Rojaijú, also known as “rohayhu” or “rojaijó”, is an expression in the Guaraní language that serves to describe a deep feeling of love and / or affection towards another person.
It is estimated that it comes from a Guaraní legend where two lovers, unable to profess their love openly, find it necessary to try to express their affection publicly but without being discovered.
As for the language itself, according to linguistics experts, Guaraní represents one of the most important languages in the Southern Cone, especially in Paraguay, since it is an official language according to the 1992 Constitution, as in Bolivia since 2000.
Likewise, after Latin, it is the most widely used idiomatic resource for the designation of fauna and flora, thanks to the skills and knowledge of the indigenous people about the jungle during expeditions. This, by the way, represents an important addition of terms to science.
Meaning
In general terms, the expression means "I love you", although some experts and Internet users affirm that it can also be used to say "I love you". On the other hand, if you want to denote effusiveness in this regard, the following expressions can be made:
- "Rohayhu'eterei": I love you very much or I love you very much.
- “Che py'alite guive rohayhu”: I love you with all my heart.
- "Pray rohayhu": we love him.
- "Opaite ára che rohayhu": and you will always be my love.
Origin
Talking about the origin of this word makes it necessary to mention the roots of the Guaraní language, which is currently spoken by more than 10 million people and is considered one of the official languages of Paraguay since 1992, and of Bolivia as of 2000.
It is made up of the set of dialects typical of the Tupí-Guaraní cultural group and due to the location of these indigenous settlements, it has allowed the adaptation of certain expressions to Spanish. In fact, it is estimated that this language has varieties such as Corrientes (spoken in Argentina) and Paraguayan.
On the other hand, in view of the above, Guaraní –as well as other indigenous dialects- allowed the elaboration of myths and legends that ensured the permanence of the language as well as the culture.
That is why some Internet users indicate that the word comes from the story of two lovers who used the expression to be able to express their love openly.
About the legend
It is estimated that there are two variants of the story:
-One refers to a couple who falls in love despite the fact that the woman is married to a very important chief of the tribe, so he always protects and watches over her.
-The other has the variant that the woman is actually the daughter of the chief. This man, by the way, is described as hard-hearted and incapable of caring about other people's designs.
In both situations, the couple falls in love almost from the first meeting. That feeling seems to grow rapidly over time, although they both realize they must do their best to hide it.
For this reason, in an effort to show their affection through an expression that was only understandable to both of them, one of them proposed the word "rohayhu" as the way to say "I love you." In this way, when one said it, the other would be able to understand the intention behind those words.
Outcome
At this point the story raises two final scenarios:
-In the heat of battle, the man receives the thrust of a spear, so he fell into a river unable to get out of the eddies. The last words were "rohayhu" just as his lover watched him die.
-The woman's father discovered the love that they both had, so he did not hesitate to entrust a difficult task: he had to remain standing and without moving at a certain point in the forest until the return of the chief. The young man remained there for longer than the established period.
The chief, upon his return, found an impressive image. The man was alive but his feet had taken hold of the ground, his legs had joined each other, and branches and leaves emerged from his arms. From there, the birth of one of the most revered trees of the Guaraní culture arose: the ñandubay.
Phrases in Guarani
Being one of the most important languages within the Latin American indigenous community, it is important to mention some of the most used phrases and words:
- "Pombéro": spirit of the night.
- "Alicura": rock as white as milk.
- "Maitaporá": it is a qualifier that serves to highlight the beauty of a boy or girl.
- "Voi potá": although it is understood that "rojaijú" is I love you / I love you, this word is also used to give more or less the same connotation.
- "Ani ndepochy": don't be mad at me.
- “Ejumína ko'ape”: please come here.
- "Che rechaga'úpa ajeve reju": are you here because you miss me?
- "Nde reju che aju haguégui": you and I come from the same place.
- "Ndaikuaái araka'épa ou": I don't know when it will come.
- "Opyta opytu'u hagua": he stayed to rest.
- "Osapukái mombyry guive": shouts from afar.
- "Aha mbo'ehaópe": I will go to school.
- "Rohayhu, roheka, rohecháro ikatu che ñe'a opytu'u": "I love you, I am looking for you, perhaps when I look at you, my being rests." (Excerpted from the poem Rohayhu, Roheka by Lino Trinidad Sanabria).
Curiosities
- “Voi potá” is another phrase in Guaraní that has a more or less similar connotation as “rohayhu”.
-It is estimated that the origin of the word is thanks to a Guarani legend.
-The Guaraní is spoken by almost 90% of the population in Paraguay. The importance is such that there are even online dictionaries, pages and other electronic sources translated into Guarani and Spanish.
-It is also estimated that after Latin, it is the second language used for the scientific designation of animals and plants.
-Although the writing "rojaijú" is accepted, it is understood that this is the transcription of the pronunciation of the term. In fact, the way to spell it correctly is "rohayhu."
-According to some experts and Internet users, “rohayhu” is one of the most beautiful words in the Guaraní language.
References
- How do you say this in Guaraní? I love you so much. (2016). In HiNative. Retrieved: July 5, 2018. In HiNative of hinative.com.
- 22 words that you need in your life but that unfortunately only exist in indigenous languages. (2017). In Upsocl. Retrieved: July 5, 2018. In Upsocl of upsocl.com.
- Expressions of courtesy. (sf). In South Portal. Retrieved: July 5, 2018. In South Portal of e-portalsur.com.arg.
- Guaraní. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: July 5, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
- Guarani language. (sf). On Wikipedia. Retrieved: July 5, 2018. In Wikipedia at es.wikipedia.org.
- Rojaijú. (sf). On Daniel Rucks Blog. Retrieved: July 5, 2018. In Daniel Rucks' Blog at danielrucks.com.
- Rohayhu, roheka (I love you, I'm looking for you) - poetry by Lino Trinidad Sanabria. (sf). In Portal Guaraní. Retrieved: July 5, 2018. In Portal Guaraní portalguaraní.com.