hunggan
The Chamorro word for "yes" is hunggan.
hunggan is a particle used to indicate agreement or acceptance.
Meaning: word used to indicate agreement or acceptance (particle)
Did you know?
- The word hunggan is an Austronesian term, which means it is a very distant linguistic relative of the languages spoken in Madagascar and the Philippines.
- While hunggan is the standard word for 'yes', many speakers in the Marianas use Spanish loanwords in casual conversation due to centuries of colonial history.
- The way a speaker responds with agreement can be influenced by the hierarchy of the person they are talking to, making the tone of hunggan as important as the word itself.
Example conversation
Luis asks Maria if she wants some water.
- LuisMaria, hungerång yan muna?Maria, do you want some water first?
- MariaHunggan, hågao yan.Yes, I do.
- LuisHågao yan kågo' yan?Do you want it in a glass?
- MariaHunggan, kågo' yan.Yes, in a glass.
