Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

di

, mod.

only; just; any.
di a olkael; di kau a mei e diak a ngodech; di tedei el buik a mong; se di kau, se di ngii.

el di mle ngii

expr.

all by himself; on his own.

ngii di lebong

expr.

whatever it is; whatever there may be.

Examples:

Te di mle diu el merael.

> They both left at the same time.

Ke di tmak er a llel a omerael.

> Why are you just inviting yourself to go along.

Ulang! Ke ke meral meleberuou me ke di belchoel el olengeseonges.

> Ulang, you are always inept and end up short.

Ng di ngii mak kiei ra iemoch meng uoi diak kudengei a ngerang.

> It's as if I live somewhere so far away that I don't know what's going on.

Ngara me ke di ouchad er a Siabal er kau?

> Why are you acting like a Japanese?

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a mud er a Bngei, el di melecheb er a rrengor.

> Like the mud fish of the Bngei lagoon, drawn to the passing wind

The reef fish mud seldom leaves a given rock or cleft in the reef, but according to this saying the mud of Bngei lagoon, near Airai, may be attracted away from their locus by the dust raised by a passing school of fish. The latter portion of this proverb is difficult to translate. The word melecheb may be applied to a person drawn forward by a current of water. Rrengor refers to a movement of air caused by one body passing another. The idiom is applied to a changeable person, a faddist, or a joiner

Ng ko er a ebedel a Mengellakl el di mochu meleketek.

> Like the clouds of Mengellakl that just pile up

High points like Mengellakl in Palau sometimes create clouds as the moisture-laden air is lifted by the wind to higher cooler altitudes. This saying applies to a situation or a fad that spreads; drinking to excess.

Ng ko er a chad er a Ngcheangel, el di me chemed er a Ngkesol.

> Like the man of Kayangel, who procured his gifts from Keso

The saying refers to a man from the atoll of Kayangel, some twenty miles north of the main islands of Palau, who, on his way south to visit friends, stopped at an intermediate reef, Kesol, to fish for a present for his host. Refers to a person who, en route to a visit, tries to borrow a present from another guest; any person who suddenly wants to borrow money.

Ng ko er a omenga el Raus, el sosokod e di keang.

> It's like the way they eat in Ngeraus (where food is scarce): as soon as they get to like or enjoy the food, it's gone.

Just as something becomes popular, it becomes unavailable. Ngerraus is a small village in Ngchesar (central Palau). The idiom suggests a person who begins to feel hungry just as the food runs out. The reference is to the meager food resources of a small village. In contemporary Palau the idiom may be applied to some popular import that soon disappears from the shelves of the stores.

Ng ko er a mur er a Ngchesar, el di klukuk el di klukuk.

> It's like the feast of Ngchesar, postoned till tomarrow, then the next, and forever.

You keep sayng tomorrow, tomorrow. You're lucky there's a tomorrow. Presumably, in the past the village of Ngchesar in central Palau tried and tried again to schedule a mur, the largest, villagewide feast conducted in Palau. But for various reasons the feast was forever postponed. The saying applies to the risk of procrastination.

More Examples:

A rechad el menguteling er a beluad a di meses a ngerir.

> The leaders for our nation speak empty speeches.

A remesesuau a di mesesuau el mo er a kodall.

> Idiots will always stay idiots until death.

Ongengedel a labek er ngii me ngika el dil a kma el di mle osisiu a delongelel.

> The seduction between them both was mutual.

Mruul a ochim e tia bellum el di ultom.

> Fix your legs, I can see your privates.

Ng ulemdasu el kmo ng sebechel mengchii a luk e di lmuk er ngak, me ak di liluk er ngii.

> He thought he could give me the silent treatment so I ignored him.

diak

, v.s.

is/are not; does not exist; non-existent.
diak a bechachau; diak a kall, diak a udoud, diak a chad er a blai.

diadiak

v.s.redup.

dikeang
/di kea
/di keang
/dikea

v.s.inch.

no longer; no more; not... after all.
di keang a mla er ngii e mla mo diak, udoud a di keang.

dimlak

v.s.past

were not; did not exist; was/were non-existent.
dimlak a di mla diak, dimlak le medung er a cheldecheduch, dimlak rengesii, dimlak lemei.

ng diak

mod.

no.

ngdiak

cont.

ng diak

diak a rengul

expr.

inconsiderate; impolite.

mo diak

expr.

run out; stop; disappear; become non-existent.

Examples:

Ng kesib a rengrir e le a remeklou el chad a di melekoi e ng diak el loruul.

> They are angry because the adults are all talk and no action.

Ng diak a ungil el kerrekar el ourodech a mekngit el rodech, el ka mekngit el kerrekar el ourodech a ungil rodech.

> No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

A cheldecheduch a diak lemekimd.

