Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

bedengel

, n.poss.3s

body; corpse; skin; color; type; kind; appearance; physique.
bedengel a chesbereberel, mamed a mellemau a bedengel. bedengel a chelechedal, ungil okerulel el ngalek a ungil a bedengel.

chansing

, v.t., [From Japanese anshin]

be too sure or proud of (oneself).

chung

, n.

luck or fate.

di

, mod.

only; just; any.
di a olkael; di kau a mei e diak a ngodech; di tedei el buik a mong; se di kau, se di ngii.

el di mle ngii

expr.

all by himself; on his own.

ngii di lebong

expr.

whatever it is; whatever there may be.

Examples:

A ultirek er kau a di uai a chudel er a mekesokes.

> My love for you is boundless.

A Toki a di kea lemesuud er a Droteo.

> Toki is strongly attached to Droteo./It's no longer possible to pull Toki away from Droteo.

Ng di osisiu.

> It's just or exactly the same.

Ng kesib a rengrir e le a remeklou el chad a di melekoi e ng diak el loruul.

> They are angry because the adults are all talk and no action.

A sensei a menguiu me a lechub e ng di ngii a ngalek el lmuut el chuieuii a kot el paragraph.

> The teacher reads, or the child reads the first paragraph again on his own.

Proverbs:

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 chellel ongos el di mengeleu e tmat a deluus.

> Like eastern showers from white clouds, still the raincoat is ripped

During the months of the east wind, During the months of the east wind, roughly January through June, rain often comes from innocent-looking white cloud and is accompanied by brief gusts of wind strong enough to tear the traditional betel-nut-spathe raincoat; hence, an opponent whose strength is greater than anticipated.

Ng ko er a kedarm el di metirem e metord.

> He's like the chambered nautilus whose shell is very fragile.

When provoked, he gets easily irritated or angered. The Palauan believes that the chambered nautilus lives in the sea at great depth and, at the slightest touch against a rock, its shell is broken and it drifts to the surface where it dies. The saying may be applied to a poor sport, one who angers easily or who reacts badly when the victim of a prank.

Ng di ua dorael er a medal a oles.

> It's as if we were walking on the blade of a knife.

i.e., we're treading on dangerous ground; if we make one wrong move, we're finished.

Ng ko er a teribsel a daob el di mei e mo diak.

> It's like the foam of the sea, which forms unexpectedly and then disappears.

It's a matter that comes up for lengthy discussions and then is dropped without resolution or effect. Some things, like sea foam, drift on without settlement. Endless discussion without reaching agreement.

More Examples:

Ng mlo meoud er a tutau me ng di milsngii a riid e obes aika el suelebel.

> He was running late this morning and left without his lunch.

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

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

A rsul a babii a kma el kirel di tang.

> The stabbing of the pig should only take once.

Ak di meruul a kall e merekong.

> I only cook the food.

Ng oldubech a ungelel a ngelekek me ng di merael a mbesel me tia bilek el dekmesang er a ngibes.

> My baby is teething and drooling so much that my shirt is now wet from the drool.

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.]

mla

, v.s.

was/were (located); existed.
mla a melekoi er a rrekui el tekoi; mla mong; mla er ker; mla er a skuul.

bla

v.s.hypothetical

mla

aux.

has (done something).

mlar

cont.

mla er

mlara

cont.

mla er a

a lebla er ngii

expr.

if there had been.

mla mo

expr.

has become.

ng mla er ngii

expr.

there has or have been; there was or were.

Examples:

Ng mla merkakl a tekingel.

> He swallowed his words (i.e. he went ahead and did something he said he would never do.)

A Toki a mla omechell.

> Toki has had children.

Ng mla meluches a babier.

> The letter has been written.

ng mla mo delul.

> it had become burned was visibly roasted.

Ngar ngii a chad er a Kayangel el mla mo smecher er a leptospirosis?

> Is there anyone from Kayangel who has ever had leptospirosis?

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a chad er a Ngesias, el ngemuu er a mla mokom.

> It's like when the men of Ngesias clamored over what they had lost (after a party of raiders had attacked without warning and taken a head as a trophy).

The men of the Ngesias (Peleliu) village club were sitting near their clubhouse one evening when raiders broke through the brush, shouted wildly, and excaped with the head of one of them. When they recovered their senses, the men jumped to their spears and shouted threats into the darkness of the surrounding brush. Aroused by the commotion, the village chief appeared and ,when appraised of the situation, admonished them to be quiet since the fuss would gain nothing. "Don't cry over spilt milk."

Ng ko er a Ngiramesemong, el omilt a mla me e mong.

