Guam

IPA/ɡwˈɑːm/
KK[ɡwˈɑm]IPA/ɡwˈɑːm/

Guam — noun

1. Guam is an island in the western Pacific Ocean that belongs to the United States

1.nounA2
Definition

Guam is an island in the western Pacific Ocean that belongs to the United States as a territory, with its own elected local government, Chamorro cultural heritage, and limited self-rule.

Example

Dewi spent two weeks on Guam learning about traditional Chamorro weaving and dance.

collocation: on Guam for island location

People born in Guam are US nationals but cannot vote for president.

collocation: born in Guam for place of birth

Common collocations
  • on Guam
  • in Guam
  • visit Guam
  • citizens of Guam
  • fly to Guam
  • leave Guam
  • the people of Guam
  • the island of Guam
Synonyms
  • Guåhan

    original Chamorro name for the island; used by indigenous speakers and in cultural contexts

  • the island of Guam

    formal or geographic register, often used in official documents

Grammar Patterns

in Guam

on Guam

to Guam

from Guam

Usage Note

Frequently used with the preposition on (on Guam) rather than in (in Guam), following the pattern for islands. The phrase the island of Guam is common in formal or geographic writing.

Common Mistakes

I am going to in Guam next month.
I am going to Guam next month.
No article or preposition is needed before the place name itself.
Guam is a state of the United States.
Guam is a territory of the United States.
Guam is not a state; it is an unincorporated territory with different legal status.

Guam — geographical name

Word family

  • Guamanian
    nounB1
  • Guamanian
    adjectiveB1
  • Chamorro
    nounB2
  • Chamorro
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Guam, Saipan, and Puerto Rico are all US territories in the Pacific or Caribbean but differ in political status and culture. Saipan is part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which has a closer political relationship with the US than Guam's unincorporated territory status. Puerto Rico is a larger Caribbean territory with its own unique commonwealth status and no direct connection to Micronesia. Hawaii is a full US state, not a territory, and its residents can vote in presidential elections, unlike those in Guam. While all four destinations are Pacific islands with tourism industries, only Guam is located in Micronesia and retains Chamorro as a core cultural language.

Guam ↗SaipanPuerto RicoHawaii ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • the island of Guam
  • the people of Guam
  • the government of Guam
  • the territory of Guam
  • Guam residents
  • Guam tourism

Phrases

  • live on Guam
  • move to Guam
  • visit Guam
  • leave Guam
  • grow up on Guam
  • return to Guam

Prepositions

  • on Guam
  • in Guam
  • from Guam
  • to Guam
  • near Guam
  • off Guam

Etymology

ChamorroSpanishEnglish

The name Guam comes from the Chamorro word 'Guåhan,' which is traditionally explained as meaning 'we have' — based on an oral legend that the first settlers exclaimed 'Guåhan!' ('We have everything we need!') upon arriving. The name was recorded by Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan when his fleet reached the island in 1521, and the spelling gradually evolved to 'Guam' in European maps and documents.