> The meeting is lasting forever.

A blik a di kea lengar er sei.

> My house is no longer located here.

Ak mlo omes er a Droteo e dimlak lemei, me ak okor e mo remei.

> I went to meet Droteo, but he didn't come, so I went home instead.

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a imekurs el lak el meselsilek er a eolt e ng diak lourodech.

> Like the Bilimbi tree which, if not shaken, will not bear fruit.

Applied to a person who does not fulfill their obligations without constant prodding or nagging.

Ke ko er a bisech er a bai el dechor er a rebai e diak dousbech er ngii.

> You're like the bisech plant in the backyard which has no purpose.

A person who isn't trusted so he/she is not needed.

Kmakm mechab: charm er a chab el kmeed er a ngau e diak lemedul.

> Like the insects which stays at ashes of fire but doesn't burn.

You're near a situation which needs immediate attention but you don't lend a hand.

Ng ko er a omelkesel Ngirakerisil, el di diak lecheldereder a mlil.

> Like Kerosene, poling his canoe with no obvious destination

Under the German administrator Winkler before World War I, a Palauan named Ngirakerisil (Mr. Kerosene) was employed as a canoe operator. Daily he would take the tireless administrator to a different part of Palau to inspect the various economic programs (largely coconut planting) instituted by the now legendary Winkler. The operator, least of all, could predict where they would be going next. The idiom is applied to any aimless person or action; indecision; a changeable person.

A ukall a diak lebo ltitimel.

> An ukall tree won't become a titimel tree.

i.e., a child will resemble its father; human nature will not change. The ukal, a lumber tree, resembles the titiml, a fruit bearing tree, at least to the extent that both are trees and become quite large. Both have assets but are quite different. The idiom is applied in the sense that a child resembles its father and will become what its father was. It may also be used to mean "human nature can't be changed."

More Examples:

Tiang ngerang el beldoel er ngii? Ng dekool, ng diak lboes.

> What is in your hand? It is a cigarette, not gun.

Ng telitur er ngak me ng dimlak lesebechek el lomelemii ngii el deluill.

> My lack of experience prevented me from maintaining any relationships.

Kmal di soad a mereched e beot el sisebel a udoud. Ng diak domdasu er a ngar er a medad el taem.

> We like it quick and easy money making schemes without thinking for the future.

Ke kmo ng diak lechad er a Belau?

> You said she's not a Palauan?

John, ke kuk meral di uleiitel a imelek el oisur me ng dikea lesebechek el ngilmii.

> John, you've poured my drink so full that I will not be able to drink it all.

e ng di

, mod.

but.

meau

, v.s.

naked; nude; bare; (young people) untitled.
meau a blechetoel; diak le blail, rengalek a di meau e mengedub.

melemotem

, v.t.

clear (trees, land); clear land (for garden).
melemotem a omukel; meledaes; tomotem a kerrekar, tometemii a rael; temetemel.

merekui

, v.t.

finish (completely; entirely); consume; accomplish.
merekui a mochu merek; merekui er a urrereel a blai; kmedu el mo merek.

ngii di el

, pro.

any.

se
/sei
/isei

, pro.

that object far from speaker and far from listener.
sei a melutk er a cheroid er a mengedecheduch; ngar sei; diak el tiang; sei er a mong a skuul.

se el

conj.

when (in the future); whenever.

se el sekum

conj.

if (used in negative sentences).

sel

cont.

se el

er se er a

expr.

when (in the past).

er se er a Sebadong

expr.

last Saturday.

er se er a taem er a mekemad

expr.

during the war.

er sei

expr.

over there; in that place.

mekera isei

expr.

[used to refer to a method of doing something that the speaker has forgotten.]

ngera isei

expr.

thingamajig; thingamabob; whatchamacallit. [used to refer to something whose name the speaker has forgotten.]

se di kau

expr.

it's up to you.

se el soam

expr.

whatever you want; it's up to you.

se el tebel

expr.

that table (over there).

se er a

expr.

conj. when (in the past).

tela isei

expr.

[used to refer to a number that the speaker has forgotten.]

tia isei

expr.

what's-his-name; what's-her-name. [Used to refer to someone whose name the speaker has forgotten.]

Examples:

Te mla er sei e milrael el mo er a chelechol.

> They were over there and then walked to the beach.

Se er a kbo er a Guam, e ak kilie er a blil a Toki.

> When I went to Guam, I lived at Toki's place.

Ng meral melemalt a lomechas me ng di mo mas er sel kired el melecholech er ngii.

> It is exactly marked and it is to cut when when we need to saw it.

A Juda er se er a lesang, e ng ulemdasu el kmo ng oteruul el redil e le ng dilkedekii a medal.

> When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, because she had her face covered.

Se el lebekiis, e te mo er a chei.

