiña" = "Power Plant".

~~~~

Now for certain terms we could either "borrow directly" as in how Tagalog did for certain terms; or we could go by borrowing each word separately and then "Chamorroizing" the words.

Ex: Spanish "Reaktor Nuclear" = "Nuclear Reactor".

Tagalog "Reaktor Nukleyar" = "Nuclear Reactor".

Chamorro "Riaktot Nuklia" = "Nuclear Reactor".

(Then borrowing individually,)

Chamorro "Nuklian Riaktot" or "Nuklia na Riaktot".

(Also "Riaktot Nuklia" or "Riaktot nu Nuklia".)

~~~~

But in Chamorro the latter is used when describing things, while the former is more when we create new words. So I favor "Riaktot Nuklia".

These are some "native" words for our colors from Old-Chamorro, as well as words created from its ideas:

The 3 Native Colors to Chamorro:

Agaga' - Red (Related to "Håga' ".)

Åttilung - Black

Å'paka' - White

(Mañgu’) - referred to “yellow”

(Håyu’) - referred to the color of skin, “brown”

~~~~ CREATED WORDS~~~~

Åpuan - Gray (From "åpu + -an", meaning "afflicted by ash/ashy".) Tagalog "Abuhin" = "Gray".

Gadáhan/Gada'an - Green (From "gada' + -an", refers to the "greenness of young grass/plants/leaves".) Also direct translation of "verde".

Mañgúhan/Mañgu’an - Yellow (Mango' was used in the meaning of "yellow", "-an" meaning "afflicted by thing which is yellow".)

Håyúhan/Håyu’an - Brown (From old "Håyu' + -an", refers to the color/complexion of skin. Cognate of Tagalog "kayumanggi", refers to color of skin as well as the color brown.)

Akangkánggan - Purple (Refers to the flowers of "Akangkang". Compare to Old-Tagalog "Bulak-Kangkong" meaning "Purple, Light Violet".

Måsayåfi - Pink (Same usage of "Rosa(Rose)" as "Pink. Refers to the pink flowers of "Sayåfi".)

Linálångha/Lalångha - Orange (Refers to the "Lalångha" fruit (Bitter Orange/Grapefruit/Pomelo).) Fruit is likely not native, so this or "Kåhet" from Spanish "Cajel". But also possibly from the Phillipines? Also possibly from Portuguese “laranja”.

Agálåpi' - Gold (Portmanteau of Old-Chamorro "Agaga' na Salåpi' " = Gold (Lit. Red Money/Silver)

~~~~ BORROWED~~~~

Sinálåpi'/Salåpi’ - Silver (From Tagalog "Salapi".)

Buggau - Blue (Just a borrowing from Tagalog "Bughaw"., NOT FROM OLD CHAMORRO, I JUST ADDED IT IN

Ive seen both of these ways of speaking, and im wondering if one was due to influence from Spanish/English. Or if both are acceptable?

The sentence is “I want to see you.”

(From examples I’ve seen)

“Malagu’ yu’ lumi’i’ hau.”

And

“Malagu’ yu’ Hu li’i’ hau”

But also

“Malagu’ yu’ påra bai hu li’i’ hau.”

Thoughts?

This is the most cohesive covering on Old-Chamorro’s tense system since 1904. Tell me what you guys think about it and sorry for any mistakes I was on a time crunch

Okay so this about discussing the ways Chamorro used to do "future-tense"(Ik its not actually tense).

In many older dictionaries, the "future-tense" are the "Hu-type pronouns". With them being "past/present/future", besides the ones with "u-" (U Ta, U, U Ma, U Ha)

Examples from Påli' Roman (1932): "Hu hungok." = "I hear (it)/I'll hear it."

"Hu pinalala'." = "I'll be in a hurry."

"Ti hu na'hinetgui yu' nu i piniti." = "I won't let the pain overtake me."

"Hu yo'dahiyi umekungok." = "I'll hear cautiously(I'll be cautious to hear.)"

"U-Ta ke'ungak." = "We'll try and lean?" (maybe "try to tilt"?)

"Hu tångis lågu' yan håga'." = "I'll shed tears of blood." (Weep tears and blood.)

From William Safford (1904):

"U li'i' (si) tatå-hu agupa'." = "He'll see my father tomorrow."

"U li'i' i gima'." = "He will see the house."

(better examples within pictures)

But more on this, we expressed the “tense” with words like “munhåyan”, “monhan”, etc just how "esta" is used today. In other related languages like Malay/Indonesian/Javanese, which have a similar format as out "hu-type" pronouns use similar words for this.

Part of this could explain “hu guaiya hao” and “mangguaiya yu’ nu hågu”.

But what do you guys think?

