Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

alits

, interj.

You're in trouble. [Typically said between children.]

alits er kau	expr.
alits er kemiu	expr.

ior
/eor

, mod.

depends; is up to; is the choice of. [modifier used in sentences to indicate that the choice is dependent on a particular person or group of people]

ior er kau

expr.

up to you; whatever you want.

More Examples:

Ng kmal di ior er tir.

> It's really up to them.

kau

, pro.

you (emphatic, singular).
kau a chad el mongedecheduch er ngii; kau ke techang? kau me ngak me ngii.

Examples:

Ak chemat er kau.

> I'm proud of you.

Ng mle ulsiich a renguk er kau.

> I was proud of you.

Ng kau a mo chuarm.

> You are the one who will suffer.

Kau, ng kmal milkolk a bdelum?

> Are you stupid or something?

A ultirek er kau a kmal meringel er ngak.

> My love for you causes me pain.

Proverbs:

Ngak a ngit me kau a ngoi?

> I receive it and you ask for it?

A man asks for and receives that which he needs from a second party. A third party, learning of this, asks the first party for it. Used as implied or generally about any unreasonable request

Ak meruul me kau er a terudel?

> I build it and you destroy it?

May be applied to a person who feels his aims or projects are being destroyed by the actions of another.

Kau, ke ngelekel a Redechor, me ke di dechor?

> Are you the son of Redechor

is that why you're standing around so much?

A sebiil e kau aimong.

> I am sick with sebiil, but what about you?

When frambesia (yaws; Palauan: kerrdik) was common in Palau almost everyone had the disease as a child, and commonly the entire body was covered with painful sores. When the infection covered the anal region it was known as sebiil. The saying implies that everyone has had sebiil, a painful and disgusting disease. Hence, "What makes you feel you're so good?

Ke ko er a katuu el di kau el di melecholb er kau.

> You're just like a cat washing yourself.

i.e., you have to do everything yourself because your relatives are neglecting their obligations to you.

More Examples:

Ng di ungil a kumekedong er kau er a ta er a taem?

> Is it OK for me to call you sometime?

A bilis a kuk soal kau er ngak el soak kau.

> The dog likes you more than I do.

Motobed a buk er kau.

> Take out your books.

Ngerang a kmal klou a ultutelel er a klengar er kau?

> What is the most important in your life?

Ng mera el ungil tia el sunga er kau er a bilas.

> Your picture of the boat is very good.

kmo

, v.t.

to like someone dearly; express extra or preferential love, care, attention to one person; love; care for; take care of; favor; give preference to. [Unlike the English word 'love,' the usage of this word tends to imply favoritism.]

metik

, v.i.

find.
metik a seliik; mla smiik; mla siekii; mla metik a ririid el kiis.

se
/sei
/isei

, pro.

that object far from speaker and far from listener.
sei a melutk er a cheroid er a mengedecheduch; ngar sei; diak el tiang; sei er a mong a skuul.

se el

conj.

when (in the future); whenever.

se el sekum

conj.

if (used in negative sentences).

sel

cont.

se el

er se er a

expr.

when (in the past).

er se er a Sebadong

expr.

last Saturday.

er se er a taem er a mekemad

expr.

during the war.

er sei

expr.

over there; in that place.

mekera isei

expr.

[used to refer to a method of doing something that the speaker has forgotten.]

ngera isei

expr.

thingamajig; thingamabob; whatchamacallit. [used to refer to something whose name the speaker has forgotten.]

se di kau

expr.

it's up to you.

se el soam

expr.

whatever you want; it's up to you.

se el tebel

expr.

that table (over there).

se er a

expr.

conj. when (in the past).

tela isei

expr.

[used to refer to a number that the speaker has forgotten.]

tia isei

expr.

what's-his-name; what's-her-name. [Used to refer to someone whose name the speaker has forgotten.]

Examples:

Ng meral melemalt a lomechas me ng di mo mas er sel kired el melecholech er ngii.

> It is exactly marked and it is to cut when when we need to saw it.

Ak oulengechel er a mangidab se el lebo ldibus el kmo ng mo er ngii a klou el eolt.

> Whenever a spider has disappeared (from its web), I take it as a sign that there will be a big storm.

Ke kmal menga el mo soak el ngalek a chomua isei.

> When you act that way, you become more and more my favorite child.

Ak mo kolii se el ringngo me aike el tuu.

> I am going to eat up that apple and those bananas.

Se el blai a meteet er a chemachel.

> That family is well-known to have resources in betel nut.

Proverbs:

Se el obutek a medak.

> When my eyes are closed.

When one dies the eyes are "closed"; hence, to be dead. The term for "death" is mad as is the term for "eye," (mad; madak: "my eye"). Some sources suggest that the term for death refers to the closed eyes of a dead person.

More Examples:

Tirka el ngelekek a kmal diak ledelodau se el bebil er a taem.

> My kids are so unruly sometimes.

Diak lungil se el molim a rrom e momekall, ng mekull.

> Its not wise to drink alcohol and drive, its agaisnt the law.

A rechad er a Emmaus a mo er a ikelesia se el sandei.

> People from Emmaus attend church on Sunday.

Ng sebechem el ngmai a betotem er se el dilochel?

> Can you dive down into this channel and collect something from the sea floor?

Ng mekngit a renguk se el bo kletkii a delak me a demak el dibus.

> I get sad when I think of my mom and dad that are gone.

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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