Useful Phrases

1. Hu fa'tinas este na app

   I made this app

   Usage

   Introduce the app in Chamorro

   Grammar Note

   Chamorro typically follows VSO order. It has extensive Spanish loanwords

2. Este na app dibåtde

   This app is free

   Usage

   Explain the app is free

   Grammar Note

   Free of charge is "dibåtde". "Libre" means "saved; made safe; rescued; delivered from danger" and is not used for no-charge. "Na" is the linking particle between modifier and noun

3. Chagi chule' hulo' este

   Please try downloading it

   Usage

   Encourage someone to download the app

   Grammar Note

   "Chule' hulo'" literally "take up" — the Chamorro expression for downloading

4. Guåhu Håpones

   Guahu Hapones

   I'm Japanese

   Usage

   Introduce your nationality

   Grammar Note

   "Håpones" is borrowed from Spanish "Japonés" (Japanese)

5. Guåhu pasaheru

   I'm a traveler

   Usage

   Identify yourself as a traveler

   Grammar Note

   "Pasaheru" means "traveler, passenger". "Biyaheru", from Spanish "viajero", is not used

6. Bumiåhi yo' na maisa

   bu-mi-A-hi yo na ma-I-sa

   I'm traveling alone

   Usage

   Tell others you are traveling solo

   Grammar Note

   "biåhi" is the verb "to travel, to make a trip" (e.g. "Bumiåhi yu' para Ponape." = I took a trip to Ponape). "Maisa" is "alone, oneself", and "na maisa" is the adverbial "by oneself" (e.g. "Ha prinsipia i kanta na maisa." = he started the song himself). "nå'i" means "to give" and "bisita" means "to visit"; neither can mean "to travel alone"

7. Este i primét na biåhi-hu guini

   Este i primet na biahi-hu guini

   It's my first time here

   Usage

   Express that this is your first visit

   Grammar Note

   "Primet" from Spanish "primero". "-hu" is the first-person possessive suffix

8. Siña hu litråtu?

   Siña hu litratu?

   May I take a photo?

   Usage

   Ask for permission to take a photo

   Grammar Note

   "Litråtu" from Spanish "retrato" (portrait/photo). "Siña" expresses ability/permission

9. Siña ta litråtu?

   Siña ta litratu?

   Shall we take a photo together?

   Usage

   Suggest taking a photo together

   Grammar Note

   "Litråtu" is a noun and verb ("Ha litråtu i gima'." = he took a picture of the house). As a transitive verb it takes "ta" (inclusive "we", ergative) after "siña", and inclusive "ta" carries the sense of "together"

10. Pot fabót i-scan i QR code

    Please scan the QR code

    Usage

    Ask someone to scan the QR code

    Grammar Note

    "Por fabót" is borrowed from Spanish "por favor" (please)

11. Ti siña mo' fa'baba i presiun-ña!

    Ti si-ña mo fa-BA-ba i pre-siun-nya!

    Don't cheat me / Stop ripping me off

    Usage

    Used informally when you feel overcharged or cheated

    Grammar Note

    "Ti siña mo'" is the prohibitive form. Cheating is fa'baba (to fool, to trick, to cheat); "chumålek" means "laughed" and is a different word

12. Tai respetu hao!

    Tai res-pe-tu hao!

    Don't underestimate me / Don't look down on me

    Usage

    Used informally to protest when someone is being disrespectful or dismissive toward you

    Grammar Note

    "Tai respetu" means "without respect/disrespectful." respetu is from Spanish "respeto"

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