Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

ko

, mod.

just; kind of; similar to; like.
ko a chelutel; ua ingii, chad er a Merikel e mengedecheduch el ko er a chad er a Belau.

ko er a

mod.

kind of; like.

kora

cont.

ko er a

Synonyms: ,

Examples:

Ke ko er a melecholb el terriid.

> You take a shower really fast.

Me a rechad er a blil me a beluu a ko er a kmal mlo mechas a rengrir, e le ngika el buik a kmal mesisiich el diak a meringel er ngii.

> His family and the villagers were quite surprised at the boy's sudden good health and quick recovery.

Ke ko er a kmal sobekang.

> You look really happy or elated.

Ng ko er a bekebul a bung.

> It smells just like a flower.

Ak ko el mesubang.

> I've just gotten (a chance) to study.

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a chad er a Ngcheangel, el di me chemed er a Ngkesol.

> Like the man of Kayangel, who procured his gifts from Keso

The saying refers to a man from the atoll of Kayangel, some twenty miles north of the main islands of Palau, who, on his way south to visit friends, stopped at an intermediate reef, Kesol, to fish for a present for his host. Refers to a person who, en route to a visit, tries to borrow a present from another guest; any person who suddenly wants to borrow money.

Ng ko er a chelatngikl el diak lebeldakl oltellel e dingemuu.

> Like the honey bee, celebrating without first boiling down the coconut syrup.

Once coconut syrup, dripping from the cut flower stem, is collected it is thickened by boiling. The honeybee, however, collects his nectar, puts it in the hive without boiling it, then proceeds to fly around noisily as though celebrating the completed task. Hence, to talk or boast loudly about successes and accomplishments when one has none; to make plans but never carry them out; to celebrate without cause.

Ke ko er a tuu er a Cheangel.

> You're like the Ngcheangel banana (meduch a ngerel).

You're all talk and no action).

Ng kora chebiei el Cheangel, el di ta e chutur a ta el suk.

> Like the breadfruit of Kayangel, just one rotten piece will spoil the whole bunch.

One bad person can ruin the reputation of a whole group. It is said of the Chebiei variety of breadfruit found at Kayangel atoll that one rotten one will spoil others packaged with it. Similar to "One bad apple spoiled the bushel."

Ng ko er a ebedel a Mengellakl el di mochu meleketek.

> Like the clouds of Mengellakl that just pile up

High points like Mengellakl in Palau sometimes create clouds as the moisture-laden air is lifted by the wind to higher cooler altitudes. This saying applies to a situation or a fad that spreads; drinking to excess.

More Examples:

Ng ngar er ngii a chull e ng ko er a di chemechemel a olik.

> It's raining here but only lightly.

Se el sungata er a ngke el ngalek a ko er a kmal el ungil.

> The silhouette of that woman is very attractive.

Ka mdort ailecha el kukau ngkung e ke ko er a kmeed.

> Would you clean them taros as you are closer to them.

Ngka el John el ko er a di ua chelideuid; ngera telemall?

> John is really in a hurry; what's wrong?

Errang, diak el ko er a sebechem remusech a belsiich e domengur?

> Honey, cant you pound some taro so we could eat?

kom
/ko

, pro.

you (nonemphatic, plural).
ko a kemiu; ko mekerang? ko mo er ker e sechelei? ko mla mei!

Examples:

A omelekingel a Droteo a ko er a soal el mo er a party.

> Droteo spoke as if he wants to go to the party.

Ng ko er a ko el ta el mmermang.

> This is the first time you've been here in ages.

Ng ko er a diak dekled.

> We have no direction or organization.

Ng ko er a medal a temamuu.

> His or her face is ugly.

Ng ko er a delsachel el dilukai.

> He's quiet and motionless (like a carved doll).

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a cherellel a beab el di ta e keroker.

> It's like the birth of a rat with one offspring per mother.

It's something that happens just once, something I put up with only once. According to this saying, the rat bears but one litter. Hence the application "once is enough" about an act that bears no repeating.

Ng ko er a chameiu.

> Like coconut syrup.

A general reference to incestuous relations. That this is a recent idiom, probably first used during the period of Japanese administration, is suggested by the Japanese word "ameyu," used in Palau to mean coconut syrup. The incident from which the idiom derives is said to be one in which a Palauan coconut-syrup maker had relations with his wife's sister.

Ng ko er a meiko er a Tmel, el di mengereel el olsiu er ngii er a ngau.

> Like the blind man of Ngetmel, twisting twine into the fire.

The image is that of a blind elder, warming his frail body beside the fire while twisting strands of fiber into twine against his thigh. Only as he pulls the finished twine away, he pushes it into the flames. The saying may be applied to any utterly pointless activity or dissipation of wealth.

Ng ko er a remechas el kerekikl er a klukl me a rames.

> Like an old woman who is cautious about coughing and breaking wind.

