GUAM FOODOPEDIA
...a dynamic collaborative for all things CHamoru eats.
The goal of this Guam Foodopedia project is to record our collective memories and facts about our food heritage. Our CHamoru food inheritance has changed over time. Whether we like those changes or not, the fact remains that our more recent ancestors cooked differently from our ancient people. And it is also true that what our grandparents cooked during Spanish, American, and Japanese occupations -- is still our heritage. Fortunately, at least the Spanish and other European visitors did write down a few things about Guam's food from the 1500s to the end of the 1800s. In the 1900s, there were a good number of American authors who recorded some information about our food. It's not enough though. By bringing together all that we know about our CHamoru food -- memories and facts from the past and the way we cook today -- our descendants in hundreds of years to come, will know for sure, what their CHamoru food history is.
Add your Guam food memories and the name you want to use, suggestions, and corrections in the comments below -- this Guam Foodopedia will be updated accordingly. Also leave a note for Guam food restaurants, food trucks, caterers, and sellers. The primary reference for spelling is the Chamorro-English Dictionary by Topping, Ogo, and Dungca. The CHamoru language has changed over time, and there are subtle differences of the language between the inhabited Mariana Islands, including Guam, Saipan, Rota, and Tinian.
In an effort to preserve and protect the indigenous culture of Guam, at the end of 2018, it was passed into law that the official spelling of Chamorro would be changed to CHamoru.
Each letter of the CHamoru alphabet will have it's own page...eventually.
CHAMORU ATFABETU (tsa-mo-row at-fa-be-too)
Click on each letter.
Click on each letter.
' the glota signals a distinct yet subtle hardness/stop after the letter/sound that preceeds it.
*Unfortunately, not every site contains the letters Aa with the solid dot/lonnat (lon-nat) on top. It should be a lonnat as opposed to an open circle.*
B
Ba'ba'
Printable Guam Chamorro food recipes may be found at Paulaq.com.
Aa makes the sound like the a in apple.
Åå makes the sound like the o in orange and the a in awesome.
Sometimes the Aa sound and the Åå sound are changed in a word depending on how it is used.
*Unfortunately, not every site contains the letters Aa with the solid dot/lonnat (lon-nat) on top. It should be a lonnat as opposed to an open circle.*
B
Ba'ba'
- (ba-ba). Bad or defective seed that can't reproduce
- (baw-ba). Spoiled, bad, rotten
- Yanggen un baba i binaklen tuba ya mutong, pues båba enao ya debi un yuti' (dzang-gen ewn ba-ba ee bee-nack-lin too-ba dza moo-tung, pwes baw-ba e-now dza de-bee ewn dzu-tee). When you open the tuba vinegar and it stinks, then it is bad and you should throw it away.
Baba'
- (ba-ba). Giant swamp taro
- Baba' is also known on Guam as piga, papao. Alocasia indica synonymous with Alocasia macrorhiza
Baba, Binaba
- (ba-ba). Open; opened or left open
- Baba i pachot-mu (ba-ba ee pa-tsot-mu). Open your mouth.
- Esta ha si Maria ha binaba i kafe (es-ta see Maria ha bi-na-ba ee ka-fay). Maria already opened the coffee.
Baban boteya
- (ba-ban boe-te-dza). Bottle opener
Baban låta
- (ba-ban law-ta). Can opener
- Also known as abrilåta
Baberu
- (ba-be-roo). Bib
Babui, Babuen
- (ba-bwee, ba-bwin). Swine kind of pig, of/type of pig
- Domesticated pig; fed and raised; popular centerpiece at big parties.
Babuen hålom tåno'
- (ba-bwin haw-loom taw-new). Wild pig
- Popularly hunted; fed and raised to eventually cook and eat.
Bagon
- (ba-gone). Salted, fermented fish
Bahadot, Bahdot
- (ba-ha-dot, ba-dot). Bamboo container for collecting tuba (too-ba) from the coconut tree
Balåchu, Binilåchu
Balutan
- (ba-law-tsu, bi-knee-law-tsu). Drunk or state of being drunk
Balensiåna
- (ba-len-see-awe-na). Spanish rice
- According to a few members of Chamorro People on Facebook group, balensiåna rice is red rice with added vegetables and meat, where as the red rice most people are fimiliar with is simply hineksa agaga'.
