Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

e

, conj.

and; (and) then or consequently; (if...,) then; while; but.
e a omechoel; omuchel e omech a bebil er a tekoi, e sechelei, toktang echad er a chei; e ngerang?

eng

cont.

e ng

Examples:

Ak dirrek el mo omrotech a chimak , e mo dobodeb a ngsechel a renguk.

> I also will clap my hands, and my anger will be over.

A Droteo a kmal mlo smecher me a lolkakl a chimal e ng di mo medeu.

> Droteo is so sick that when he tries to lift himself up with his arms, they just bend (in weakness).

Ng dimlerrek e mo er a kombalii.

> It went to the company in that (unchanged) condition.

Ng milemiakl er a didelboi e kmoll a ochil e ruebet.

> He was climbing on the ladder when his foot slipped and he fell.

Omko ak kilie er a Merikel, e ak medenge a tekoi er a Merikel.

> If I had lived in America, then I'd know English.

Proverbs:

Ke ko er a kedam el suebek e ak di oba okum.

> You're a flying kite, but i hold the guide string.

No matter how much you play around, you always come back to me.

Ng ko er a uul, el teleu a blil e oleker er a chull.

> Like the uul [Cettria cantans?] with its house open, calling for rain.

The uul may be heard to call out usually just before it rains; some say that it is calling for rain. This seems foolish, since the bird constructs its house with an opening at the top that will let rain in. A person who makes a decision or starts some action without adequate preparation is likened to the uul.

Msisichau e a tutau a kmedang.

> Be strong, morning is nigh.

Keep a stiff upper lip - things will improve (lit. morning is approaching). Encouragement to the depressed to take heart.

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.

A isnged a di kmeed e diak dengetemii.

> Our nose is close (to the mouth), but cannot be licked.

i.e. we shouldn't be too sure of, or overconfident in, ourselves. The nose is very close to the mouth, but, no matter how reassuringly available, it cannot be licked by the tongue. The idiom cautions those who are careless with their possessions to be less assured about wealth.

More Examples:

Lak di momuit er tia el butiliang e moitel a imelem er a kob.

> Don't just take a drink from the bottle and pour your drink in a cup.

A euid el klok e ak oubail e songdii a bdeluk.

> At 7:00 a.m. I dress and comb my hair.

Ka mesa blim me a delengcheklem e bochu molemalt er a rengelekir a rubliil.

> Look at where you came from let alone your household before you try to wise up a stranger.

Alii, e ke oberngung!

> Watch it! I'm gonna smack you!

Ka mluut el mo klou a ngerem e ng dimlak krengesau.

> Can you speak a bit louder, i didnt hear you?

e

, mod.

contentless word (used with name when addressing someone).

Examples:

Ak song er a temek el mong, e diak a kucherar.

> I wasted my time going because there was nothing for me to buy.

Ak suebek el mo cheroid e olengull.

> I would fly away and find rest.

A kerierengel a Droteo e ng ririid a ududel.

> Droteo had the misfortune of losing his money.

Ng omes er a ngelekel e kmal mekngit a rengul.

> He is looking his daughter and is very sad.

A omelekoi a beot, e a omeruul a meringel.

> Easier said than done.

Proverbs:

Ke ko er a cherabrukl el di blsiochel e reborb.

> You're just like a lobster (flambuoyant in color but prone to hide under rocks.

You dress up fancy but never go anywhere. Applicable to a person who prides himself on great wealth but does not put it to work; or to one who dresses to the hilt, then stays home. It may once have been applied to villages that were well armed, but peaceful.

Ng ko er a uel, el suebek e mekebekabes a ochil.

> Like the purple swamp hen, flying off with its legs hanging down

The purple swamp hen (uek; other sources name another bird, sechou [heron]) is careless about its legs when it flies, letting them dangle in flight instead of neatly tucking them up like other, more trim flyers. The saying applies to persons who do sloppy work or carelessly leave a task half finished

Kom ko er a mekebud el betok e di telechem.

> You're like sardines, very many but only enough for one wrapped piece of fish.

Fish are properly wrapped individually in a leaf for cooking, but sardines are so small that a bunch of them may be wrapped together to make up only one small bundle. The idiom may be applied to a numerous but weak enemy or to a clan that is large but ineffective as in raising money for its members, or for a large group of workers who do not accomplish very much.

Olbed, e kall.

> A stone platform, yet food.

A man of Airai in central Palau, apparently during a period of hostilities, brought to his home from the lagoon all manner of shell food still attached to coral boulders. In the security of his own yard, he removed the shell foods and eventually with the stones he was able to construct a stone platform for his home. A lot in Airai, supposedly where this platform stood bears the name, Olbed-e-kall.

A mekngit el tekoi a dub, e a ungil el tekoi a ollak.

> Bad words are a curse, good words are a blessing.

Words of insult or scolding are destructive (like dynamite), while kind words will make you liked (like a love charm).

More Examples:

Se el kunga a kim e aika el ulechel a blechoel el metecherakl er a ungelek.

> When I eat clam, the big muscle always gets stuck in my teeth.

Choi, ak di omes er a eanged me a lsa el mo mekngit e ak merael.

> Yes, if the weather gets worse, I'll leave.

A lebong a Lukes e te mla omuchel el omengur me ng chemer e mo remei.

> When Lukes went, they had already started eating so she pouted and went home.

Ak kmal mechesang e ng di ak kmal mo melasem el olengoech er a taem leko meskau.

> I'm very busy but trying to squeeze some time to come visit you.