Among elderly women, it seems, coughing sometimes produces the unwanted effect of breaking wind. The idiom may be applied to any action that might produce an undesirable side effect, such as a hasty decision at a political meeting. As a caution, it suggests the need for leaders to consider all the consequences.

Ng ko er a kaeb er a Chelong el di bekerurt er a ongor.

> Like a racing canoe of Ngerchelong, fast by word of mouth.

Apparently refers to a canoe race of the past when a club of Ngerchelong lost after having given verbal display of greatness. Refers to the bluff or braggart (all-mouth, no action).

More Examples:

Ko mla kimer a bo doruul er a klukuk?

> Have you all agreed what we will be doing tomorrow?

Ngka el delal a bechik a ko er a telkib el sesmecher.

> My mother in law is a bit under the weather.

Ng ko er a mererengang tia el eanged me a kuk mocha metetermokl er a uldesuek el kirem.

> As the sky turns red I am perplexed about my thoughts for you.

Kom di belsiochel e kemam a ngar er tiang el menga tungd.

> You all are so pretentious and fancy and meanwhile we are just eating scrap.

Alii! Kom kerkikl se el bo moumenged me ng diak mtemall a ochaieo e ng mekull.

> Dont mess with the spotted eagle ray when you go fishing as they are sacred.

omesiich

, v.t.

adorn (oneself, something); pretty (oneself) up; decorate; beautify.
omesiich a locha besichel; mesiich; mesichii a skuul; menglebokel, dil a mla mesichii, belsiochel.

ta
/tang

, num.

1 [one] (unit of time; human; counting).
tang a ochur el chimong , ta el buil, ta el tekoi, ta el chad.

tal

cont.

ta el

tara

cont.

ta er a

el di ngak el tang

expr.

alone; by myself.

ko el tang

expr.

the very first time; the first time after a long while.

ngii di el tang

expr.

either one; anything.

ta el chad

expr.

one person; (persons) having same mother or father; (persons) of same blood.

ta el rak

expr.

one year.

ta el sils

expr.

one day.

ta er kemam

expr.

one of our relatives (usually, close); one of us.

ta er ngak

expr.

one of my relatives (usually, close).

ta er tir

expr.

one of them.

Examples:

Te mle ungil a rengrir er a chelsel a ta el sikang.

> They were happy in an hour.

Ng cheiko a omekrael er a ta er a cheiko.

> The blind leading the blind.

A chesimer a ulebok er a ta er a resensei el mengelekolt er a klas.

> The door was opened by one of the teachers to cool down the classroom.

Me ta er a oluches.

> Give me one of the pencils.

Ng mla mo er ngii a kmeed el ta el sandei er a lekie er tiang.

> It's been almost a week since he's been staying here.

Proverbs:

Ng cheiko e omekrael er a ta er a cheiko.

> A blind man leading another blind man.

The application is identical to that of the familiar English idiom

Ng ko er a cherellel a beab el di ta e keroker.

> It's like the birth of a rat with one offspring per mother.

It's something that happens just once, something I put up with only once. According to this saying, the rat bears but one litter. Hence the application "once is enough" about an act that bears no repeating.

Ng kora chebiei el Cheangel, el di ta e chutur a ta el suk.

> Like the breadfruit of Kayangel, just one rotten piece will spoil the whole bunch.

One bad person can ruin the reputation of a whole group. It is said of the Chebiei variety of breadfruit found at Kayangel atoll that one rotten one will spoil others packaged with it. Similar to "One bad apple spoiled the bushel."

Ng ta el suk me ng diilut re Meduu.

> A full basket was dropped in Ngeremeduu bay.

From the folk tale about Obak era Kedesau on his way to a feast being given in honor of his wife by her adoptive father. While crossing Ngeremeduu Bay between Ngatpang and Ngeremlengui, Obak dropped a basket of Palauan money overboard. Despite this terrible loss, he still had the courage and sufficient cash to carry off his visit in high style. The saying may be used to reassure someone, following a loss, reminding them that Obak era Kedesau recovered from an even greater loss.

Ng ko er a chelebed er a Utaor, el di ta temetemir

> Like the blow at Utaor, one stroke for all

A person or perhaps a club of the hamlet of Utaor (a hamlet of either Koror or Chol) offended a major village and, in consequence, the village retaliated by attacking the whole hamlet. The idiom applies to any general statement or punishment that might better be directed toward a particular group or individual

More Examples:

Ngka el chad a mla mo dengerengel er a ta er a redil.

> This guy is having an affair with another woman.

Ng diak lsoam el ko er a mo ousueleb me a lechub e ng belsoil er a ta er a taem?

> Do you want to have lunch or dinner sometime?

Rungalek, ka bo mocheuir a ta er a taxi el mei me lotekak el mo er a bdelul a chang.

> My child, go hail me a taxi cab so that I can take it to the dock.

Okedei me a ta el kebesengil a buil.

> Thirty first day of the month.

Me ta er a taod

> Please give me a fork

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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