Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

kesai

, n.

insufficient quantity.
kesai a sesei; mekesai; diak le betok, kesai el udoud.

kesengil

n.poss.3s

at most; at least; a small quantity of something; a large quantity of something (said sarcastically or in astonishment).
kesengil a klsai er ngii; kot er eou el ildois; ng soak a udoud el kesengil e ng $1,000.00.

kekesai

v.s.redup.

rather insufficient.
kekesai a telkib el kesai; diak le betok; ngesonges.

kesai

v.s.

insufficient; not enough; few.

kesengei

v.s.inch.

becoming scarce, few or insufficient

mekesai

v.s.pl.

insufficient; not enough; few (when describing multiple objects, people, etc.).
mekesai a kesai; sesei el kall, sesemuk el chemachel; mekesai el udoud.

kesai el malk

expr.

a bit of chicken.

me a kuk kesengil

expr.

so at least.

Examples:

Ak rullii er a kesengil, e ng teruich el klebesei.

> I'll fix or do it in ten days at most.

A kesengil!

> There are too many.

A ngkedem a kesengil, e ng kleim el kluk.

> Your fine is at least five dollars.

A ududek a mekesai er a ududem.

> I have less money than you.

More Examples:

Ng mekesai a tekoi er a Belau me ng betok a lleng el tekoi er a bebil er a beluu el lousbech.

> Palauan language is limited and there are many foreign words being used.

Ng betok a cheldim me a kuk kesengil e beskak a chimo el keremlal.

> You caught a lot of fish so at least give me one red snapper.

Akmekesengil a lius!

> That's a lot of coconuts.

Ke mekudem el mo er a Oreor me a kuk kesengil e bo mtuchakl el oldingel er a rechedam.

> You visit Koror frequently so at least visit your relatives.

kuk

, mod.

instead; by contrast; in addition; then; next; in turn; just.
kuk a omech a tekoi; ng kuk ker? ng kuk ngera soam? ng kuk ngii!

kuk chimong

expr.

a different one.

kuk tang

expr.

another one.

Examples:

Ng kuk oberaod er a chelechol er a rriil, me lak lemechas a rengmiu er a tekoi el kulekoi.

> They would weigh more than the sands of the sea, so my wild words should not surprise you.

Kuk bo er a Droteo.

> Go to Droteo instead.

Mokokau el mengederuar er a klengoes me a kuk debo dorar er ngii.

> Easy stirring the soup so that we do not have to reheat it again.

A klou a rengul a kuk ungil er a mesisiich el chad.

> It is better to be patient than powerful.

Ng sebechem el ngosuir a Dios el merekii a eanged e rullii el kuk mo medecherecher er a bltanget el deel?

> Can you help God stretch out the sky and make it as hard as polished metal?

Proverbs:

A uel el kuk meremang el me omeklatk me ng mo uchul a klengitereng

> When the purple swamp hen appears, it brings remembrance

There is a song (Oumachas) from which this saying derives: Once there was a young couple who made love in a secluded spot in the taro garden. While they were lying together a purple swamp hen darted out of the brush startling the couple. Eventually love cooled, but thereafter whenever the girl saw a purple swamp hen while she worked in the gardens, she recalled her lover. Hence any occurrence that brings back fond memories.

More Examples: