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.

A delam!

> Your mother! (strong insult)

Ng kmal kmo delal.

> She really cares for her mother.

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

> Kukumai brought the food to her mother.

A delak a ngar er a uum.

> My mother is in the kitchen.

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 me a demak a betik a rengrir er ngak.

> My mother and father love me.

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 soal a kulengeseu er ngii el ngomlii a sersel.

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

Ng techa ngklel a delam el mechas?

> What's your grandmother's name?

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:

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 mlo kesib a rengul a Oskar er a delal.

> Oskar got angry with his mother.

Ng techa a chomulsa a delal?

> Whose mother did you see?

Ng kmal kmo delal.

> She really cares for her mother.

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:

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.

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:

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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