Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

chedam

, n.

father (used as term of address).
chedam a sechal el oungalek; chedam a okedongel a ngalek el mo er demal.

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 delam!

> Your mother smells of fish! (insult).

Ng kmal kmo delal.

> She really cares for her mother.

A delak a mesengaked.

> My mother is slim.

Bellachel a delam!

> Your mother's unclean! (insult)

A delak me a reta er ngak a tirke el chad el orrenges a tekingel a Dios e oltirakl.

> My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and obey it.

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 mlo mesubech a brak.

> My mom went to get some elephant ears taro.

A delak me a demak a betik a rengrir er ngak.

> My mother and father love me.

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.

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.

Ng techa ngklel a delam?

> What's your mother's name?

duul

, n.poss.3s

mother (esp., when referring to matters of kinship).

duul a delak	expr.	my maternal grandmother.
duul a demak	expr.	my paternal gramdmother.

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

Search for another word: