Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

blai

, n.

house; household; family; members of family; enclosure; container.
blai a teleketek e cheldool le kiei er ngii a rechad; blai a osechelel a delengchokl.

blik

n.poss.1s

blim

n.poss.2s

blil

n.poss.3s

blil a blai el ngii a oublai er ngii.

blimam

n.poss.1pe

blid

n.poss.1pi

our (inclusive) house, household, etc.
blid a blai el kid a oublai er ngii.

blimiu

n.poss.2p

blirir

n.poss.3p

babelblai

n.

(a wealthy person's) house.
babelblai a blai el ilteet; meteetel.

blil a beras

expr.

sack/container for rice.

blil a cheluch

expr.

any container for gasoline, cooking oil, etc..

blil a dangs

expr.

dance hall.

blil a ngal

expr.

termites' nest.

blil a ngikel

expr.

aquarium.

chad er a blai

expr.

members of the family.

See also:

Examples:

Aika el udoud a medela er a cheral a blai.

> The amount of money has become more than the cost of the house.

Dosei te mla mei, me bechere me lebe ltuu er a blai.

> They've come after all, so you might as well let them into the house.

Ng mla er ngii a dilubech el tekoi er a blik, me ng dimlak lsebechek el mei.

> Something happened at home, so I couldn't come.

A klukuk e te me er a blik.

> Tomorrow they're coming to my house.

A uche er a kbo kmerek er a subelek, e a Droteo a mirrael el mo er a blil.

> Before I finished my homework, Droteo went home.

Proverbs:

Kom chameiu el blai.

> You're getting involved with someone too closely related.

Possibly derived from an incident in which a coconut syrup maker was incestuously involved with his wife's sister.

Ke ko er a otaor el di omtitechakl el diak a blil.

> You're like a floating log without a resting place.

You have no fixed abode.

Ng ko er a uul, el teleu a blil e oleker er a chull.

> Like the uul [Cettria cantans?] with its house open, calling for rain.

The uul may be heard to call out usually just before it rains; some say that it is calling for rain. This seems foolish, since the bird constructs its house with an opening at the top that will let rain in. A person who makes a decision or starts some action without adequate preparation is likened to the uul.

More Examples:

A blimam a oikab el kmeed er a blil a charm.

> Our house is a bit closer to the zoo.

Ng mla er ngii a dengchel ngka el tolechoi er a remechas er a blai.

> The baby had a serious recognition comparison by the ladies of the house.

Ak mla er a blai.

> I was at the house.

John, mousubes e ak mla touchakl er a blil a Ngerkumer me ak mo telkib el meoud.

> John, forgive me, I made a stop at Ngerkumer's and may be a run a little late.

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.

bluu

, n.

center or middle (esp., of hull of canoe); large central section of taro patch; aisle (of church, etc.).
bluu a blngel, bluu er a mlai, bluu er a brer, bluu er a mesei.

chedil

, n.

mother (used as term of address).
chedil a okedongel a ngalek el mo er a delal, chedil a kubengkem.

delak

n.poss.1s

delam

n.poss.2s

delal

n.poss.3s

delal a chedil er ngii; dil el oungalek er ngii a delal.

delmam

n.poss.1pe

delad

n.poss.1pi

delmiu

n.poss.2p

derrir

n.poss.3p

delal a blai

expr.

very large house.

delal a chelebuul

expr.

disaster; calamity.

delal a delak

expr.

my maternal grandmother.

delal a diall

expr.

tremendous ship.

delal a kar

expr.

syn. ongael.

See also: , , , ,

Examples:

A delak a ngar er a uum.

> My mother is in the kitchen.

Ng techa a chomulsa a delal?

> Whose mother did you see?

A delak me ngak a mo er a Oreor.

> My mother and I are going to Koror.

Ng delak el mechas a rengul er a teng er ngak.

> It's my mother who is astonished at my grades.

Bellachel a delam!

