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.

Ke mlo er a Siabal er oingara me oingarang?

> On what occasions or at what times did you go to Japan?

A eanged a ungia me dorael.

> The weather's improving, so let's go.

A dolech a me kirel a bkul a ochik.

> The tide reaches as high as my knees.

A Droteo me a Toki a ko er a kmal ta a dekelir.

> Droteo and Toki are quite close or always doing things together.

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a remechas el kerekikl er a klukl me a rames.

> Like an old woman who is cautious about coughing and breaking wind.

Among elderly women, it seems, coughing sometimes produces the unwanted effect of breaking wind. The idiom may be applied to any action that might produce an undesirable side effect, such as a hasty decision at a political meeting. As a caution, it suggests the need for leaders to consider all the consequences.

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.

Ng kora bechars er a Ngerdobotar, el di kiei me ng chelengang

> Like the cockroach of Ngerdobotar, staying on till it became white.

Presumably if a cockroach remains in the darkness for a long time, as one at Ngerdobotar (in Aimeliik) apparently did, it will turn white. Application pertains to a visitor who stays on and on, especially one who is not helpful in the household. Such behavior is not properly human; the person is somehow different, like a white cockroach.

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.

More Examples:

Okedei me a ta el kebesengil a buil.

> Thirty first day of the month.

Ng kmal chetik el mo blil a tekoi me ak mo melasem el meruul a teletelek er a buai.

> I don't want to become the subject of gossip so I will try to be well-behaved.

Ak bai mlo er a chei ngak me a demak er a elii.

> I went fishing with my dad yesterday.

Me ta er a taod

> Please give me a fork

Ngerang me ke di mengisngull?

> Why are you frowning all the time?

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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