Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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

me

a

demak

a

betik

a

rengrir

er

ngak.

> My mother and father love me.

Ng

mekngit

a

renguk

se

el

bo

kletkii

a

delak

me

a

demak

el

dibus.

> I get sad when I think of my mom and dad that are gone.

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

soal

a

kulengeseu

er

ngii

el

ngomlii

a

sersel.

> My mom wants me to help her weed her garden/farm.

A

delak

a

mle

oldingel

er

ngak

er

a

berrous

er

a

kesus.

> My mom visited me in my dreams last night.

chudelel

, n.poss.3s

older sister of female.

chudelel

a

klou

er

ngii

el

dil,

klou

el

odos

er

ngii.

diu

, n.

shout; yell.

diu

a

klou

el

ngor;

oldiu,

ngar

er

ngii

a

klou

el

diu,

diul.

kedelal
/kederrir
/delal
/derrir

, n.poss.3s

very large size or quantity of (according to speaker's judgement).

A delal a biskang!

expr.

That's a large spear!.

kedelal a blai

expr.

very large house.

kedelal a ngikel

expr.

very large fish.

kederrir a blai

expr.

very large house.

kederrir a ngikel

expr.

very large fish.

See also:

CHEDIL

Examples:

Ng

mlo

kesib

a

rengul

a

Oskar

er

a

delal.

> Oskar got angry with his mother.

Bengud

a

derrir!

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

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?

Ng

kmal

kmo

delal.

> She really cares for her 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.

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.

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:

Tia

el

ngau

er

a

ingukl

a

kmal

derrir,

mngesakl

a

idungel.

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

Ngka

el

delal

a

bechik

a

ko

er

a

telkib

el

sesmecher.

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

A

delal

a

mesesuau

me

ng

kmal

di

ua

ingii.

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

A

kumekedong

e

a

delal

a

kmo

ng

mechiuaiu.

> When I called her mother said he is sleeping.

kerior

, n.

misfortune; bad luck.

kerior

a

kerrior;

mekerior;

diak

el

lusech;

duubech

a

chelebuul;

kerior

er

ngii

e

a

dita

el

ngelekel

a

mad,

kerririel.

mechas

, n.

old woman; titled woman; foreign woman; male's father's sisters; girlfriend; wife.

mechas

a

chuodel

dil,

mechesei,

mechesil

a

beluu.

merrengel

, n.poss.3s

younger sister of female.

merrengel

a

kekerei

el

odos

er

ngii.

omekuluoll
/omekuloll

, n.

floor beams laid between main floor beams of bai or house.

delal a omekuluoll

expr.

main floor beams of bai or house.

rechudelel /remchudelel	n.poss.3s	her older sisters.
chudelel a delal	expr.	aunt.
See also: MERRENGEL

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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