> Like Ngiramesemong, rehashing what has been finished.

Pertains to a person who repeatedly reminds another of past favors or continually recalls the mistakes of others. (My sources no longer recalled the episode or story from which this idiom derives.)

Ng mla merekakl a tekingel.

> He swallowed his words.

An inconsistent person, especially one who has stated that he would never do something, then does it.

Ng mla mkelii a tual.

> He cut down his own banana.

A man supplies fertilizer (money) for a banana tree that, eventually, provides fruit (gifts of food). The cycle, in this saying, is compared with that of the food-money cycle of a marriage in which the wife's clan provides food and service, while the husband's clan provides occasional payments of money. If a banana tree is cut down before it bears fruit, the cycle is interrupted. Hence, a man who marries incestuously within his own clan and thereby inhibits the foodmoney cycle.

A rekung el daob a mla otitech a rekung el beluu.

> Sea crabs have pushed out land crabs.

Outsiders have taken over the land or titles of local people. An outsider (e.g., adopted child, friend) has become more important than a blood relative.

More Examples:

Ke mla er a blai er a elii?

> Were you at the house yesterday?

Dachelbai a mla okedii er a Ulang, ngera te locha kaketib er chelechang.

> Dachelbai brought himself close to Ulang, what kind of schemes are they planning now?

Ng mla er ngii a klaiuengader er a bai er a kesus.

> There was a farewell party at the community house last night.

Tia el oak a mla metecherakl. Ka mhantai mel mengubet.

> The anchor is stuck. Back up and see if it will come out.

Aika bla kues.

> I have seen these.

mo

, aux.

will; shall; become; get.
mo a melekoi er a ngar medad; mo er a klukuk; ng mo el merekong? ng mo e mei.

bora

cont.

bo er a

mlo

aux.past.

became; got.
mlo a melekoi er a taem el tekoi a dilubech; mlo kot er a rurt; mlo smecher; mlo er a omerael.

mlor

cont.

mlo er

mlora

cont.

mlo er a

mora

cont.

mo er a

ng mo er ngii

expr.

there will be.

Examples:

Ng mo kolii a bobai.

> He is going to eat up a particular papaya/some papaya/the papaya.

A eanged a soal el mo ungil er a klukuk.

> The weather looks as if it might be good tomorrow.

Ng mocha er se el taem el leblechoel el mo oldingel a Fern.

> It was almost time for Fern to visit.

Ak mo er a mesei el mo melai a teblo er a brak.

> I'm going to the taro garden to get some yellow taro.

Ng soal el mo (er ngii a) chull.

> It looks as if it's going to rain.

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a chad er a Ngerechelong, el di bita el mo dechor er a debsel a lei.

> Like the people of Ngerechelong, standing together on the base of the coconut tree.

The mound or hump that forms at the base of the coconut tree is said to represent the highest ranking village clan. The leader of that clan is spoken of as "standing on the mound." In the idiom, it is suggested that the people of Ngerechelong (northern Palau) would all like to be leaders-all standing on the mound at the same time. The idiom may be applied where too many people try to direct an operation; too many leaders.

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.

Ng ko er a teribsel a daob el di mei e mo diak.

> It's like the foam of the sea, which forms unexpectedly and then disappears.

It's a matter that comes up for lengthy discussions and then is dropped without resolution or effect. Some things, like sea foam, drift on without settlement. Endless discussion without reaching agreement.

Metkul a bkul a Ngirair, e klou el Belau el mo er a Ngerechelong.

> From the Metkul boundary point at Ngirair, Palau is yet huge up to Ngerechelong.

This saying is given two meanings, both negative, pertaining to the people of northern Palau and to Ngaraard particularly: (i) the people of northern Palau are so provincial that they still think Palau is a huge country; (2) the people of northern Palau are the biggest liars (a play on "to deceive," which sounds like Belau [Palau] ). The idiom may be shortened to "Men of the point" (Chad ra bkul), referring to a point of land at Ngirair marking the boundary of Ngaraard. Or the act of patting the elbow (bkul) may carry the same meaning. Actually, the idiom is of fairly recent vintage, pertaining in part to resistance on the part of some of the people of northern Palau to administrative programs instituted by the Japanese.

Ng kora osechel a mengur, el di ngar er a milkolk el mo er a milkolk.

> Like coconut water, passing from darkness to darkness.

Water, drunk from a coconut, passes from the dark of the nut to the dark of the mouth. Some discussions, such as those of village leaders, are secretively passed from mouth to mouth without public discussion.

More Examples:

Ng sebechem el mo er a Ikelesia el obengkemam er a Sandei?

> Can you go to Church with us on Sunday?

Ak omdasu el mo meruul er a berruk er chelecha el wikend.

> I think I will put together a bamboo raft this weekend.

A delak a mlo er a ukeruul er a tutau. Ak mlo olekerd er ngii.

> My mom went for a check up this morning. I went to drop her off.

Ng soam el mo er a chelebacheb er a Sabadong?

> Do you want to go to Rock Island on Saturday?

Ak mo omechar a kelam el beras me a kansume.

> I'm going to the store to buy rice and canned meat.

mong

, v.i.

go (in a direction not towards either the speaker or listener).
mong a merael mo cheroid; skuul a ngar a mong.

Bong!

v.imp.

Go! Go ahead!.

bocha
/bochang

v.inch.hypo.

may become.

bochung
/bochu

v.hypothetical

is about to go.

bong

v.hypothetical

mlong

v.past

went.
mlong a mla mong; mlo er a skuul.

mochang
/mocha

v.inch.

is beginning to arrive; is just arriving.
mochang a omerolel el mong; locha mochang.

mochung
/mochu

v.pred.

is about to go.
mochung a kmeed el mong; ke mochung? ak mochung.

el mo

expr.

until.

el mo el mong

expr.

(do something) in a continuous fashion; go on or keep on (doing something).

ng mochu er ngii

expr.

there is about to be.

nguu el mong

expr.

take.

Examples:

Ng mocha er se el taem el leblechoel el mo oldingel a Fern.

> It was almost time for Fern to visit.

Ng oliuid a tekoi er a Merikel el mo tekoi er a Belau.

> He's translating English into Palauan.

Ng sebechem el mo ngmai a betotem er sel tmolch?

> Can you pick up something from the bottom of that deep water/ocean?

A lsoal a rengum el me kmeed er a renguk, e ng di ua chad el soal el merael el mo er a chiloil el ngar er a chelmoll.

> When your heart wants to come close to my heart, it's like a person who wants to travel to the rocks in the reef.

A ngelbesel a rengul a urrolii el mo mkidekelii.

> Her lust led her to defile herself.

Proverbs:

Metkul a bkul a Ngirair, e klou el Belau el mo er a Ngerechelong.

> From the Metkul boundary point at Ngirair, Palau is yet huge up to Ngerechelong.

This saying is given two meanings, both negative, pertaining to the people of northern Palau and to Ngaraard particularly: (i) the people of northern Palau are so provincial that they still think Palau is a huge country; (2) the people of northern Palau are the biggest liars (a play on "to deceive," which sounds like Belau [Palau] ). The idiom may be shortened to "Men of the point" (Chad ra bkul), referring to a point of land at Ngirair marking the boundary of Ngaraard. Or the act of patting the elbow (bkul) may carry the same meaning. Actually, the idiom is of fairly recent vintage, pertaining in part to resistance on the part of some of the people of northern Palau to administrative programs instituted by the Japanese.

Ng ko er a chad er a Ngerechelong, el di bita el mo dechor er a debsel a lei.

> Like the people of Ngerechelong, standing together on the base of the coconut tree.

The mound or hump that forms at the base of the coconut tree is said to represent the highest ranking village clan. The leader of that clan is spoken of as "standing on the mound." In the idiom, it is suggested that the people of Ngerechelong (northern Palau) would all like to be leaders-all standing on the mound at the same time. The idiom may be applied where too many people try to direct an operation; too many leaders.

Ng kora osechel a mengur, el di ngar er a milkolk el mo er a milkolk.

> Like coconut water, passing from darkness to darkness.

Water, drunk from a coconut, passes from the dark of the nut to the dark of the mouth. Some discussions, such as those of village leaders, are secretively passed from mouth to mouth without public discussion.

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:

Ak ulemekall el mo er a stoang e ng mo diak a eolt er a taia er a mlik.

> I was driving to the store when I got a flat tire.

A orekemel ngii el udoud a diak di lultuil er a klungel el meliuekl, ng mo uldak er a rengelel a omelsechel me a ngeiul el mo er a Beluulechab el ngar er a debii.

> The value of such stone money is not only the sheer size of the discs, but the physical and treacherous labor of carving them, and then transporting them back to Yap via outrigger canoe.

Ke mo merael er a oingerang el mo er a Belau?

> When are you leaving to Palau?

Ak mo er a mesei el mo melai a teblo er a brak.

> I'm going to the taro garden to get two yellow taro.

Ng soak el mo bechiil er a uchei er a bo lokolem a rekik.

