There are two official languages of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: Chamorro and Carolinian.

Chamorro glossaries are presented on our Guam website, and you can view that chart by clicking here.

Carolinian terminology is presented below.

Arrival:

Arrive

Tooto

Island

Falúw;
Falápi

--Land, Island, nation
--Atoll island or coral island

Earth

Falúw

Sea

Sáát

Sky

Lááng

Also used for heaven or universe

Stars

Fúú

Horizon

Weisát

Directions:

Afalafal

North

Peighitá

Peigh is "half"; - tá is directional suffix meaning up or north

South

Peighitiw

- tiw is directional suffix down or south

East

Peighilong

- long is directional suffix inward toward the land or east

West

Peighiwow

- wow is directional suffix outward toward the ocean or west

To Navigate:

Navigator

Palúw

Steering Paddle

Paddle

Fatúl

Canoe

Waa

Refers to any means of transportation which carries people to another place.

The Sail

Amara

Crew

Schóól sááy

Bow & Stern pieces

Leesóbw

Travel

Sááy;
Fáárágh

Fáárágh is "walking" and is also commonly used for "to travel"

Phrases:

Welcome

Tirow

How are you?

E kke faisúmw?

What is your name?

Meeta itómw?