TODAY'S CHAMORRO WORD : BÅSTA

flickriver.com

BÅSTA : enough

One of the first Chamorro words I learned as a kid, because the manaiña were always saying it to us!


Båsta!  Enough!


Can be said when someone is misbehaving, or pouring you a drink, or dishing you food, or whatever action you want stopped.


Kao båsta hao chumocho?  Are you done eating?


Båsta hit!  Slang, meaning "Are you kidding?"  Sometimes, just saying "båsta" conveys the same message.


Båsta can also mean "never mind."
Kao para ta fan malak i tenda?  (Are we going to the store?)
Båsta.  Atrasao esta.  (Never mind.  It's too late.)


Båsta de...  Enough + verb
Båsta de tumånges, nåna!  Stop crying, mom!
Båsta de umåguaguat!  Stop being unruly!


Båsta yo'!   I'm done!  (as in, I'm done eating)
Depending on the tone, "Båsta yo'!" can also mean "I've had it!  I'm outta here!"


Båsta ke...  It's enough that....


Jose : Kao un tungo' na måtai si Juan, asaguan Lole'?  (Did you know that Juan died, Lole's husband?)
Maria : Båsta ke meggai famagu'on-ña i palao'an.  (It's enough that she has a lot of children.)
Meaning : On top of him dying, she has all those kids to look after. 


Påle' : Ana, dispensa yo' sa' ti siña yo' matto ta'lo agupa'. (Ana, forgive me as I can't come again tomorrow).
Ana : Tåya' guåha, Påle', båsta ke måtto hao på'go na ha'åne. (That's OK, Father, it's enough that you came today).


Båsta ya!  Enough already!


Luis : Miguel, ina'agang hao ta'lo as Kiko. (Miguel, Kiko is calling you again.)
Miguel : Båsta ya! (Enough already!)
Meaning : Can't he leave me alone?!?


Or...as a transition in a conversation.  For example, at the end of a joke or a story, one can transition away from that to a new topic by saying "Båsta ya!" in a cheerful way.


From the Spanish word "basta" which means "enough."