Weather & Climate

1. Maipe på'go, no?

   Ma-i-pe PA-go, no?

   It's hot today, isn't it?

   Usage

   Common weather conversation opener in Guam and Saipan

   Grammar Note

   "Gaige" means "be present; here; opposite of absent", not "today"; today/now is "på'go". The final "håfa" is the interrogative "what", not an agreement tag; the rhetorical agreement tag is "no". Chamorro often fronts the adjective.

2. Para u uchan

   It looks like it will rain

   Usage

   Used when clouds are gathering and rain seems likely

   Grammar Note

   "Para" is the future-tense marker; "para u ..." means "it is going to ...". "Uchan" is rain (Rain. To rain.). "Malångu" means "sick" and is not used for weather

3. Para u påkyo

   Pa-ra u PA-kyo

   A storm is approaching

   Usage

   Important warning phrase especially during typhoon season (July–December)

   Grammar Note

   "Påkyo" means "typhoon" (noun). The sentence follows the frame "Tåya' cho'cho' sa' para u påkyo." (There is no work because the typhoon is coming): "para u + noun" says the typhoon is coming

4. Manengheng på'go na ha'åni

   Ma-neng-heng pa-go na ha-a-ni

   It's cool today, isn't it?

   Usage

   Used on cool days in Guam, especially during the comfortable dry season

   Grammar Note

   The word for "today" is på'go (adverb "Now, today"), also said på'go na ha'åni. The frame matches "U'uchan på'go na ha'åni." (It is raining today). Note: gaige means "to be present / be at a place", not "today"

5. Sangåni yu' put i tiempo, pot fabót.

   Sa-NGA-ni yu put i TIEM-po, pot fa-bot

   Please tell me the weather forecast

   Usage

   Ask someone to tell you what the weather is going to be

   Grammar Note

   "Sangåni" means "to inform, to tell" (example: "Sangåni i patgon-mu ya u ketu."). "Put" is the preposition "about, on the topic of" (example: "un kuentos didide' put i familiå-mu" = talk a little about your family). "Tiempo" is a Spanish loan covering both "weather" and "time". Note that CHamoru has no word for "forecast", so the request is phrased as "tell me about the weather"

6. Nisisita yu' sunscreen?

   ni-si-SI-ta yu SUN-screen

   Do I need sunscreen?

   Usage

   Ask before going to the beach or sightseeing under the tropical sun

   Grammar Note

   CHamoru has no word for sunscreen, and in Guam and the CNMI both the product and the signage are in English, so "sunscreen" is used as is

7. Debi hu chule' påyu para uchan?

   Should I bring an umbrella?

   Usage

   Check whether to carry an umbrella when rain is possible

   Grammar Note

   "Debi" from Spanish "deber" expresses obligation or recommendation

8. Ngai'an nai i tiempon fañomnagan?

   NGAI-an nai i TIEM-pon fa-nom-NA-gan?

   When is the dry season?

   Usage

   Ask about Guam's dry season (December–June)

   Grammar Note

   "Fañomnagan" means "the sunny season, dry season" (example: "Manånglo' i tinanom siha gi tiempon fañomnagan."). "When" is ngai'an, usually followed by nai or na. "Håfa ora" would mean "what time"

9. Ngai'an nai i tiempon uchan?

   NGAI-an nai i TIEM-pon U-chan?

   When is the rainy season?

   Usage

   Ask about Guam's rainy season (July–November)

   Grammar Note

   "Tiempon uchan" literally means "time of rain" — a simple compound expression

10. Metgot i åtdao

    MET-got i at-DAO

    The sun is really strong

    Usage

    Describe the intense tropical sun in Guam or the Mariana Islands

    Grammar Note

    "Metgot" means strong or tough, and "åtdao" means the sun; "ayo" does not mean sun. "Mappot" means difficult and cannot be used here

11. Uchan

    Rain

    Usage

    Point at it when asking or confirming the weather

12. Månglo'

    Wind

    Usage

    Point at it when asking or confirming the weather

13. Åtdao

    Sun

    Usage

    Point at it when talking about sunshine or the weather

14. Mapagåhes

    Cloud / Cloudy

    Usage

    Show it while pointing at the sky to check the weather

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