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:

Tia el blil a Wilbur a mla er ngii a tungelel me ng mle sebechel a Wilbur el mo tuobed.

> Wilbur's pen had a gate, so Wilbur could go outside.

a mekngit el ralm er a sewer el me tuobed er se er a Ongedei me a Ongeuang el Ureor er tia el mlo merek el sandei

> the bad sewer water that came out on Wednesday and Thursday of last week

Ak kmal sekkak el me el melai er kau, e kau a chetim.

> I've gone to all this trouble to come and get you, and (now) you don't want (to go).

Tia a bresengt er ngak el me er kau.

> This is my present for you.

Ak milengang aike el tuu me se el ringngo.

> I was eating those bananas and that apple.

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a beab er a Ngerard, el kma a lisiu me a lisam.

> It's like the rat of Ngerard, which eats up all your coconuts and (then) all of ours.

It's a decision, plan etc. that will backfire. A pet rat owned by Mad, chief of Ngaraard, ate the coconuts of most of the chief's neighbors, then, still hungry, ate the chief's own coconuts.

Ngak a ngit me kau a ngoi?

> I receive it and you ask for it?

A man asks for and receives that which he needs from a second party. A third party, learning of this, asks the first party for it. Used as implied or generally about any unreasonable request

Tia di ngii mak terrob ra Mekaeb

> It's as if I've submerged my head into Mekaeb (the channel between Peleliu and Agaur).

A term to describe a dish that is really salty.

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.

Ng ko er a char er a Kosiil, el lecheraches e ng mong me a lekeriik e ng mei.

> Like seaweed at Kosiil, out with the tide and in with the tide.

Kosiil is a location in the lagoon where the seaweed can be seen to bend in and out with the tide. The idiom is applied to a leader who is too flexible and unreliable. In the short form (Kora char ra Kosiil) it may simply mean, "I'll go along with what you decide."

More Examples:

A ulak el ochedak a kuk kmo ngak er remera el ochedak le ng blechoel me duum er a bek el chelsenguk.

> My attached (not blood) sister cares for me more than my real sisters because she always helps with all of my cultural obligations.

A demak a mle blechoel el omad a suld er a diangel ngii me a resechelil.

> My father had always made ropes from coconut husks at the boating house with his friends.

Ng kmal kmo ngak me ng di chiloit a rokui e mei.

> She is very fond of me and therefore left everything and came here.

Ng diak lsoam el ko er a mo ousueleb me a lechub e ng belsoil er a ta er a taem?

> Do you want to have lunch or dinner sometime?

Mary a oureacher a saks me a sportsiuus.

> Mary is wearing socks and sport shoes.

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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