Ng ulereched me ng di milsngii e remurt el tuobed.

> He was in a hurry so he just yanked it and ran out.

e ng di

, mod.

but.

kele

, mod.

don't ... (because); I wonder if; maybe.
kele a tekoi el kirel a omengelechel; alii ng diak; kele bochu mongesuch; kele morutech er tilecha el kall.

klebesei

, n.

night; tonight.
klebesei a ngeltel a sils el mo lmuut er a ngesechel a sils, milkolk.

le
/e le

, mod.

[contentless linking word]; because.

mei
/me

, v.i.

come; arrive.

mei a okedongel a chad; mei er tiei, mei me kulekoi, ka mei.

be

v.imp.

be a ta er a telengtengil a tekoi el mengai er a tekoi el mei; be bong, be metengel.

ble

v.past.hypothetical

mera

cont.

mei er a

merekung
/merkung

v.i.pred.

is about to come or arrive.

mermang
/meremang

v.inch.

meremang a merael mei; ngar er a omerolel el mei; dumiang er a dmuil.

mlei
/mle

v.past

came; arrived.

mlei a mla mei me ngar tiang; skoki a mlei er a tutau.
mle a melekoi er a rrekui; Bung a mle tmuu; ng mle mekerang?

mlera

cont.

mlei er a

be kbong

expr.

goodbye; I'm leaving.

me e mong

expr.

pass by; go on; "(in a direction) towards me and then keep going (past me)."

nguu el mei

expr.

bring.

ta el buil er mla me e mong

expr.

one month ago.

Examples:

Ng di mle ngelekek a chiliis.

> My child ran away by himself.

A kerrekar a bongai er a rael me ng diak el sebechek el mo imuul.

> The tree is obstructing or bothering the road so I cannot go to the other side.

A Mary a oureachel a saks me a sportsiuus.

> Mary is wearing socks and sport shoes.

Ng mle tela a teng er a Toki?

> What was Toki's grade?

Te medinges er a udoud me a klalo.

> They have plenty of money and possessions.

Proverbs:

Ng mlenga a telochel a demal me ng uai ngii.

> Like his father, for he ate his father's premasticated food.

Applied to a child by adoption, with the implication that the adopted child resembles his adoptive father

Ng okouik me ng obached, e a lokouim eng diak lobached.

> If it is my lunch it can be divided, if it is yours then it cannot

Two men habitually trapped fish in the same region of the lagoon. One would occasionally ask the other to join him at lunch, the other would always refuse. One day the man who refused arrived with no lunch. When the usual invitation was extended the man refused, saying that, anyway, he had no lunch. The invitation was insistently pressed until the reluctant one gave in. As they split the taro between them the one who shared made the above statement. The idiom is a mild rebuke of a retentive person

Ke mera el di medochii el rouar.

> You grab and then you pick it up.

Like telling a joke, you're still telling it yet you laugh like you just heard it.

Mengar me a mecherocher.

> Bitter and salty.

The strategy of "doing things the hard way." When alternatives are available, the appropriate choice is the more difficult one. In voice, expression, and action there is a positive accent on personal ability.

Ngara eseos e olengimech el mera dalem.

> From the mature tree the sapling dribbles.

Eseos is a mature tree, dalm is a sapling; olengimch means to drip, drizzle, or dribble. Application is to the similarity of the child to its parents, generally its father.

More Examples:

A rengalek el sechal a mle mecheleoch.

> The boys were spoiled.

Be mtuu.

> Come inside.

A delal a mesesuau me ng kmal di ua ingii.

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

Ka mesa blim me a delengcheklem e bochu molemalt er a rengelekir a rubliil.

> Look at where you came from let alone your household before you try to wise up a stranger.

A kereker a kmal berrebirt me ng kmal lungil el bo dolai a ilekum.

> The tide is very low so it's a good time to collect clams.

melechang

, v.t.

put (into particular position); take (to particular place).
melechang a lochang; ngmai el mechei; loiang, lechengel.

merekui

, v.t.

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

ngikel

,

/uploads/pics/5479.jpg, n.

fish.
ngikel a charm er daob me a ralm el kall; temekai me a meas a ngikel.

obo e

, conj.

but.

omechei

, v.t.

leave around; leave alone; let.
omechei a diak lolai, mecherei, merael e mechei a klalo.

omilt

, v.t.

repeat or rehash (matter).
omilt a omelekl; melekoi a mla medung; omilt a mla memong.

rael

, n.

road; path; way; canal; means; solution; way out (of); way to someone's heart; connection (between families, etc.).
rael a ulekrael el usbechall er a omerael; ledes a rael el mo er a blai; rolel a mlai; ngar ngii a ungil rolel a omengedecheduch, rolel a tekoi.

rolek

n.poss.1s

rolem

n.poss.2s

rolel

n.poss.3s

rolel a rael er ngii.

rolam

n.poss.1pe

roled

n.poss.1pi

roliu

n.poss.2p

rolir

n.poss.3p

Rael Kedam

n.

The mountain range that runs North-South on Babeldaob. In Palauan legend, it comes from Uab's spine. It marks the boundary of many states in Babeldaob. The name literally means the flight path of the kedam.
Ng ikel rois el meliud er a Keiukl me a Desbedall.

rael el beluu

n.

person without a fixed residence.

chad er a rael

expr.

outsiders.

ng diak a rolel e

expr.

there's no way to/have no way to.

ngalek er a rael

expr.

fatherless child; bastard.

rolel a ralm

expr.

ditch.

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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