- It appears that over the decades, it's been more common for the population at large to use the terms "red rice" or "hineksa agaga'" for our rice seasoned with achote/annatto - whether the rice contains vegetables and meat, or not.
- Some folks said the meat may include chicken and/or bacon. For veggies, it was peas and onions.
- (ba-lew-tan) A bundle or to wrap up
- Munga balutan esta ki todu man bumoka, ha (Mung-a ba-lew-tan es-ta kee toe-do man boo-mo-ka, ha). Don't wrap up food until everyone has eaten, OK.
- bola (bo-la).
- Fina'tinåsi yu fan pot fabot bukåyu yan shumape taigui i bola (fin-at-tin-aw-see dzu fan put-fa-bowt boo-kaw-dzu dzan shoe-mape tie-gwee ee bo-la). Please make be coconut candy and shape like a ball.
- In the CHamoru language, sometimes we just take the English word and modify it -- shape vs sh-um-ape.
- Pi'a, pi'ao palao'an (pee-ow, pee-ow pa-lao-an).
- Thorny bamboo is called pi'ao lahi (pee-ow law-hee).
- Bamboo is used as containers for liquid or food, called bahdot or bongbong (see below).
- Aga' (a-ga).
- Bananas were brought to Guam by Guam's first settlers. There is reference that banana leaves were used as plates by the ancient people of Guam.
- There are many varieties on Guam to include Manila, Fiji, Makao, Palau, Tanduki Williams Hybrid, Lacatån, Guåhu, and Blue Java. Tree may be planted all year, but it takes about 9 months to bear fruit. Here's a link to growing bananas on Guam.
- Chotda (tsot-da). Green or cooking banana; banana tree
- A banana tree will grow only one cluster of bananas. As this original tree grows, also known as the Saina (parent) tree, little baby banana trees will sprout around the Saina. After the cluster is cut from Saina, this first tree may be cut down, allowing the baby trees to grow and fruit. Pack dirt around the baby trees to make them stronger. Baby trees may also be carefully removed and replanted, but only after Saina's fruit has been harvested. - Paul Lujan from Canada, Barrigada (ka-nya-da, ba-ree-gaw-da)
- CHamorus use banana leaves to wrap tamåles, though many folks began using foil as the wrapper after World War II.
- Guam banana recipes -- boñelos aga', gollai appan aga'
Bandeha
Basil
Batbas uhang
Ba'yak
- (ban-dey-ha). Serving tray or platter
- (baow-baow). Sounds hollow
- Baobao este na chandia (baow-baow es-tee na tsan-dee-ya). This watermelon sounds hollow.
- (ba-raw-too) Cheap
- Mås baråtu i kahitan kustiyas gi Anderson ki guatu as Pay-Less (maws ba-raw-too ee ka-he-tan kews-tee-dzas gee an-der-son ke gwa-too as Pay-Less) A case of ribs is much cheaper at Andersen than over at Cost-U-Less.
- tuno (ti-knee-knew).
- soft area under ribcage or flank
- (ba-see-ya) To empty or pour out
- Also known as chuda' (tsew-da).
Basihu, Basiu
- (ba-see-who, ba-see-you) Empty container
- Also known as anbasiu (an-ba-see-you).
- Espiha fan dos na basihu para balutan i tihå-mu (es-pee-ha fan dows na ba-see-who pa-ra ba-lew-tan ee tee-aw-moo). Look for two empty containers for your auntie's food to take.
- atbahakat
- In the dictionary, but not a common ingredient in CHamoru food.
- (baw-sue). Cup or tumbler
- (ba-sue-la). Trash, scraps, rubbish
- (ba-taw-tas). Potatoes
- Potatoes were introduced to Guam during the Spanish era. Referenced at least by the years 1685/1686.
- (but-bas). Beard or whiskers; to trim or cut
Batbas guihan
- (but-bas gwee-han). Fish whiskers
Batbas mai'es
- (but-bas my-is). Corn silk
- (but-bas ew-hang). Shrimp feelers
- (bawt-tee). Mix or stir
- Also known as yåka' (dzaw-ka), daña (da-nya), and lehgua (leh-gwa)
Batte
- (bawt-tee).
