-hu
The English word "my" is expressed in Chamorro using the suffix -hu.
-hu is a possessive determiner used to indicate that something belongs to the speaker.
Meaning: belonging to me (det)
How does it change in a sentence?
The form -hu is a suffix that is attached to the end of a noun to indicate possession.
Did you know?
- The suffix -hu belongs to a system of possessive markers that change based on the 'alienability' of the object, a concept where some things are considered naturally 'un-ownable'.
- The suffix -hu is a remnant of the ancient Austronesian linguistic roots that connect Chamorro to languages spoken in the Philippines and Indonesia.
- The structure of the suffix -hu is a linguistic 'fingerprint' of the Mariana Islands. It distinguishes Chamorro from many Spanish-influenced words in the region, serving as a core marker of the indigenous language's identity.
Examples in context
- tåno'-humy island
- Håfa i tåno'-hu?Where is my land?
