CHamoru

American  

[chuh-mawr-oh, chah-mawr-raw] / tʃəˈmɔr oʊ, tʃɑˈmɔr rɔ /

noun

CHamorus, plural CHamoru plural

1. a people inhabiting the Mariana Islands, or people of CHamoru origin or descent.

2. the Austronesian language of the CHamoru.

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Spelling

The first two letters are both capitalized in the official spelling of CHamoru to indicate that they make a single sound. Several other languages have such digraphs marked by spelling conventions, such as the ligature œ in French or æ in Old English.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• CHamoru
  plural
• CHamorus
  plural

Etymology

Origin of CHamoru

First recorded in 1990–95; a native name based on the indigenous orthography of the Spanish Chamorro ( def. )

Example Sentences

It is named after the first CHamoru general, Vicente T. Blaz, known as Ben, who went on to become Guam’s Republican representative to the House from 1985 to 1993.

From New York Times • Jul. 7, 2023

Over centuries of migration, the CHamoru have become a minority on the island.

From New York Times • Jul. 7, 2023

The first textbooks to be written by CHamoru, centering their own people and explaining Guam’s history and colonization, would be published next year.

From New York Times • Jul. 7, 2023

Roy Gamboa, a member of Guam’s native CHamoru people and a Marine veteran.Credit...

From New York Times • Jul. 7, 2023

All that remained to face the Japanese was a small Navy detachment and the CHamoru Insular Force Guard, who had a few basic training rifles.

From New York Times • Jul. 7, 2023