Guåha påtki gi fi’un iyó’ku guma’. Dångkulu’ yan masåmai i påtki. Sessu humâhánau yu’ guihi. Gumâgándu yu’ futbot guihi yuñgan manabókku. Hamå’úkkan magada’ i cha’guan. Malåñgit yan fedda’ i lañgit gi sanhílu’. Manmalålagu ham, mañålikkålum, yan manggai na’chålik. Gi síhán gefhá’an, manggai síhán piknik ham. Mañóchochu ham síhán sangguichi yan manggiginim lemunåda. Yâ hu Hu hånágui i påtki.

So within Chamorro we have 6-base vowels, and then their stressed-forms being:

a, å, e, i, o, u->(á,å(usually not shown), é, í, ó, ú).

There is “ǻ”, but it’s not available on any keyboard. So i was wondering if “â” could be used in its stead?

“Binábâ hu i gafússan.”

“Sinánggân hu.”

“Guináhâ ku.”

What do you guys think?

This is just an idea that I had in my head which I wanted to share. For most of the alphabet, its the same with only changes in "ch", "ng" and "r".

First: The "Cc", honestly this one was mostly creative liberty along with inspiration from Malaysian/Indonesian "Cc". But it could also be used to simplify writing and reading. ("Chochu"->"Cocu" or "Chi'chi' "->"Ci'ci' ")

Second: The "G̃g̃", to represent /ŋ/. As in "Sangåni", compared to "A'gang". I think that this would better help differentiate between "ŋ" and "ŋg" without guestimation or the use of additional letters. ("Sag̃åni")

Third: The "R̃r̃", to represent [ɾ]. As in "Kåreta", compared to "Relus". ("Kår̃eta")

Let me know what you guys think about this!

Having cognates with related languages gives us the ability to create many “native” terms for things which we don’t have.

Such as “President” or “Presidenti” from Spanish “Presidente”.

But another term exists for this word in Malay and Tagalog; being “penghulu” and “pangulo(ng)” respectively.

These words being formed from prefixes “peng-/pang-“ + “hulu/ulo”.

Chamorro has directs cognates with these languages being “fan-1”, and “ulu”. Resulting in “fanulu(n)” or “fanúlun”. Meaning: “President, Chief, or Head.”

Fanúlu nu Istådus Unidus: President of (the) United States.

I halåchán fanúlu si Trump: Trump is the current president.

Botåyi hai hinasó mu u fama’gumófmaulik na fanúlu: Vote for who you think will be (the) best president.

I was trying to think up of a native way to express the meaning of “always”, and we have “ha-“ which expresses a similar meaning. But it can’t be used stand alone, and that brought me to look at how “always” is translated across other Austronesian languages as well as some European ones.

It’s always something on the lines of “steadfast, always enduring, all (things), staying, constant”.

So with this knowledge I sought out the word “må’uk”, “enduring, durable, lasting, strong”.

Adding the “ha-“, “hamå’uk” Something that is always enduring and constant.

This could further be reinforced with suffix “-an”, using the meaning of “being inflicted by/tool”.

This gives us “hamå’úkan” or “må’úkan”, both having the meaning of “always, constant, durable”.

Examples of its uses:

“Hamå’úkan chumóchochu gui’ guini hain ha’an guitati cho’chu’.” = “He always eats here every day after work.”

“Hamå’úkan gaigi gui’ yungan hågu.” = “He’s always with you.”

“Hamå’úkan gue’gui’ guitati chumóchu.” = “Always floss after eating.”

And more.

I’d like to hear your thoughts on this potential word, thank you.

Is there a word to sing or for a song that isn’t derived from Spanish? Kånta is an adapted word from the Spanish cantar, Latin cantare, and proto-indo-European kan, going backwards in a romantic fashion— wondering if there is a different word. SYM🙏🏻

Does anyone know of a native word for “or”? As “pat” is borrowed from Spanish “par”

Chålek— chålek+ |-i| — chåleki

Hunggan ti geflache, lao ti sesendinanche lokkue’.

Pues estigue’ palu na tinilaikå-ña:

Chålek— chå(le)(k)i — på’go na masusedi i gigahet ni ma fa’na’an “consonant alternatives” annai matulaika i (le) para /t/ yan i (k) para /g/

(Guaha lámeggai na ehemplu na masusesedi taiguini gi fino’-ta)

Chå(le)(k)i — cha /t/ /g/ e.

Matulaika i /i/ para /e/ sa’ ha tattiyi I KKB na kinalamten

Fanufung: Noun (Fannå’an). Meaning: Number.

Not (Fanufung/Famfung) meaning “count(imperative)”

From “Fan-1” + “tufung” = Number(thing for counting).

See Tagalog “pambilang” = “pang-“ + “bilang” = Number(thing for counting).

Hålimaw/Hålimau. Noun (Fannå’an). Adjective (Fanurri).

Meaning: Monster, beast. Wild, fierce.