> I want to get married before I turn 60.

ngar

, v.s.

be (located); exist; be alive.
ngar a outeliil; chad a ngar; ngar er ngii a klengar er ngii; charm a ngar.

ngar ngii

cont.

ngar er ngii

ngarker

cont.

ngar ker

ngar er a bab a rengul

expr.

conceited; disrespectful; proud; arrogant; haughty; snobbish.

ngar er a bab el chad

expr.

one's superior; wealthy/well-to-do person.

ngar er a eou a rengul

expr.

(person is) humble/respectful.

ngar er ngii

expr.

there is.

ngar ker

expr.

where is it.

Examples:

Ng ngar er a oderuchel.

> He's on an errand.

A blik a ngar er a delongelel a blil a Toki me a Droteo.

> My house is located between Toki's house and Droteo's house.

Ng techa el chelid er tir a sebechel el dulii a kirel a ngar er a medad el sils?

> Which of their gods can predict the future?

Ng ngar er ker el ralm a chomullim er ngii?

> Which water did you drink?

Ng ungilbesum el ngar er tilechang?

> Are you comfortable over there?

Proverbs:

Ng ngar ngii a melebisech er a chutem e imiit

> Are there any who spear at the ground and miss?

Used to describe something that is easily accomplished.

Melim e menga er a ngar er a ucharm.

> To eat and drink by the mast tip.

The ucharm (bird) is the hardwood tip at the top of the canoe mast. The person to whom the idiom is applied is accused of thriving on gifts from other places. Particularly it may be applied to persons of a highranking village who rather expect that visitors in canoes from other villages will come provisioned with gifts-thus, those who watch for the canoes. Sometimes the idiom goes: Ngkora chad ra Oreor, "Like the man of Koror," with reference to the high ranking community of Koror in central Palau.

Ng kora osechel a mengur, el di ngar er a milkolk el mo er a milkolk.

> Like coconut water, passing from darkness to darkness.

Water, drunk from a coconut, passes from the dark of the nut to the dark of the mouth. Some discussions, such as those of village leaders, are secretively passed from mouth to mouth without public discussion.

More Examples:

Tia el siasing er kau el ngar er a chelbacheb, tiang ngerang el dengchokl er ngii? Ng brer me a lechub e ng totang?

> Your picture at the rock island, what are you sitting on? Is it bamboo raft or tin canoe?

Ngar er ker a uked er a mekebud?

> Where is the sardine fishing net?

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.

A Lurvey a mlo elireuakl e ngubetii tia el medalia el ngkedel a Wilbur el mla er a chiklel e nguu el turecheklii er a deel el ngar er a bebul a blil a Wilbur.

> Lurvey bent down and removed Wilbur's medal from his neck and hung it from a nail at the top of Wilbur's pen.

Ak mo er a stouang, ngar er ngii chomousbech?

> I'm going to the store, do you need anything?

ngera
/ngerang
/ngarang
/ngara

, pro.

what; which; what kind of; anything (but or except).
ngerang a ker; ngera ke melekoi? tia ng ngerang? ngera soam?

ngii

, pro.

he/she/it (emphatic).
ngii a melekoi el kirel a chad me a klalo; ngii el dil, ngii el kall, ngii el beluu; ngii el urreor; ngii el udoud.

ngii di el

, pro.

any.

singio

, n., [From Japanese]

trust; reputation.

meruul a singio er ngii

expr.

show (oneself) in a good light; show (oneself) to be responsible or trustworthy; put one's best food forward.

Examples:

Ng ungil a singio er ngii.

> She is trustworthy.

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:

Me ta er a oluches.

> Give me one of the pencils.

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

> They were happy in an hour.

Ng di mle ngii el tang el mo ngmasech er a rois el mo meluluuch. Me se er a bocha lekebesengei, e a Jesus a di mle ngii el tang.

> He went up a hill by himself to pray. When evening came, Jesus was there alone.

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.

A blai a mlukbeches er a chelsel a ta el buil.

> The house was renovated in a month.

Proverbs:

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 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

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 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.

More Examples:

A rsul a babii a kma el kirel di tang.

> The stabbing of the pig should only take once.

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.

Ak meleng a udoud el diak lengesonges me a lechub lemekesai er a ta el telael.

> I'm borrowing money not less than a thousand dollars.

Ak mesobil. Ng dirkak a tang me ng bechiil.

> I'm single. I have never been married.

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

> This guy is having an affair with another woman.

tab

, n.

destination.
tab a motab; tabeluach.

teblo
/teblong

, num.

2 [two] (animal; nonliving thing).
teblong a ochur ; bduu a teblong. mengur a teblong; teblong el blai.

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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