Festivals & Events

1. Mångge i fiesta?

   Mang-ge i fi-es-ta

   Where is the festival?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of a local festival or celebration

   Grammar Note

   "fiesta" is from Spanish. Chamorro villages hold annual fiestas honoring their patron saints

2. Bula na kåtne yan hineksa' gi fiesta.

   Bu-la na kat-ne yan hi-nek-sa gi fi-es-ta

   There is a lot of meat and rice at the festival

   Usage

   Describing the food culture at a traditional Chamorro fiesta

   Grammar Note

   "hineksa'" is the nominalized form of "heksa'" (to cook rice). Roast pig (lechon) is also popular

3. Håyi mangga'chong-mu gi fiesta?

   Hah-yi man-ga-chong-mu gi fi-es-ta

   Who are you going to the festival with?

   Usage

   Asking who someone is attending a festival with

   Grammar Note

   "ga'chong" means companion or friend in Chamorro. Fiestas are community-wide gatherings

4. Bai hu nå'i hao un rigålu.

   Bai hu na-i hao un ri-ga-lu

   I will give you a gift

   Usage

   Giving a gift during a celebration or festival

   Grammar Note

   "Bai hu" is the first-person irrealis (future) form. nå'i means "to give" and rigålu means "gift, present" (noun).

5. Kao para un hånao gi Mes Maria?

   Kao pa-ra un ha-nao gi Mes Ma-ri-a

   Are you going to the Mes Maria celebrations?

   Usage

   Inviting someone to the August festival honoring the Virgin Mary in Guam

   Grammar Note

   "Mes Maria" (Month of Mary) is a major August Catholic celebration in Guam with processions and fiestas

6. Ngai'an i dånsa?

   Ngai-an i dan-sa

   When is the dance?

   Usage

   Asking about the timing of a dance performance at a festival

   Grammar Note

   "ngai'an" is the question word "when". "dånsa" means "dance". Traditional Chamorro dances are often performed at fiestas

7. Magof yo' gi fiesta.

   Ma-gof yo gi fi-es-ta

   I am happy at the festival

   Usage

   Expressing happiness and enjoyment at a festival

   Grammar Note

   "magof" is the Chamorro adjective meaning "happy" or "glad" — frequently used in expressions

8. Guaha hugåndo gi fiesta.

   Gwa-ha hu-GAN-do gi fi-es-ta

   There are games at the festival

   Usage

   Mentioning games or activities at a festival

   Grammar Note

   "guaha" is the Chamorro existential verb; "hugåndo" means "to play". Traditional games are enjoyed at Chamorro fiestas

9. Mångge i proseho?

   Mang-ge i pro-se-ho

   Where does the procession take place?

   Usage

   Asking where a religious procession or parade will take place

   Grammar Note

   "proseho" derives from Spanish "procesión". Church processions are a traditional part of Guam fiestas

10. Dispuestu ham para i selebrasion.

    Dis-pwes-tu ham pa-ra i se-le-bra-si-on

    We are ready for the celebration

    Usage

    Telling others that you are ready for the upcoming celebration

    Grammar Note

    "dispuestu" is from Spanish "dispuesto". "ham" is the exclusive first-person plural (we, not you)

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