Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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 techa a chomulsa a delal?

> Whose mother did you see?

A delak a mesengaked.

> My mother is slim.

A delak a mo okisak.

> My mother will wake me up.

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).

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.

Ngkolia 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.

Bungud 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.

More Examples:

Ng techa ngklel a delam el mechas?

> What's your grandmother's name?

Ngka el delal a bechik a ko er a telkib el sesmecher.

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

A delak me a demak a betik a rengrir er ngak.

> My mother and father love me.

A delak a ulelsisechakl er ngak el mengaus a llel a such el mo ulkou.

> My mom tried to teach me how to weave hats from pandanus leaves.

A delak a mle oldingel er ngak er a berrous er a kesus.

> My mom visited me in my dreams last night.

kar

, n.

medicine; palliative; antidote.
kar a klalo el omekungil a secher; omkar a rakd, kerul a tereter, mkar a tellemal, ukerul.

kar

, n.

state of being awake.
kar a mekar er a cheliuaiu, kar a diak le mechiuaiu; kar er ngak a uchul a bingsbedul, kerengel.

kar

kar a mengkar; klekar, kokerengii a blil a kelebus, kokar a stoang, kekerengel.

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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