lengguåhi
The English phrase 'language' can be expressed in Chamorro as lengguåhi or fino'.
Meaning: body of words used as a form of communication (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chamorro |
|---|
| lengguåhi |
| fino' |
While lengguåhi specifically means 'language', fino' can mean 'language', 'speech' or even a single 'word' depending on the context of your sentence.
Which one should you use?
lengguåhi is the technical term for 'language', whereas fino' is used to refer to 'language', 'speech' or a 'word'.
Did you know?
- In modern Guam, the effort to revive fino' Chamorro involves teaching children a language that was once suppressed by official English-only policies in schools.
- The word lengguåhi is a loanword from the Spanish lenguaje, which comes from the Latin lingua meaning 'tongue'.
- If you want to say you speak a language, you might use a phrase that literally translates to 'having the words', using fino' as the core component.
Examples in context
- Ma'åska i lengguåhi na iyan.The language they use is beautiful.
Example conversation
Jose and Elena are discussing learning new skills.
- JoseElena, kao gosta' yan lengguåhi yan Chamorro?Elena, do you like the Chamorro language?
- ElenaHåga', i lengguåhi yan Chamorro i bonita.Yes, the Chamorro language is beautiful.
- JoseKao yan lengguåhi yan Espanyol i fasil?Is the Spanish language easy?
- ElenaNo, i lengguåhi yan Espanyol i mamasao.No, the Spanish language is difficult.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “language” translations and entries fino', CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