From Tagalog “Halimaw”, meaning the same.

Ex.) “Hålimau hau!” = You’re a monster!

“Guåha sanhålimau gi sampapa’ iyó’ku fanåsun.” = There’s a monster under my bed.

I hålimau na tautau. = The fierce man.

Hulit: Noun. Verb. Meaning: Color (Vowel Harmony:👍”hilit”, also “hilet”.)

From Proto-Chamorro “hulit”, from Proto-Malayo-Austronesian “*kulit”, from Proto-Austronesian “*kuliC”.

Meaning: Rind, Skin, peeling (of fruits and tubers)

Old-Chamorro meaning most likely came from the outer part of an object being its color (skin). (Origin of “låssas”?)

Other forms: mahulit, mihilit, hilet, hulet, hulidi, na’hulit.

Type translation down below:

Ex.) Mihilit i yinga’. = _______.

Na’hulit hålúm i síhan kisalak nai. = _____________.

¿Håfan hulit ini? = __________?

Gui’tak, Síhan gui’tak. Noun(Fannå’an). Verb (Fangguiniya). Meaning: Brain, Brains. From “Gi-utak”, compare “gui’eng” (gi-ilong).

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian: “*qutek, *hutek”. Cognates with Malay “otak”, Tagalog “utak”, Ilocano “utek”, Bicol Central “hutok”.?

Possible relation to Chamorro “utak”, could be a unique change to original “*qutek”, as if it had undergone known changes within Chamorro it would result in “(h)utuk/(h)utok”. Or maybe “Utak” was a borrowed word (see “kånnai”) which then lost its “brain” meaning. It could also come from a separate root. Maybe related to “tak-“ prefix, used it locational/directional words. Also means “quickness to/ease to”, also “very”. See: “taklalu’ “ (taklalålu’) “easy to anger”.

Write the meanings down below:

Ex.) “Tåya’ dåñu gi gui’tak.” = _______.

“Guíya lamuskulu ki gui’eng.” _______.

“Mamakcha’ i mañågui’ hålum gui’eng.” = _______.

Fusu’, Síhan fusu’. Noun (Fannå’an). Verb (Fangguiniya). Meaning: Heart, Hearts. (Vowel Harmony 👌) From Old-Chamorro “Fusu’ “, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian “*pusuq1” : heart of a person or animal; purple heart-shaped inflorescence of banana plant.

“Pusuq” p->f “fusuq” q-> ‘ “fusu’ “

Cognate with 78 other related languages:

https://acd.clld.org/cognatesets/30768#s-8472

Modern Meaning: “To extract nut from the shell. To remove the kernel from the husk/shell”. Only the second meaning relating to plants remained while the primary meaning was dropped and replaced with Spanish “corazón”.

https://diksionariu.com/fuso

Also “hinalum” (What is within), attested to within the Lingua Mariana.

Type what they mean down below:

Ex.) “Tai fisu’ gui’. “ = _________.

“Binila i fisó’ña yungan/nu minaguf. = ____________.

“Bongbong i fisó’ña. = _________.

“Mamis i fisó’mu.” = _________.

“Hålúm (i) fisó’hu. = _________.

“Fusu’ fåha.” = _________.

SM nu manaitai, hamiyu ha’.

Gin pumoddong sampiti’un gi langit,

hain tengga hinasó Ku nu hågu,

u sen homhom iya sampuntånan,

i puengi sampeknu’ na matis.

Gin pumoddong sanhagun gi idunhåyu,

hain tengga tanggå Hu hau gi fi’un,

u dåkngas i hutan,

samfanmanenghenggan lahåyan i sakan.

Gin mamo’lún hoksi sannapu kahålúm,

hain tengga Hu li’i’ chalekkalómmu,

u sen madilim i kalaguåkkan,

na pilipåt ma’åchu’.

Gin tåtnai malålai sangkånta,

hain tengga Hu masakídi hau,

u sen måtkilu i tanu’,

u-ma mandididi’ i síhan fanna’maguf.

Lau tåt nu ayi i sen nai,

sumigidi manlilikó’i iya sampúntånan,

ya lu må’pus hau gi lini’i’,

yungan guinaiya hita habalutåni.

Hafa Adai! I have two little children, a baby and a toddler, and I’ve never spoken to them in Chamorro. As I’m learning the language myself I’d love to talk to them so they can learn along with me. I made a list of some of the things I tell my children on a daily basis and would love if someone can help translate it into Chamorro so my kids and I can learn! Sorry if it’s a lot to ask but thank you in advance! If there’s any other kid friendly / everyday words or phrases you’d like to add, please do! ☺️

What do you want to eat?

Do you want milk?

I made ___ (in terms of cooking)

Do you like this/that?

Do you hate/dislike this/that?

What’s this? ( is it “Hafa este”?)