> When they get up, they go fishing.

Proverbs:

Se el obutek a medak.

> When my eyes are closed.

When one dies the eyes are "closed"; hence, to be dead. The term for "death" is mad as is the term for "eye," (mad; madak: "my eye"). Some sources suggest that the term for death refers to the closed eyes of a dead person.

More Examples:

Mera el ungil a katelengel buik se el lousirubak.

> That guy is so darn good when he does jitterbug.

Ng locha bai kirel el lmuut el mo er ngii a bul er a beluu e meruul a skoki el di me soiseb se el mellomes el ua ngar e mong.

> I think there should be a curfew on land and have flights only come in during the day like before.

Tela isei se el dengua?

> What's that phone number again?

Ng sebechem el ngmai a betotem er se el dilochel?

> Can you dive down into this channel and collect something from the sea floor?

Ochoi, se er a tutau el me er elechang el di lechull.

> Yes, it's been raining since morning.

ta
/tang

, num.

1 [one] (unit of time; human; counting).
tang a ochur el chimong , ta el buil, ta el tekoi, ta el chad.

tal

cont.

ta el

tara

cont.

ta er a

el di ngak el tang

expr.

alone; by myself.

ko el tang

expr.

the very first time; the first time after a long while.

ngii di el tang

expr.

either one; anything.

ta el chad

expr.

one person; (persons) having same mother or father; (persons) of same blood.

ta el rak

expr.

one year.

ta el sils

expr.

one day.

ta er kemam

expr.

one of our relatives (usually, close); one of us.

ta er ngak

expr.

one of my relatives (usually, close).

ta er tir

expr.

one of them.

Examples:

Me ta er a oluches.

> Give me one of the pencils.

Te kmal tang.

> They are much in agreement.

Ng di mle ngii el tang a ngelekek el chiliis.

> My child ran away by himself.

Te liluches aike el siasing er a chelsel a ta el sikang.

> They drew those pictures in an hour.

Ng ngera a uchul me ng di mle kau el tang el me er tiang?

> Why did you come here all by yourself?

Proverbs:

Ng cheiko e omekrael er a ta er a cheiko.

> A blind man leading another blind man.

The application is identical to that of the familiar English idiom

Ng ko er a chelebed er a Utaor, el di ta temetemir

> Like the blow at Utaor, one stroke for all

A person or perhaps a club of the hamlet of Utaor (a hamlet of either Koror or Chol) offended a major village and, in consequence, the village retaliated by attacking the whole hamlet. The idiom applies to any general statement or punishment that might better be directed toward a particular group or individual

Ng ko er a cherellel a beab el di ta e keroker.

> It's like the birth of a rat with one offspring per mother.

It's something that happens just once, something I put up with only once. According to this saying, the rat bears but one litter. Hence the application "once is enough" about an act that bears no repeating.

Ng ta el suk me ng diilut re Meduu.

> A full basket was dropped in Ngeremeduu bay.

From the folk tale about Obak era Kedesau on his way to a feast being given in honor of his wife by her adoptive father. While crossing Ngeremeduu Bay between Ngatpang and Ngeremlengui, Obak dropped a basket of Palauan money overboard. Despite this terrible loss, he still had the courage and sufficient cash to carry off his visit in high style. The saying may be used to reassure someone, following a loss, reminding them that Obak era Kedesau recovered from an even greater loss.

Ng kora chebiei el Cheangel, el di ta e chutur a ta el suk.

> Like the breadfruit of Kayangel, just one rotten piece will spoil the whole bunch.

One bad person can ruin the reputation of a whole group. It is said of the Chebiei variety of breadfruit found at Kayangel atoll that one rotten one will spoil others packaged with it. Similar to "One bad apple spoiled the bushel."

More Examples:

Ng di ungil a kumekedong er kau er a ta er a taem?

> Is it OK for me to call you sometime?

Ng di ta el sandei el kngar er a Belau.

> I'll be in Palau for only one week

Ak oureng er a ta er a taem el mo sebeched el kasoues.

> I only wish that we will see each other in the future.

A ochellek a di tang.

> I have one younger brother. (Can only be said by a maile).

Me ta er a taod

> Please give me a fork

telkib

, v.s.

a little; a bit; part of piece of.
telkib a diak le klou; kekerei; telkib el kall.

di telkib

expr.

only a little; just a bit.

el telkib

expr.

for a while.

telkib a bebetok

expr.

a shade too much.

telkib el betok

expr.

a bit too much.

telkib el kekesai

expr.

just barely not enough.

telkib el kesai

expr.

not enough.

telkib el taem

expr.

a short while; a short time.

telkib er a Ngiual

expr.

part of the village of Ngiual.

telkib er a kall

expr.

part of the food.

telkib er a lius

expr.

small piece of coconut.

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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