Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

chais

, n., [From J?] ]

news.
chais a ongasireng el tekoi; merael el tekoi, "chad a milengchii a bilis" a chais; chisel a desiu, chisel mekomad.

chisek

n.poss.1s

chisem

n.poss.2s

chisel

n.poss.3s

chisam

n.poss.1pe

chised

n.poss.1pi

chisiu

n.poss.2p

chisir

n.poss.3p

merael a chisel

v.s.

well-known; famous; infamous; (person) popular. (news) spreading quickly.

chad er a chais

expr.

person who always has news to tell.

chisel a Toki

expr.

news about Toki.

chisel a beluu

expr.

news about one's village or country.

chisel a kodall

expr.

news of (someone's) death.

melai a chais

expr.

take a look at (something unusual).

ngera chised

expr.

what's up?

See also: ,

Examples:

Ak ko el rongesa a chais.

> I've just heard the news.

Ng merael a chais er a beluu.

> A rumor is going around.

Ng diak a chais?

> What's new?

Ng ulebuu a chais.

> The news came out/became known.

A Osilek a ta er a milrael a chisel.

> Osilek was very well known.

Proverbs:

Chais Belau.

> Palauan news.

A paly on words invoving a form of the Palauan word for deception, which is similar in sound to "Belau" (Palau). According to one origin legend, the name "Belau" derives from a deception by which the people of Angaur tricked and killed the giant Uab, whose fallen body became the islands. Identifies a rumor, especially news that gathers detail as it travels farther and farther from its source.

Ng ko er a kim er a Murael, el di dengarech e oker a chais.

> She's like the clams at Murael, lying face up (and open) and asking for news.

i.e., she just sits at home asking passersby about what's going on outside. Murael is a reef near Ngerechelong where, as elsewhere in Palau, the various kinds of tradacna shell bask, open and feeding, in the shallow lagoon. The saying applies to gullibility combined with high curiosity for news and to persons who simply sit at home, letting the happenings of the community come to them via passing persons.

More Examples:

A kabekel er a Belias el Kesebekuu a bisaol er a chisel me a rretel.

> The famous war canoe of Belias is a show case item for its speed and performance.

Ng diak a beches el chais?

> Any news?

diluches

, n.

north; north wind.
diluches a ta er a eua el uchul a eolt; Ngcheangel a diluches er a Belau

dimes

, n.

south; south wind; southern part of Kayangel.
dimes a ta er a eua el uchul a eolt; lrrai a dimes er a Ngchesar.

eabed

, n.

cloud.
eabed a ngar er a bab; melidiul, eabed a melenget a diich, merael el eabed, ulat el eabed, ebedel.

ebedel

n.poss.3s

merael el eabed

expr.

low, fast-moving clouds.

ulat el eabed

expr.

high, stationary clouds.

See also:

Examples:

Ak ngmasech el mo er a chetebtel a eabed.

> I will climb to the tops of the clouds.

Ng ko el techa a mellomes a rengul el sebechel el mechur a eabed, e okellakl me ng ruebet a chull?

> Who is wise enough to count the clouds and tilt them over to pour out the rain?

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a ebedel a Mengellakl el di mochu meleketek.

> Like the clouds of Mengellakl that just pile up

High points like Mengellakl in Palau sometimes create clouds as the moisture-laden air is lifted by the wind to higher cooler altitudes. This saying applies to a situation or a fad that spreads; drinking to excess.

Ke ko er a rubak er a Ngerechelong el omtab er a bngel er a eabed.

> You're like the old man of Ngerechelong who uses a cloud to mark the location of his fishtrap.

i.e. you depend too much on people who are unreliable.

Ebedel a kesol.

> Close to the turmeric plant.

Tubers more than once removed from the original turmeric root are referred to as ebedel ("beside" or "close to"). The reference is to ego's sister's children. More distant offspring of a single maternal line may be simply termed "kesol." A more detailed discussion of these "turmeric-kinship terms is provided by the Force article, as follows: "A man calls his sister's children by the same term which is used to designate the proximal tuber, ebedel a kesol (literally, 'close to the turmeric plant'), whereas a sister's female child's children are called by the name for the next nearest tuber, pkul a kesol (literally, 'projection of the turmeric plant'). Offspring of the next descending generation in the maternal line are called kedkengel a kesol. The term kedkengel means 'a new shoot' and is customarily used to designate a new shoot of taro."

merael

, v.t.

go; walk; travel (particular distance); leave; (water) flow/move (in pipe); (blood) flow out.
merael a omekebakes, omakes; merael el mong; omerolel.

rasech

, n.

blood.
rasech a bekerekard el lmel a bdengel a outeliil; osechel a klengar; rasech a usbechall er a klengar; merserasech; rsechel.

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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