- Make liquor, brew
- (ba-dzak). Midrib of coconut leaf; the thick part from which the individual leaflets sprout
- I CHamorus, man usa i ba'yak para ma batte i hineksa agaga' (ee tsa-mo-rews, man ew-sa ee ba-dzak pa-ra ma bawt-tee ee he-neck-sa a-ga-ga). The CHamorus, they use the coconut leaf midrib to mix the red rice.
- Man usa lokkue' i ba'yak para ma na daña i mai'es, i lemmai, yan i niyok para i babui (man ew-sa lo-kwee ee -ba-dzak pa-ra ma na da-nya ee my-is, ee lem-my, dzan ee knee-dzok pa-ra ee ba-bwee) They also use it to mix the corn, breadfruit and coconut together for the pig. - B.A.
- Tasi (ta-see).
- Nihi ta tunu gi tasi gi Såbalu (knee-hee ta too-knew gee ta-see gee saw-ba-lue). Let's go barbecue at the beach on Saturday.
- Abuchuelas (a-boo-tswe-las).
- Varieties grown on Guam include Early Bush, Kentucky Wonder, Dade, and Contender. Best planting months are September to April with 50 to 60 days till maturity, and 3 weeks of harvest; available all year. Phaseolus vulgaris.
Bean - winged bean
- Sigidiyas (si-gee-dee-dzas).
- Also known as star beans. Versatile and popular among natives.
- Best planted from September to December; available November through March. Psophocarpus tetragonolobus
Bean - yardlong
Bibenka
Boka
Boñelos lemmai
Bo'ok
Bowl
- Friholis (free-ho-lis).
- Commonly used in kåddon uhang (kaw-dun ew-hang) or shrimp in coconut milk stew.
- Best planted from September to April; available all year. Vigna unguiculata
- Bonita (boo-knee-ta).
- Bonita ma decorate i kek para i fandånggon i che'lu-hu (boo-knee-ta ma decorate ee kek pa-ra ee fan-dawng-gewn ee tse-lue-who). The way they decorated the cake for the wedding is beautiful.
- (be-be under-wood). Chayote
- Also known as chaioti (tsai-oh-tee).
- It's thought that someone in the Underwood family brought this squash to Guam, thus the name. Sechium edule
- kåtnen guaka (kawt-nen gwa-ka).
- (ben-dee, be-ben-dee). Sell; is selling
- Ha bebendi si Tan Ana boñelos yeast yan empanåda gi sanme'nan i gumå'-ña (ha be-ben-dee see tan aw-na bo-nye-los yeast dzan em-pa-naw-da gee san-me-nan ee gew-maw-nya). Mrs. Ana is selling yeast doughnuts and empanåda in front of her house.
- (ben-dee-see). Bless
- Si Jose yan si Påle' Frank, man bendisi i nenkanno' (see hoe-say dzan see paw-lee Frank, man ben-dee-see ee nen-can-nu). Jose and Father Frank blessed the food.
- Setbesa (set-beh-sa).
- (bes-bis). Sizzle
- Kuhlot betde i choda siha (kew-lowt bet-dee ee tsot-da see-ha). The unripe bananas are green.
- (bee-ba) To scatter; hurray (as in celebration)
- At CHamoru christening parties, the godfather, or Ninu, does the biba. The biba is a special moment during the festivities where children gather in front of the Ninu so he can throw up coins around them for the kids to collect.
Biba! CHamoru Kitchen
- A CHamoru restaurant in Portland, Oregon, opened by Ed and Marie Sablan. Ed and Marie are also the founders of PDX671 food truck.
- Biba! CHamoru Kitchen is located at 5013 NE 42nd Ave., Portland, OR, 97218. Phone 503-781-4476.
- https://www.bibachamorukitchen.com/
- (bi-ben-ka). Rice pudding or rice pancake
- Alcoholic drinks
- (bee-bu). Rapid, quick, fast, good
- Yanggen un yalaka' i åhu, munga ma na bibu, ha (dzang-gin ewn dza-la-ka ee aw-who, mung-a ma na bee-bu, ha). When you stir the åhu, don't make it fast, OK.
- dånkolo (dawn-kew-lew).
- (bee-ha). Grandmother
- I yoku nanan biha, ha fa'na'gue yu hafa taimanu ma fa'tinas i tika (ee dzo-kew na-nan bee-ha, ha fa-na-gwee dzu haw-fa tie-ma-knew ma fa-tee-nas ee tee-ka). My grandmother showed me how to make coconut oil.
