hu guaiya i familian-hu
The English phrase "I love my family" is translated into Chamorro as hu guaiya i familian-hu.
hu guaiya i familian-hu is used to express deep affection for the members of one's own family.
What does it mean word for word?
In this phrase, hu means "I", the verb guaiya means "love" and the suffix -hu attached to the word familian also means "my".
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb guaiya is the term used to express affection or love.
Did you know?
- The term familian is a loanword from Spanish, a legacy of the long-standing Spanish influence in the Mariana Islands. This shows how colonial history directly reshaped the vocabulary of family and home in Chamorro.
- The word hu shares an ancient root with the Indonesian word aku, which also means 'I'. This connects the Chamorro language to the vast Austronesian language family across the Pacific and Southeast Asia.
- In Chamorro culture, the concept of 'family' often extends beyond blood relatives to include 'familia' by adoption or close community ties.
Examples in context
- Hu guaiya i familian-hu ma' dechok.I love my family very much.
Example conversation
Manuel and Maria are talking about their lives at home.
- ManuelSi Maria, hu guaiya i familian-hu.Maria, I love my family.
- MariaHå'ga i familia, Manuel.Family is great, Manuel.
- ManuelSi yan i famila, hu guaiya i familian-hu.And with the family, I love my family.
- MariaHu guaiya i familian-hu yan i kådu.I love my family and the food.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
