TODAY'S CHAMORRO WORD : MÅTA

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MÅTA : the area in the face around and including the eyes

Another word common to most of the Austronesian language family (spread over Southeast Asia, the Pacific and as far west as Madagascar near Africa).  "Eye" (not the eye ball itself but the eyes as seen on the face) is translated in the various Austronesian languages as follows :

CHAMORRO	MATA
PALAUAN	MAD
TAGALOG	MATA
ILOKANO	MATA
INDONESIAN	MATA
HAWAIIAN	MAKA
MAORI (New Zealand)	MATA
TAHITIAN	MATA
SAMOAN	MATA

Bonito matå-ña!  His/her eyes/face are (is) beautiful!

Måtan lalålo gue'!  S/he has an angry look (face)!

Makkat matå-ña.  His/her face is stern.

Måtan hånom.  Spring (water).

Måta can also mean a hole dug for planting.

Måtan chotda.  The hole dug for planting banana trees.

I especially enjoy the colloquial usage of måta to describe someone who is obsessed with something.  Someone who is always looking for a way to get or make money is called "måtan salåppe'."  This perfectly describes such a person.  S/he has eyes fixated on money (salåppe').

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