A’fa’maolek

To help each other; to collaborate. Root word: ina’fa’maolek.

Akgak

Pandanus leaves

Bonitu na rasa

Bonitu (beautiful) Rasa (Race/ Breed)

Buenas

Greetings. A short form of buenas dias. (Etymology: Spanish buenas)

Buenas Dias

Good morning. Good day. Hello. (Etymology: Spanish buenas)

Famagu’on

Children

Ginen guinaiya

From love, or out of love.

Gosa

Enjoy

Guam Pledge:

From the highest of my thoughts,
from the deepest of my heart,
and with the utmost of my strength,
I offer myself to protect
and to defend the beliefs,
the culture,
the language,
the air,
the water and the land of the Chamorro,
which are our inherent God-given rights.
This I will affirm by the holy words and our banner,

the flag of Guåhan!

Hagu

You.

Haligi

“Pillar” portion of the latte stone. Rectangular or trapezoidal stone pillar that supports the tasa.

Hinengge

Faith or beliefs. Root word hongge.

Inafa’maolek

Restore harmony

Latte

Stone pillar with a cup-shaped capstone. These structures served as house supports, and are native to the ancient CHamoru people of the Mariana Islands.

Lusong

Morter

Maga’haga

First born, high ranking female head of a CHamoru clan, a role inherited through her maternal lineage. They represented the highest level of power and authority in ancient CHamoru society.

Mamuda

Dressed up, dolled up, change clothes

Manana si Yu’os

Good morning.

Minagof

Happiness; pleasure; cheer; joy.

Rainan i tasi

Queen of the ocean

Sinahi

The crescent phase of the New Moon. Although no sinahis have been found by archiologist, it is imagined that the men in the ancient CHamoru society wore the sinahi as an indicator of rank. In modern times the sinahi is worn as a way to pay homage and respect to our ancestors.

Si Yu’os Ma’ase (SYM)

Thank you. God is merciful.

Solu pot hagu

Only for you. In reference to the song “Solu pot hagu” from the album “Come to my Ranch”, by Johnny Sablan. This was a song my Dad sang often.

Suruhana

Herbal healer

Tasa

“Cup” portion of the latte stone. Hemispheric capstone mounted on top of the latte pillar, flat side up.