Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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:

Bengud a derrir!

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

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.

A delak a mo okisak.

> My mother will wake me up.

Ng mlo kesib a rengul a Oskar er a delal.

> Oskar got angry with his mother.

Proverbs:

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.

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.

More Examples:

A kumekedong e a delal a kmo ng mechiuaiu.

> When I called her mother said he is sleeping.

A dillel a delmam a lesiluk a okdemelam.

> Our uncle received the money for my mom's funeral.

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

> My mom visited me in my dreams last night.

A delal a mesesuau me ng kmal di ua ingii.

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

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

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

chelebuul

, n.

poverty; misery; pitifulness.
chelebuul a kerrior el duubech; metacherebesul, betok a ngesonges er ngii; chelebulel.

mengelim

, v.t.

accompany (especially, at night); escort; converse or pass time with; entertain; keep (someone) company; stay with; comfort; provide support (to someone sick, scared, anxious, etc.).
mengelim a cholmengii; obengkel el menglou er a rengul; cholim a chelebuul; mengelim er a medakd; chelmengel.

chelebulek	n.poss.1s
chelebulem	n.poss.2s
chelebulel	n.poss.3s	chelebulel a chelebuul er ngii.
chelebulam	n.poss.1pe
chelebuled	n.poss.1pi
chelebuliu	n.poss.2p
chelebulir	n.poss.3p
chelebuled	interj.	Poor us! [typically used in a joking way when people make a mistake or something slightly bad happens.]
chelebuul er a mekemad	expr.	war poverty.
See also: , , ,

cholmengii	v.pf.3s	cholmengii a mengelim er ngii.
chillemengii	v.pf.3s.past
cholim	v.pf.3p.inan.
chelmengel	n.poss.3s	companion; escort; care-giver; someone soothing or comforting someone else. chelmengel a chad el mengelim er ngii, chelmengel er a chelebuul.
chachelim	v.recip.	accompany each other; be companions (with each other). chachelim a kachelim, di du el mengelim, cholmengii a medakd, cholim a chelebuul, olengeseu el modiak a dakd me a klengit el reng, chelmengel.
chellim	v.r.s.	accompanied; escorted. chellim a mla mechelim; chelmongel me temengelim er ngii cholmengii a medakd, cholim a chelebuul, chelmengel.
chelmongel	v.a.s.	is to be accompanied/escorted. chelmongel a kirel el mechelim, mengelim er a medakd, cholmengii a mekngit a rengul; chelmengel.
mechelim	v.erg.	mechelim a chellim; ngar er ngii a chelmengel, cholmengii, obengkel er a chelebuul me a kodall; mengelim.
mengelim a chelebuul	expr.	comfort; console.

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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