Kåntan Chamoru: Atkahót

On By Schyuler LujanIn Chamorro SongsLeave a comment

Last Saturday our evening practice group finished the 36th and final song from our current “season” of content, which focused entirely on songs from Daniel De Leon Guerrero. We’ve been making our way through this list of songs since April or May of 2024, and so it was a huge accomplishment to finish all the songs. I’ve personally felt how much my listening comprehension has improved from these evening practice groups, and we’ve also seen progress with those who’ve stayed with our group over the years. This song also took us longer than usual to transcribe, and we are so grateful to everyone who attended last Saturday and to those who were able to stick with us to the very end. In agradesi hamyu 🙂

Now that we’ve finished this list, we are already preparing a new round of songs for our evening group. Jay has landed on a focus that I appreciate, and we can’t wait to get started on transcribing them together.

In this post, here is that final song, called Atkahót by Daniel De Leon Guerrero. It’s actually a cover of a country song by Brad Paisley, which shows both the destructive and tragic nature of alcohol abuse. As always, this post includes Chamorro lyrics and an English translation. Happy listening!

Continue reading “Kåntan Chamoru: Atkahót” →

Learning “Don’t” in Chamorro, Part 1: Saying “Don’t Do That” with Mungnga’

On By Schyuler LujanIn Chamorro Lessons: Intermediate1 Comment

Have you ever wanted to tell someone not to do something in Chamorro, such as “Don’t do that” or “Don’t touch it”? One Chamorro word you can use is mungnga’ —it’s how you can say “no,” “not,” or “don’t” when you’re stopping someone from doing something.

In this post, we’ll start learning about some of the ways mungnga’ works in Chamorro sentences. You’ll see examples like “Don’t touch it”, “Don’t eat that” and “Don’t say the answer” so you can start using them right away. For parents, learning mungnga’ is especially useful. You can start using it with your children to give gentle guidance, set boundaries, and practice Chamorro in everyday situations.

By the end, you’ll be able to build your own “don’t do…” sentences with mungnga’. As always, this post includes example sentences, Chamorro audio narrations by Jay Che’le and English translations. Happy studying!

Continue reading “Learning “Don’t” in Chamorro, Part 1: Saying “Don’t Do That” with Mungnga’” →

Kåntan Chamoru: Unu Ha’ na Låta

On By Schyuler LujanIn Chamorro SongsLeave a comment

This lighthearted song tells the story of a work break gone wrong. The singer tells of a hot day, when he and his co-workers sit under the coconut tree to barbecue and crack open a few beers—but by the end, all the beer is gone, and so is his job! Our Saturday evening practice group transcribed this one back in early July. Now, with only one song left in our current “season,” Jay is already refreshing the list for the next round.

As always, this post includes the Chamorro lyrics and an English translation for Unu Ha’ na Låta by Daniel De Leon Guerrero. Happy listening!

Continue reading “Kåntan Chamoru: Unu Ha’ na Låta” →

A Story About the Wisdom of the Elders

On By Schyuler LujanIn Chamorro StoriesLeave a comment

After several weeks of reading through an interview from the Directory of Traditional Healers & Medicinal Plants in the CNMI, our practice group will be reading a story this week from a section of Istreyas Mariånas: Chamorro (accessible via the Inetnun Kutturan Natibun Marianas). The story underscores the importance of helping those who have helped you, even if it isn’t in your own best interest. The author’s narrative style is vivid and conveys clearly his childhood memory of overhearing a conversation between adults and his later reflections in adulthood when he realizes its lessons later in life. In this post we have the Chamorro text, an English translation, and a Chamorro audio narration by Jay Che’le. Happy reading!

Continue reading “A Story About the Wisdom of the Elders” →

Say It In Chamorro: 40 Phrases Parents Can Use With Their Kids

On By Schyuler LujanIn Phrase ListsLeave a comment

When our måli’ Monique enrolled her son in Hurao Academy on Guam, she asked us for some simple Chamorro phrases she could start using at home. She wanted everyday expressions she could say to her son—basic commands and reminders like “put on your shoes” or “it’s time to sleep”—so that Chamorro would become part of their daily routine.

That request inspired this post. We’ve gathered around 40 easy, practical Chamorro phrases that any parent can start using with their children right away. Whether your child is in a Chamorro immersion program, learning from family, or just starting to hear the language at home, these phrases are meant to make Chamorro feel natural in everyday life.

As always, this post includes Chamorro audio narrations by Jay Che’le and English translations for every phrase. Happy studying!

Continue reading “Say It In Chamorro: 40 Phrases Parents Can Use With Their Kids” →