If you are a beginner in the language, introducing some Chamorro at the beginning and end of your conversations is a great way to start bringing more of the language into your life. To get started, in this post I’ve included 25 Chamorro phrases that you can use when greeting people or saying goodbye. (UPDATED: June 14th, 2024 with additional greetings in fino’ håya).

General Greetings

Chamoru	English
Håfa adai	Hello
Buenas	Hello
Hoi!	Hey! (Usually used when you are arriving at somebody’s house and you are at their door, trying to get their attention. Be careful who you use this with, because if you don’t know the person very well or if they are older than you, it can be considered rude)
Håfa adai todus hamyo	Hello everybody (literally: Hello all of you)
Håfa adai mañainå-hu yan mañe’lu-hu	Hello my elders and my siblings (Can be used when you are greeting a wide audience. Think of this as the Chamorro equivalent of the English “Hello ladies and gentlemen”)
Manana si Yu’os	Good morning
Buenas tåtdes	Good afternoon
Buenas noches	Good night

Greeting Elders

In Chamorro culture, we greet our elders in a particular way to show them respect. For a more full explanation of this custom, see the story I Kostumbren Manginge’, which has an English translation. In this section, I’ll just give the phrases commonly used when greeting elders.

Chamoru	English
Ñot / Ñora	Siñot / Siñora (Say ñot or ñora to your elders as a greeting, typically right before you fanginge’. But you can still use this if you are greeting elders in a digital space and cannot fanginge’)
Dios di ayudi	Bless you (This is what elders will say in response to the ñot or ñora. If you are greeted by someone younger with a ñot or ñora, say this in response.)

General Greetings: Fino’ Håya

Here are other ways to say “good morning”, “good afternoon” and “good evening” in Chamorro. These are older greetings, and I have only heard people from the CNMI use them. For a recent example, listen to the opening remarks from the CNMI delegation at the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts. 🙂

Chamoru	English
Ámaga minagå’an	Good morning
Ámaga tumalu’åni	Good afternoon
Ámaga pumupuengi	Good evening

How are you?

Chamoru	English
Håfa tatatmanu hao? / Håfa tatatman hao?	How are you?
Håfa guaguaha?	What’s going on? What’s up? (Literally: What is there/existing?)
Kao mámaolek ha’ todu?	Is everything good?
Maolek ha’ todu, ya hågu?	Everything is good, and you?
Maolek yu’, ya hågu?	I am good, and you?

Other Comments

Chamoru	English
Gof åpmam ti umáli’e’ hit.	We (2) have not seen each other for a long time.
Gof åpmam ti manáli’e’ hit.	We (3+) have not seen each other for a long time.
Magof yu’ na gaige hit guini.	I’m happy that we (2) are here.
Magof yu’ na manggaige hit guini.	I’m happy that we (3+) are here.
Magof yu’ na umáli’e’ hit.	I’m happy that we (2) met.
Magof yu’ na manáli’e’ hit.	I’m happy that we (3+) met.
Magof yu’ na gaige yu’ guini.	I’m happy that I’m here.

Goodbyes

Chamoru	English
Si Yu’os ma’åse todus hamyo!	Thank-you all of you!
Asta otro biåhi	Until next time
Asta lá’uyu	Until later
Hamyu ha’ nåya	You all first (Can use this for saying goodbye to people when you are the one who is leaving)
Hågu un fófo’na / Hamyu en fófo’na	You (1) go ahead / You all go ahead (Can use this for saying goodbye to people who are leaving)
Adios	Goodbye