Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

mak

, n., [From German]

fifty cents.
mak a tedobech er a chimo el kluk $1.00; mak a okeim el sengs.

me a

, conj.

and.

ma

cont.

me a

mak

cont.

me ak

maki

cont.

me aki

me

conj.

and.
me a omech a tekoi; kau me ngak me ngii, Calista me tir a mong.

meng

cont.

me ng

Examples:

A Droteo a ulemeklatk er a bechil me ng meruul a kall.

> Droteo reminded his wife to prepare the food.

A Droteo a di kea lungil el omengur me a ka lungil el mechiuaiu.

> Droteo can neither eat nor sleep well any more.

Ng betik a renguk er kau, me a uchul me ak tsui er kau.

> I have a deep affection for you, so that's why I'm warning you.

A klukuk e te me er a blik.

> Tomorrow they're coming to my house.

Dosei kom oungalek, me bo mkaubuch.

> At any rate, you (two) have a child, so you might as well get married.

Proverbs:

Ke ko er a kuaol el sbungel er bab me iou.

> You're like a fish bait which can be eaten or pecked from the top and bottom.

You don't know what to do coz chores keep coming in from left and right.

A telekangel a dilu meng beluu Ngersuul

> With persistence the village of Ngersuul was maintained

When the men's clubs of Koror could not proceed as far as Melekeiok, a major village to the north that stood in political balance with Koror, the clubs would often stop over at Ngersuul and sack the small village. Yet the people of Ngersuul, over and over defeated, clung to their village and persisted through history. (Sometimes the village of Angaur is used, with a similar meaning, in place of Ngersuul.) The saying may be applied to the harried individual who is about to give up a task because of repeated failure.

Ng ko er a debar er a Ngechur, el klungang e me ngal modekriker.

> Like the duck of Ngechur, he became industrious after growing old.

The idiom is applied to a person who has more or less vegetated into maturity and old age and who, already far past his prime, suddenly tries without success to do all the things he might have done when younger. It may be used with reference to an elder who tries to be a dandy.

A rengud me chodab.

> The heart and assessment.

This might better be translated, "Assessment with knowledge." The mind or head is thought to be the locus of knowledge in Palau, but such knowledge is made useful or is measured with the heart (reng). Chodab, in this context, would appear to mean "to take stock of" or "to measure." In essence, then, the phrase cautions one who seems on the point of making a rash decision to temper his thoughts with his heart.

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.

More Examples:

Kede mochung er a rolel me ke mo diak chomdu tekingem.

> If we go at it, yoy won't be able to say anything.

Ng teruich me a eai a rekil.

> He's 18 years old.

A lekedang a sengkio, me te kuk mochu mediderurt el omesiich er a beluu.

> As the election nears, they'll be singing coated lies for the people to digest.

Ke mekudem el mo er a Oreor me a kuk kesengil e bo mtuchakl el oldingel er a rechedam.

> You visit Koror frequently so at least visit your relatives.

A Mary a oubail a skato me a chelechedal a bail.

> Mary is wearing a skirt and short-sleeved shirt.

omak

, v.t.

anchor, tie up; make (relationship between people) closer, (plant) send out (roots) into soil.
omak a loia okul; orebetii a ouak, mekur a bilis; omak a ert.

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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