Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

blengur

, n.

meal, or feast often associated with a cultural ceremony.

blengur

a

belsoil,

blengrul

a

tutau

me

a

sueleb

a

blengur.

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:

Ng

mlo

kesib

a

rengul

a

Oskar

er

a

delal.

> Oskar got angry with his mother.

Bengud

a

delam!

> Your mother smells of fish! (insult).

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?

A

delak

a

mesengaked.

> My mother is slim.

Proverbs:

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.

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.

More Examples:

A

delak

a

soal

a

kulengeseu

er

ngii

el

ngomlii

a

sersel.

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

Ngka

el

delal

a

bechik

a

ko

er

a

telkib

el

sesmecher.

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

A

dillel

a

delmam

a

lesiluk

a

okdemelam.

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

A

delak

a

milsa

ta

er

a

bekerkard

el

techel

a

til.

> My mom gave him a piece of Palauan money for his wallet.

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.

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:

Examples:

Ng

techa

a

chomulsa

a

delal?

> Whose mother did you see?

Ng

kmal

kmo

delal.

> She really cares for her mother.

Ng

mlo

kesib

a

rengul

a

Oskar

er

a

delal.

> Oskar got angry with his mother.

A

Kukumai

a

ngiluu

a

kall

el

mo

er

a

delal.

> Kukumai brought the food to her mother.

Bengud

a

derrir!

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

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.

Tia

el

ngau

er

a

ingukl

a

kmal

derrir,

mngesakl

a

idungel.

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

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.

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:

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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