In early August, Jay and I traveled to O’ahu to celebrate my Aunty Lupe’s 90th birthday with family. My prima Torrey—Aunty Lupe’s granddaughter—wanted to honor her with a Chamorro song for this incredible milestone. She chose “Nånan-måmi,” a beloved tribute to Chamorro mothers and matriarchs. The day before the party we practiced together, and the next day we performed it as a sing-along.

Afterward, Aunty Lupe told us how special it was—no one had ever done anything like that for her before. Even my Aunty Faye, who used to teach Chamorro at UH Mānoa, hugged me and said how wonderful it was that we sang this song (she said it was even better than Happy Birthday!).

If you’re looking for a meaningful song to celebrate a mother or matriarch in your life, this is a wonderful choice. It’s well-known, beginner-friendly, and with a little pronunciation practice, even beginners can sing it beautifully. (My prima isn’t yet conversational in Chamorro, but she did an amazing job with the phrases and sounds!)

As always, you’ll find the Chamorro lyrics, language notes and an English translation for the song “Nånan-måmi”. Happy listening!

Si nåna magåhet dångkulu na masåpet	Mother, it’s true, has suffered greatly
I kannai-ña ha’ pumoksai ham todu	It was her hand alone that raised all of us
I gima’-måmi dumikike’	Our house became smaller
Sa’ ti nahong salåppi’	Because there was not enough money
Ai lao manomlat ham todu na familia	Oh, but all of us fit, the entire family

Ai nånan-måmi gi hilu’ tånu’	Oh our mother (here) on earth
Si Yu’us Ma’åsi ni todu i bidå-mu	Thank you for everything you’ve done
Atan nåna ham på’gu ni minaolek na che’cho’-mu	Look at us now mother, your very good work
Ai sa’ un sen guaiya i famagu’on-mu	Oh because you really love your children

Ai ti manriku ham na familia	Oh we are not a rich family
Dididi’ ha’ gi katpeta	There’s very little in the wallet
Ai lao mannahung nuebi na pachot po1 famboka	Oh but nine mouths were enough to be fed
Sa’ i satdinas na nengkånnu’	Because sardines
Sumén månnge’ gi hilu’ tånu’2	Are the most delicious in the world
Para hami ni gumaiya i mendioka	For those of us who love tapioca

Ai nånan-måmi gi hilu’ tånu’	Oh our mother (here) on earth
Si Yu’us Ma’åsi ni todu i bidå-mu	Thank you for everything you’ve done
Atan nåna ham på’go ni minaolek na che’cho’-mu	Look at us now mother, your very good work
Ai sa’ un sen guaiya i famagu’on-mu	Oh because you really love your children

Nånan-måmi gi hilu’ tånu’	Oh our mother (here) on earth
Si Yu’us Ma’åsi ni todu i bidå-mu	Thank you for everything you’ve done
Atan nåna ham på’go ni minaolek na che’cho’-mu	Look at us now mother, your very good work
Ai sa’ un sen guaiya i famagu’on-mu	Oh because you really love your children
Ya bein3 fanggágaigi ha’ todu gi fi’on-mu	And we will all be by your side

Notes

¹ po: This is a contraction of the phrase para u. (back to lyrics)

² Sumén månnge’ gi hilu’ tånu’: The use of gi hilu’ tånu’ in this lyric changes this phrase to an expression, equivalent to the English “The most delicious in the world” or “The most delicious on earth.” (back to lyrics)

³ bein: This is a contraction of the phrase bei in. (back to lyrics)