> Your mother's unclean! (insult)

Proverbs:

Ng kolia a delal.

> He ate his mother.

To marry or have intercourse with the wife of one's brother. There is a potential reciprocation in which money may go from an elder brother in return for food and service from a younger brother. Once established, particularly where the younger couple have children, a cycle of this type may continue after the younger husband has died. Marrying the wife of a deceased younger brother, then, will interrupt such a cycle. Similarly, sexual relations with this woman may jeopardize the cycle.

Bengud a derrir.

> Stinking of fish

Used of the people of Ngerechelong (northern Palau) who specialize in trap fishing. Trap fish are said to be especially oily and smelly.

A mesei a delal a telid.

> The taro field is the mother of our life

Not only is taro an important staple in the Palauan diet, but a serving of taro is essential at any feast and taro is the essential food in a food-money exchange. Its importance is recognized in this idiom.

More Examples:

A delak a ulelsisechakl er ngak el mengaus a llel a such el mo oulkou.

> My mom tried to teach me how to weave hats from pandanus leaves.

A delak me a tonari er kemam a mlo er a sers, aleko te mo meruul a billum.

> Our neighbor and my mom went to the farm, they will be making grated cassava.

A kumekedong e a delal a kmo ng mechiuaiu.

> When I called her mother said he is sleeping.

Chedam/chedil, ak ousbech a udoud el mo er a daingak.

> Father/mother, I need money to go to college/university.

A delak a mle oldingel er ngak er a berrous er a kesus.

> My mom visited me in my dreams last night.

chelechedal

, n.poss.3s

trunk (of tree; plant; etc.); torso; basic part or principle of.
chelechedal a chelechad er ngii.

chelid

, n.

god; deity; spirit; sacred object (about which some prohibition is made); center.
chelid a bladek, betok el kakerous, ochao a chelid er a Ngchesar, Ngirabeliliou a chelid er a Beliliou, oumesingd el beluu a di ngar er ngii a chedul.

Chedul

n.poss.3s

god; deity; spirit; sacred object (about which some prohibition is made); center; religion; belief.
chedul a chelid er ngii, Dios a Chedul a beluulechad.

kelel a chelid

n.

food of the gods.

bedengel a chelid

expr.

sacred object; food forbidden to village or family.

bedengel er a chelid

expr.

sacred object (e.g., stone with image of deity); food forbidden to village or family.

chedul a bilas

expr.

center of boat.

chedul a blai

expr.

main horizontal beam of thatched roof.
chedul a kerrekar el llemolem er a uchub er a blai.

tekoi el chelid

expr.

supernatural event.

tekoi er a chelid

expr.

religious or spiritual matters.

See also:

Examples:

A Kukumai a ngiluu a kall el mo er a delal.

> Kukumai brought the food to her mother.

Ng techa a chomulsa a delal?

> Whose mother did you see?

Bengud a derrir!

> Their mothers smell of fish. (Used as insult against people from Ngerechelong.)

Ng mlo kesib a rengul a Oskar er a delal.

> Oskar got angry with his mother.

Ng kmal kmo delal.

> She really cares for her mother.

Proverbs:

Ng kolia a delal.

> He ate his mother.

To marry or have intercourse with the wife of one's brother. There is a potential reciprocation in which money may go from an elder brother in return for food and service from a younger brother. Once established, particularly where the younger couple have children, a cycle of this type may continue after the younger husband has died. Marrying the wife of a deceased younger brother, then, will interrupt such a cycle. Similarly, sexual relations with this woman may jeopardize the cycle.

Bengud a derrir.

> Stinking of fish

Used of the people of Ngerechelong (northern Palau) who specialize in trap fishing. Trap fish are said to be especially oily and smelly.

A mesei a delal a telid.

> The taro field is the mother of our life

Not only is taro an important staple in the Palauan diet, but a serving of taro is essential at any feast and taro is the essential food in a food-money exchange. Its importance is recognized in this idiom.

