Year: 2024

30 Questions and Phrases for Chamorro Language Learners (with Audio Pronunciations)

On By Schyuler LujanIn Phrase ListsLeave a comment

When we’re getting started in a new language, it is helpful to learn some basic questions and statements that we can use when we are in classes, practice groups, or even just learning from the speakers in our lives. Sentences such as “I am learning to speak Chamorro” or “Can you say that again?” can go a long way, especially at the beginning. In this post I’ve included 30 common Chamorro phrases and questions for language learners. Each sentence has the Chamorro text, Chamorro audio pronunciations, and English translations. Happy studying!

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The Beautiful Mango

On By Schyuler LujanIn Chamorro StoriesLeave a comment

This Saturday our practice group will finish reading and translating Si Kanåriu Yan Si Chungi’, so the new story for this week is a short one, about what can happen when we don’t ask for permission before collecting from the jungle. One of our aunties who regularly attends our practice group very kindly gifted me more Chamorro stories, and this is one of them. This post includes the Chamorro text, a Chamorro audio narration by Jay Che’le, and an English translation. Happy reading!

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Islas Mariånas by Island Breeze – Chamorro Lyrics and English Translation

On By Schyuler LujanIn Chamorro SongsLeave a comment

For the longest time I just called this the “håfa adai song” because I didn’t know the title. I love hearing this song at the beginning of parties or gatherings, as it gives a nice warm, welcoming vibe. From a learning perspective, this song is also great for beginners because it’s sung at an easy tempo and the lyrics repeat often. So here are Chamorro lyrics and an English translation for the song “Islas Mariånas” by Island Breeze. Happy listening!

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The Canary and The Chungi’

On By Schyuler LujanIn Chamorro Stories1 Comment

Here is a charming tale of friendship between the canary and the chungi’, which in English is known as the white tern. I’m excited for our Saturday practice group to read this story because it really made me smile, and it reads like a happy folktale telling us how the two birds became friends. This story is from the book Istreyas Mariånas: Chamorro, written by Joaquin Flores Borja, Manuel Flores Borja, and Sandra Chung. Physical copies may be scarce, but thankfully we are able to access a digital copy on the Inetnun Kutturan Natibun Marianas website.

This post includes the Chamorro text, a Chamorro audio narration by Jay Che’le, and an English translation. Please also note that this story follows the CNMI orthography. I have also added stress marks to some words, to make it easier for learners to see the stress placement. Happy reading!

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Intermediate Actions Part 2: Making Past Tense Sentences in Chamorro With Indefinite Objects – “I bought coffee”

On By Schyuler LujanIn Chamorro Lessons: Intermediate1 Comment

To build off of part 1 where we practiced transforming our transitive verbs with the indefinite man- prefix, in this post we will start using those transformed verbs in sentences. We will learn how to make simple sentences like “I bought coffee”; “I heard something”; or “I made some soup.” We will also add noun subjects to say things like “The woman bought coffee.” This post includes sentence drills in Chamorro with Chamorro audio, and English translations. Happy studying!

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