pao
The Chamorro word for "stinky" is pao.
pao is an adjective used to describe something that has a strong, unpleasant smell.
Meaning: having a strong, unpleasant smell (adj)
Did you know?
- The word pao can be intensified by repeating it, a common feature in Austronesian languages to indicate a greater degree of the quality.
- Because of the heavy influence of Spanish in the Mariana Islands, you might hear English speakers in the region use Spanish-derived words for 'smell' alongside the indigenous pao.
- Because the Chamorro language is an Austronesian language, pao shares distant ancestral roots with words for 'smell' in languages spoken across the Pacific and Southeast Asia.
Example conversation
Maria and Manuel are cleaning the kitchen.
- MariaManuel, pao ya i tåno'.Manuel, the trash is stinky.
- ManuelHu guåhu i tåno' åga'o.I will take the trash out.
- MariaHågao ya i tåno' i guma.The house trash is really bad.
- ManuelHågao ya, pao ya i tåno'.It is, the trash is stinky.