More Examples:

A kumekedong e a delal a kmo ng mechiuaiu.

> When I called her mother said he is sleeping.

A delal a mesesuau me ng kmal di ua ingii.

> Her mother is an idiot and she is just like her.

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

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

Tia el ngau er a ingukl a kmal derrir, mngesakl a idungel.

> The fire in the hearth is too big; remove some firewood.

kekerei
/kekeriei

, v.s.redup.

small; young; (eyes) slit; (so) crowded (as to appear smaller).
kekerei a diak leklou; Bung a kekerei er a Chesuch.

lemelemel

, n.poss.3s

length; continuation; addition; extension (in a straight line).
lemelemel a ua kllemengtel; metongakl el ngalek el di lemelemel a chedecholl; lemelemel a omelemolem er ngii; melemolem, lomelemii a omerolel.

melemumuu

, v.t.

desire (person) sexually; lust after.
melemumuu a doimumuu; delenguul, melemumuu a klauchad; dongerenger, tomall klauchad.

meleng

, v.t.

borrow; rent; hire.
meleng a omed; longir; lmeng a udoud, meleng er a oles, lengil a udoud.

merredel
/merreder

, n.

leader; ruler; chief; person in charge.
merreder a kebekuul; oungerachel; menguteling a beluu; oba klemat er a urreor; bdelul a cheldebechel a merreder.

omesolel
/omesolel a blai

, n.

proper location of family house (usually, residence of family or clan head).
omesolel a blai er a kebliil; blai er a telungalk; diak le blil a chad me a bechil.

teblo
/teblong

, num.

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

tekoi

, n.

word; speech; language; action; deed; matter; custom; advice (given verbally); issue; case; event.
tekoi a cheldecheduch; tekoi el lolekoi a rechad; omelekoi, tekingel.

tekingek

n.poss.1s

tekingem

n.poss.2s

tekingel

n.poss.3s

tekingel a tekoi el ngii a outekoi; tekingel a merreder.

tekingam

n.poss.1pe

tekinged

n.poss.1pi

tekingiu

n.poss.2p

tekingir

n.poss.3p

blil a tekoi

expr.

person about whom others are gossiping or making derogatory comments.

melai a tekoi

expr.

bring or convey news, ideas, opinions of; take advice of.

tekoi el beluu

expr.

decision of the community.

tekoi er a beluu

expr.

matters of community interest.

tekoi er a blai

expr.

private matters.

tekoi er a daob

expr.

special words spoken to calm the sea.

tekoi er a ngor

expr.

fib; spoken language.

tekoi er a rael

expr.

non-private matters; public knowledge.

tekoi er a renguk

expr.

what I believe or think to be true.

tekoi er a resechal

expr.

(typical) men's behavior.

blungel	n.poss.3s
belngel /blngel	n.poss.3s	blngel a bluu er ngii el mlai, dengchokl er a blngel a bai, loia er a blngel a ulaol.
belngel a blai	expr.	middle of the house.
belngel a omoachel	expr.	middle of the river; midstream.
belngel a sers	expr.	middle of the garden.
blungel a brer	expr.	raised platform in center of raft.
blungel a mesei	expr.	center of taro patch.
bluu el dang	expr.	center of house.

delengulel /dellengulel	n.r.s.poss.3s	ridiculing. dellengulel a dellenguul er ngii; delenguul.
delenguul el blai	expr.	group of related people committing incest.
See also:

blai er a kansok	expr.	weather station.
chad er a kansok	expr.	weatherman.

doimumuu	v.pf.3pl.inan.
delemumuu	v.r.s.	sex-crazy; lustful. delemumuu a deleberuou.
delemumuu el blai	expr.	incestuous household.

lemelemek	n.poss.1s
lemelemem	n.poss.2s
lemelemam	n.poss.1pe
lemelemed	n.poss.1pi
lemelemiu	n.poss.2p
lemelemir	n.poss.3p
lemelemel a blai	expr.	length of house.
See also:

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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