Chamorro language facts for kids
The Chamorro language (say "chuh-MORE-row") is a special language. People speak it in Guam and the Mariana Islands. In Chamorro, it's called Finuʼ Chamoru. This language has many words that came from the Spanish language.
Contents
The History of Chamorro Language
For a time, the Chamorro language faced challenges. In 1922, the US government stopped people from speaking Chamorro in public. Because of this, most Chamorro people in Guam now speak English. However, many people are working hard to keep the language alive. They teach Chamorro classes so new generations can learn and speak it.
How to Write Chamorro Words
Chamorro uses the same alphabet as English and Spanish. The Spanish people brought this alphabet to the Chamorro islands long ago.
Chamorro Vowels
The Chamorro language has 6 vowels. They are pronounced in specific ways.
| Letter | How to say it |
|---|---|
| Å | Sounds like the "a" in "car" |
| A | Sounds like the "a" in "cat" |
| I | Sounds like the "ee" in "meet" or the "i" in "pit" |
| E | Sounds like the "e" in "met" or the "ee" in "meet" |
| U | Sounds like the "oo" in "tool" or the "u" in "put" |
| O | Sounds like the "ow" in "low" or the "u" in "put" |
Chamorro Consonants
Chamorro has 19 consonants. Some of them have unique sounds.
| Letter | How to say it |
|---|---|
| ' | This is a special sound, like the pause between "uh" and "oh" in "uh-oh" |
| B | |
| Ch | |
| D | |
| F | |
| G | |
| H | |
| J | |
| K | |
| L | |
| M | |
| N | |
| Ñ | Sounds like the "ni" in "onion" |
| NG | Sounds like the "ng" in "sing" |
| P | |
| R | |
| S | |
| T | |
| Y | Sounds like the "z" in "zoo" or the "j" in "June" |
Images for kids
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Hafa Adai sign at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport in Guam
See also
In Spanish: Idioma chamorro para niños
