Tuesday, April 5, 2011

TODAY'S CHAMORRO WORD : BÅBA

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BÅBA : Bad

Did you ever think you'd see Michael Jackson in a Chamorro language word list?  My bad.

Båba is one of those words that makes me thankful the å was added to our Chamorro spelling.  Prior to that, there was no way to immediately distinguish baba as in "bad" from baba as in "open," as neither word needs the glota ( ' ) either.

Baba i bentåna.  "Open the window?"  Or, "The window is bad."  Thanks for the å.

Båba = bad.    Baba = open.

Båba ma sångan i taotao gi tatten-ña.  It's bad to talk about someone behind his/her back.

Yute' i babå-mo!  Literally : Throw away your badness.  But more : get rid of your vice or defect.

Babå-mo!  Literally : Your badness.  But more : You fool! 

Depending on your relationship with the speaker, "Babå-mo!" can mean something a whole lot lighter, like "You're crazy," in response to a joke or something silly.

Kao båbåba ilu-mo?  Literally : Is your head bad?  But more : Are you crazy?

Mama'baba.  To work or act improperly.

Mama'bababa i computer.  The computer is acting up.

Lalålålo' i saina sa' mama'bababa i patgon-ña.  The parent is angry because his/her child is acting up.

Båsta mama'baba!  Stop acting up!  Behave!

ARE YOU ALL USING THE CHAMORRO WORD OF THE DAY?
BÅSTA MAMA'BABA POT FABOT!

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