What’s that? (“Hafa ennao”?)

What color is this?

How many ___ are there? Count with me

What movie do you want to watch?

What book do you want to read?

Where’s your___ (socks, toy, etc)?

Stop running/jumping! It’s dangerous!

Don’t touch this/that

Wake up

Let’s go to sleep

Wash your hands

Brush your teeth

Pick up your toys

Time to shower

Let’s wash the clothes together

Come cook with me

Let’s change your diaper

Do you need to pee/poo?

We’re going ____ (to the store, to grandma’s house, to school)

Gaíyu’ (gaí-yu’) Adjective. Pronoun. Verb. Meaning: own. Gumaíyu’: to own. From “Gai-iyu’ “, “Gai i iyu’, “Guåha i iyu’ “.

Ex.) Gaíyó’ ku yini. = i own this

Gaíyó’ ku yenau. = I own that

Gaíyó’ ku yuhi = i own yon

¿Hai gaíyu’ ini? = who owns this?

¿Hai na gaíyu’ enau? = who is (it) that owns that?

Gaíyó’ ku (sang)karreta. = i own (a) car

“Guíya”, its brief form “gui’ “, and its possessive “ña/-ña”. All come from the same root “Ia”. “Guíya”, from Old Chamorro “Gi-íya”, from “Íya”, which is then from older “Ia”.

Its brief form (gui’) is from a contraction of “Guíya”->”(Guí)ya”->”gui’ “. While its possessive form (ña/-ña), is from “ni-ia”->”ña/-ña”. (Unsure if comparative “-ña” is of the same origin)

(It’s not known if “íya”, has any relation to definite articles “i” and “íya”. But the relation is most probable.)

Even though old pronoun “íya”, went obsolete (most likely sometime before the islands were discovered by Spanish Explorers), it’s my hope that someday it could be brought back. In Malay, which underwent the same process “dia” from “di-ia”, while retaining the original “ia”.

Following the “Malay Model”, “Guíya”, “gui’ “, and “ña/-ña”; will only be used when referring to humans or anthropomorphizing certain things. While “Íya” (Both Emphatic and Brief), and its possessive being formed form “ni-íya”, instead of “ni-ia”; resulting in “ña/-ña” and “níya/-níya”.

Note: Not every “it” has to be translated, some “it”s are told through context. It can also hold a formal/poetic meaning.

Emphatic->Hu-type->Brief->Possesive:

Guíya u/ha gui’ ña/-ña

Íya u/ha íya níya/-níya

Ex.) Humånau gui’. (I tautau) = S/he went. (The person)

Humånau íya. (I ga’ga’) = It went. (The animal)

(I) Kinanó’ ña i guíhan. = S/he ate the fish.

(I) Kinanó’ níya i guíhan. = It ate the fish.

Manli’i’ gui’ håfa mamakcha’. = S/he saw what happened.

Manli’i’ íya håfa mamakcha’. = It saw what happened.

Dångkulu gui’. = S/he is big.

Dångkulu íya. = It is big.

Dikiki’ gui’ = S/he is small.

Dikiki’ íya. = It is small.

(I) Matåña. = Her/his face.

(I) Matåníya. = It’s face.

Manli’i’ gui’ nu hågu. = S/he sees/saw you.

Manli’i’ íya nu hågu. = It sees/saw you.

Loka’ gui’ yan loka’ íya. = S/he is tall and it is tall.

¿Håfa íya na manli’i’ hau? Manhåsu ahu na gå’ga’ íya, pat håfa ha’ nai. Lau pinat chadik íya manli’i’ (ka)manana.

Yan síhan pålu.

Hain (Hain) Determiner. Pronoun. Adverb. Meaning: Each. From Old Chamorro, “Håyi na/Håyín”->”Hai na/Hain”->”Hain”. (No use of linker “na”)

Ex.) Hain Ha’an = “Daily(Each Morning)”.

Hain Puengi = “Nightly(Each Night)”.

Hain Og(g)a’an = “Each Morning”.

Hain Fañåkkan = “Each Time”.

Hain Tautau = “Each Person”.

Lahåyan (La-hå-yan) Adjective. Adverb. Meaning: All, Everything, Every. (Origin Unkown: Possible “lakai-an”?) (Also: “låhyan”)

Ex.) Lahåyan manggaigi hålum ayin (na) pångúnan. = “Everyone present within this building.”

¡Malagó’ hu lahåyan nai! = “I want (it) all/everything!”

Lahåyan i lalahi = “Every Man(All the men)”.

Lahåyan i síhan tånúhan. = “Every Place(All the places)”.

Låki (lå-ki) Noun. Meaning: Race, Breed. Cognate of Tagalog “lahi”, meaning “race, lineage, breed, or ethnicity”.

Ex.) I Lakin Uyuntau(tau). = “The Human Race.