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:

Ng diak lsoam el mo er a mubi, me a ka lsoam el mo er a restorangd, e kau a di ngara a soam?

> You don't want to go to the movies, and you don't even want to go to the restaurant, so what do you really want to do?

Ak kmal sekkak el me el melai er kau, e kau a chetim.

> I've gone to all this trouble to come and get you, and (now) you don't want (to go).

Ngara me ke di ouchad er a Siabal er kau?

> Why are you acting like a Japanese?

Lak mchansing er kau.

> Don't be too sure or proud of yourself.

Kau me ngak a mo er a stoang.

> You and I will go to the store.

Proverbs:

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.

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?

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

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.

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

> Are you the son of Redechor

is that why you're standing around so much?

More Examples:

Motebedii a buk er kau.

> Take out your book

E kau, te tela a rechad er a blim?

> And you, how many people are in your family?

E kau a mlechell er ker el beluu?

> And you, where were you born?

Kau ke chad er ker?

> Where are you from?

Ng sebechek el melidai er kau el mo er a beluu?

> Could I catch a ride with you to the city?

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:

A rrat a mla er sei.

> The bicycle was over there.

Ak milengang aike el tuu me se el ringngo.

> I was eating those bananas and that apple.

Ak mo kmang aike el tuu me se el ringngo.

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

Se er a kbo er a Merikel, e ak kilie er a blil a Toki.

> When I went to America, I lived at Toki's place.

Se el te er ngii.

> How clever of him!/What a style!

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:

Ak telkib el olbechall se el kuloik.

> Im a bit awkward when dancing.

Se el lebo lemarek a rokui e mongarm.

> Taste them when you finish.

Ng dimlak kisang er sei.

> I didnt see him or her there.

Alii, ke mo kerekikl se el morael er a rael.

> Be careful when walking on the streets.

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

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

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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