Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

, mod.

contentless word proceeding polite imperatives.
ka a kau; Bung ka mei, ka morael, ka bo ruchei.

Ka bong.

expr.

Go ahead.

Ka morael.

expr.

Leave.

Ka mosang.

expr.

Look at this.

Examples:

Ng ka lechad me a ka lkeang.

> He's a good-for-nothing.

Ng diak a ungil el kerrekar el ourodech a mekngit el rodech, el ka mekngit el kerrekar el ourodech a ungil rodech.

> No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

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?

A Droteo a di kea lungil el omengur me a ka lungil el mechiuaiu.

> Droteo can neither eat nor sleep well any more.

A Droteo a dimlak longang me a ka lullim a merael.

> Droteo neither ate nor drank and just left.

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a Ngerechebal, el ka lsingd er a Imeliik me a ka lsingd er a Ngerekebesang.

> He's like Ngerechebal Island, which is neither closer to Imeliik nor closer to Ngerekebesang.

i.e. He's indecisive or not clearly taking sides. A person who is "on the fence," changeable and indecisive. The saying may also be applied to a partly westernized Palauan.

More Examples:

Ka bo mchais a eru er a llel ongael el mei.

> Go pluck two leaves from the Purple Viper's-bugloss tree and bring them back here.

Diak ka mongebelung.

Ka mnguu tia el terekill el mo er a blil Dachelbai e msbedii el kmo ng mla er a Ulang el sbedel a Ocherolel a Kitalong.

> Bring this basket of prepared food to Dachelbai's house and tell him that it's from Ulang for Kitalong's house-party.

Ka mluut el mo klou a ngerem e ng dimlak krengesau.

> Can you speak a bit louder, i didnt hear you?

Ka bo mesang ngke el dechuu el malk el mla omechell e mngai teblol er a ngisel me desengoes.

> Go see the hen that has laid her eggs and bring a couple so we can cook them.

kele

, mod.

don't ... (because); I wonder if; maybe.
kele a tekoi el kirel a omengelechel; alii ng diak; kele bochu mongesuch; kele morutech er tilecha el kall.

E kele ng locha sebechek

expr.

I could, maybe I could . .

kele bochung

expr.

don't go there.

kele locha

expr.

maybe.

kele mdung

expr.

You don't say! (typically used as friendly reply to friendly teasing; lit. don't say that).

kele morael

expr.

don't go.

kele moumulak

expr.

don't lie.

kele mrurt

expr.

don't run.

Examples:

Kele bo er a katsudo e le ke mengkar er a blai.

> Don't go to the movies because you're to watch the house.

Kele lekau a ngiluu a olechesek.

> I wonder if it wasn't you who took my pencil.

More Examples:

Rebladek a kele te mlo medengei el kmo belumam a di mechitang

> The spirits knew that our home land is becoming deserted.

Aika chemais a kmal di milengemais er a kesus; kele lengar ngii a secher.

> The crickets were really chirping last night; maybe someone is sick or died.

merael

, v.t.

go; walk; travel (particular distance); leave; (water) flow/move (in pipe); (blood) flow out.
merael a omekebakes, omakes; merael el mong; omerolel.

remolii

v.pf.3s

remolii a mla merael er ngii; mla remolii a cheroid.

rirolii

v.pf.3s.past

dorael

v.imp.3pi

let's go.

merael

v.erg.

merolang

v.inch.

merolang a tobeda el merael; skoki a merolang.

merolung

v.pred.

merolung a kmedu el merael; skoki a tobedung, ng merolung.

merorael
/mererorael

v.i.redup.

walk aimlessly; stroll.
merorael a mererorael.
mererorael a merael el diak lorreched; mererorael er a chelechol.

morael

v.imp.

reall

v.a.s.

(particular distance) is to be walked, traveled or covered.
reall a kirel el merael; ng reall a kekemanget e mochu er a Ngerechelong; remolii.

rrael

v.r.s.

(particular distance) walked/traveled/covered.
rrael a mla remolii; beches el rael a rrael, ki mla merael er ngii.

sekerael

v.s.

travel a lot; go from place to place; can't settle down.
sekerael a sekebais.

merael a rengul

expr.

indecisive.

merael el mo

expr.

becoming; on the way towards (being).

See also:

Synonyms:

Examples:

Ak merael el mo er a mado.

> I'm walking to the window.

Ak di telkib e merael.

> I'll be here for just a short while and then go.

A eanged a mekngte me lak dorael.

> The weather's getting worse, so let's not go.

Metia er a leme a Droteo, e ng mlochu sebecham el merael.

> When Droteo came (as planned), we were able to leave.

Te oketa mlo kaingesengasech er a bilas e merael.

> They each scrambled onto the boat and then they left.

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a rrull el di mededeod el mengang el merael.

> Like a ray-fish, eating while walking.

The ray-fish does not stop swimming while chewing food it has gathered while weaving along the ocean floor. The saying may be applied to any rude behavior or particularly to the act of walking and eating, which is considered impolite. It can also be applied to a person who is trying to hurry through a job without giving it careful attention.