- (bi-lem-bee-nis). Star fruit or carambola
- Not to be confused with star apple. Green when unripe to yellow when ready to eat. Made of five ridges that run the fruit's length, that when cut, looks like stars.
- Eaten fresh or soaked in fina'denne' (fi-na-de-knee), a CHamoru hot dipping sauce made of equal parts soy sauce and vinegar, to which hot pepper is added (onions and tomatoes when fina'denne' is used for savory foods).
- May be planted any time of year. Available all year. Averrhoa carambola
- (bee-naw-do). Deer
- Gof ya-hu kelaguen binådu yanggen guaha didide'-ha lokkue' mango' (gowf-dza-who ke-la-gwen bee-naw-do dzan-gen gwa-ha lok-kwee mang-u). I really like deer mixed with lemon, salt, onions, and hot pepper, when there is a little bit of ginger too.
- Deer was introduced by the Spanish. Referenced at least by 1772.
- Guam recipes with deer -- deer kelaguen
- (bi-nack-lee). Vinegar
- I man CHamoru, ma usa binakle para meggai na fina'tinas niha (ee man tsa-mo-rue, ma ew-sa bee-nack-lee pa-ra meg-guy na fee-na-tee-nas knee-ha). The CHamorus, they use vinegar in a lot of their cooking.
- (bi-nat-tee). Cake batter
- (bi-nat-tin tee-ra-tee-ra). Syrup for making candy; ice cream
- (bi-na-dza). Satisfied from drinking or eating
- (bi-knee-boo). Very good or surprisingly good
- (bee-ra). Turn or rotate
- Bira i kek gi sanhalom i hotno despues di kuarenta minutos (bee-ra ee kek gee san-ha-lowm ee howt-nu des-pwes dee kwa-ren-ta mee-new-tus). Turn the cake inside the oven after forty minutes.
- (bi-reng-eh-nas). Eggplant
- Many long varieties grow on Guam including Money Maker 2, Fond May, Millionaire, and Kurume. May be planted any time of year, and available all year long. Solanum melongena
- Guam eggplant recipes -- in coconut milk
- (bi-see-knew). Neighbor
- Ayao fan i bisinu didide' ha asukat (a-dzao fan ee bi-see-knew di-di-dee ha a-sue-kat). Borrow ok the neighbor a little bit of sugar.
- (bis-kew-tsu). Biscuit
- Also called krakas (kra-kas)
- (bis-take). Savory beef dish with onions, soy sauce, vinegar, and sometimes achote.
- Guam bistek recipe -- recipe 1
- Åkka' (awk-ka).
- Åkka' un pidåsun mångga para i neni (aw-ka ewn pee-daw-suwn mong-ga pa-ra ee ne-knee). Bite a piece of mango for the baby.
- (blan-ka). White
- Also called å'paka' (aw-pak-a)
- Bendisi (ben-dee-see).
- Si Jose yan si Påle' Frank, man bendisi i nenkanno' (see hoe-say dzan see paw-lee Frank, man ben-dee-see ee nen-can-nu). Jose and Father Frank blessed the food.
- (blet). Blade of an instrument
- (bo-bo-long). Coconut without any meat inside; also means a container made of coconut or bamboo for collecting tuba (too-ba), the edible sweet sap from the coconut flower.
- sotne (sowt-knee).
Boiled
- lokklok (lowk-look).
Boiled food
- sinetnan (si-net-nan).
Boiling sound
- lolokklok (lo-lowk-look).
- (bow-ka) Eaten, consumed
- Ha boka si Jose todu i kelaguen månnak yan titiyas harina (ha bo-ka see ho-say tow-do ee ke-la-gwen maw-nuk dzan tee-tee-dzas ha-ree-na). Jose ate all the chicken lemon salad and the flour tortillas.
- (bo-cow). A bite, mouthful, or morsel
- Dig out or uproot
- (bol-lan). Foam from soupy cooking or spoiled coconut
- (boe-nye-los). Doughnuts or fritters
- (boe-nye-los a-ga). Banana doughnuts
- Guam boñelos aga' recipe -- recipe 1
- (boe-nye-los daw-goo). Prickly yam doughnuts
- Guam boñelos dågu recipe -- recipe 1
Boñelos kalamasa
- (boe-nye-los ka-la-ma-sa). Pumpkin doughnuts
- Guam boñelos kalamasa recipe -- recipe 1
- (boe-nye-los lem-my). Breadfruit doughnut
- Guam boñelos lemmai recipe --
Boñelos månglo'
- (boe-nye-los mung-lu). Typhoon doughnuts
- Månglo' means wind
- Guam boñelos månglo recipe --
Boñelos uhang
- (boe-nye-los ew-hang). Shrimp fritters
- Guam boñelos uhang recipe -- recipe 1
- (boe-nye-los yeast). Yeast doughnuts
- Guam boñelos yeast recipe -- recipe 1
- (bo-ok). Tear out or uproot
- Also known as bokbok.
- (bong-bung). Bamboo container used to carry any liquid
- There is reference that the ancient CHamoru people did carry water in the trunks of the bamboo plant.
Bongbong fagot
- (bong-bung fa-gut). Bamboo container for carrying tuba (too-ba), the sweet sap from the coconut flower.
- Tason (ta-son).
- The pouch inside a fishing net where the fish get trapped.
- Boteya (boe-te-dza).
Bread
Breakfast
- Pån (pawn).
Breadfruit
- Lemmai (le-my). Artocarpus altilis
- Dokdok (dowk-duwk). Seeded breadfruit Artocarpus mariannensis
- Na' oga'an (na o-ga-an) or amotsat (a-motte-sat).
- (bri-lew). Steel wool or brilo
- (bro-as, bro-has). Sponge cake
- Gi antes na tiempo, guaha CHamoru man mafa'tinas brohas taiguini. Ma chåchak lamitå i kahitan Pepsi pues ma tåmpe un pidåson i kahita nu i foil. Yanggen munhåyan ma båtte i yinalaka' i brohas, ma chuda' gi hålom i lamitån kahita ni ma tåmpe. Pues ma na'lågu gi hotno. (gee an-tis na tyem-poo, gwa-ha tsa-mow-rue man ma-fa-tee-nas bro-has tie-gwi-knee. Ma tsaw-tsak la-mee-taw ee ka-hee-tan Pepsi pwes ma tawm-pee ewn pee-daw-son ee ka-hee-ta new ee foil. Dzang-gen moo-knaw-dzan ma bat-tee ee dzi-na-la-kan ee bro-has, ma tsu-da gee haw-loom ee ka-hee-ta na ma tawm-pee. Pwes ma na-law-gew gee howt-knew). In the old days, there were CHamorus that made sponge cake like this. They cut a case of Pepsi in half then covered one half with foil. When they were done mixing the sponge cake batter, they spilled it into the half of the case that they covered. Then they cooked it in the oven.
- tunu (two-knew).
- Kulot chikolati or chokolati (kew-lowt chee-kew-law-tee, tso-kew-law-tee).
Bruñi
Buenas, buenas dias
Bukåyu
- (brew-nyi). Scrub or rub
- (bu-tsi bu-tsi). Fried pumpkin turnover
- Guam buchi buchi recipe -- recipe 1
- (bwen bi-knee-do). A toast, a welcome, a salute
- Also known as bien binidu (byen bi-knee-do).
Buen probecho
- (bwen prew-be-tso). You're welcome
- (bwen-as, bwen-as dee-as). Greetings, hello, good day, good morning
Buenas noches
- (bwen-as no-tsis). Good evening
Buenas tåtdes
- (bwen-as tawt-dis). Good afternoon
- (boo-kaw-dzu). Coconut candy
- Guam bukåyu recipe -- recipe 1
- (boo-la). Lots, many
- Bula trongkkon lemmai gi santȧte i gima niha (boo-la trong-kon le-my gee san-taw-tee ee gee-ma knee-ha). There are lots of breadfruit tree behind their house.
Bulåcho
- (boo-law-tsu). Drunk
Bulokbok
- (boo-lok-book). Bubbling sound, boiling sound
Burnt
- dokngos (dowk-ngos).
- (boo-te-dza). Bottle
Buteyon
- (boo-te-dzun). A half gallon
Buy
- fåhån (faw-hawn).
Printable Guam Chamorro food recipes may be found at Paulaq.com.
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