Cooking & Markets

1. Mångge i metkáo?

   Where is the local market?

   Usage

   Used when looking for fresh local produce

   Grammar Note

   "Where" is mångge, which takes a noun phrase (i metkáo) directly (e.g. "Mångge si Pedro?"); mangge or manu without the diacritics are misspellings. "Market / grocery store" is metkáo

2. Håfa i nå'an este na nengkanno'?

   What is this ingredient called?

   Usage

   Used to ask the name of an unfamiliar ingredient

   Grammar Note

   "Håfa" is the Chamorro interrogative pronoun meaning "what"

3. Sen pika este na nengkanno'?

   Sen pi-ka es-te na neng-kan-no'?

   Is this dish very spicy?

   Usage

   Used to check whether a dish is very spicy

   Grammar Note

   "Ågang" means "to call, beckon, summon"; spicy is "pika". "Åpmam" means "long ago, past"; the intensifier "very" is "sen". Food is "nengkanno'" (not "kanna"). The basic form of the demonstrative is "este".

4. Siña un rikumenda un klåsen fa'tinas?

   Si-na un ri-ku-MEN-da un KLA-sen fa-TI-nas?

   Can you recommend a cooking class?

   Usage

   Used when seeking a cooking class recommendation

   Grammar Note

   "Rikumenda" means to recommend. "Fa'tinas" means to make or cook, so klåsi (class, kind) + the linker -n gives klåsen fa'tinas, a cooking class. "Sångan" is only "to say, to tell" and does not mean "recommend"

5. Håfa na manera un fa'tinas este na nengkanno'?

   How do you prepare this dish?

   Usage

   Used to ask how to prepare a dish

   Grammar Note

   "Håfa na manera" is the Chamorro expression for asking how something is done

6. Månu na lugåt siña hu fåhan gollai fresko?

   MA-nu na lu-GAT si-na hu FA-han GOL-lai FRES-ko?

   Where can I buy fresh vegetables?

   Usage

   Used to find where to buy fresh produce

   Grammar Note

   "siña" is a Chamorro modal expressing ability or permission

7. Interesao yu' ni taimanu mafa'tinas nengkanno' CHamoru.

   in-te-re-SA-o yu ni tai-MA-nu ma-fa-TI-nas NENG-kan-no cha-MO-ru

   I'd like to learn to cook local food.

   Usage

   Expresses interest in learning local cuisine

   Grammar Note

   "Fa'tinas" means "to make, cook", and "ma-" is the passive prefix. "Interesáo" means "interested"

8. Gaige nengkanno' vegetarian gi este lugåt?

   Gaige nengkanno' vegetarian gi este lugat?

   Do you have vegetarian ingredients?

   Usage

   Used when looking for vegetarian-friendly ingredients

   Grammar Note

   "Gaige" is the existential verb in Chamorro meaning "there is/are"

9. Håfa na espesias siha gi este na nengkanno'?

   What spices are used in this dish?

   Usage

   Used to inquire about spices in a dish

   Grammar Note

   "gi" is a Chamorro preposition indicating location or membership

10. Siña hu chagi este?

    Can I try a sample?

    Usage

    Used at markets or food shops to request a taste

    Grammar Note

    "Siña hu ~?" asks for permission: "can I ~?". "Chagi" means "to try, to taste"

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