Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

When provoked, he gets easily irritated or angered. The Palauan believes that the chambered nautilus lives in the sea at great depth and, at the slightest touch against a rock, its shell is broken and it drifts to the surface where it dies. The saying may be applied to a poor sport, one who angers easily or who reacts badly when the victim of a prank.

Ng

ko

er

a

ibuchel

er

a

Ngemai

el

di

kiei

me

a

dekedekel.

> He's like the sea urchins between Ngiwal and Melekeok, on the ocean floor with its cover.

The sea urchin can be seen lying quietly on the lagoon floor, occasionally with a leaf like a hat covering its head. Applied to a man who acquires a wife or great wealth without working for it.

Ke

ko

er

a

cherabrukl

el

di

blsiochel

e

reborb.

> You're just like a lobster (flambuoyant in color but prone to hide under rocks.

You dress up fancy but never go anywhere. Applicable to a person who prides himself on great wealth but does not put it to work; or to one who dresses to the hilt, then stays home. It may once have been applied to villages that were well armed, but peaceful.

More Examples:

Lak

di

momuit

er

tia

el

butiliang

e

moitel

a

imelem

er

a

kob.

> Don't just take a drink from the bottle and pour your drink in a cup.

Mruul

a

ochim

e

tia

bellum

el

di

ultom.

> Fix your legs, I can see your privates.

Soak

lekong

e

ng

di

motenai

ochik.

> I want to go (with you) but my legs are too painful.

A

ochellek

a

di

tang.

> I have one younger brother. (Can only be said by a maile).

A

remesesuau

a

di

mesesuau

el

mo

er

a

kodall.

> Idiots will always stay idiots until death.

medengei

, v.s.t.

know (person or thing); understand; memorize.

medengei

a

ngar

er

ngii

a

klaodengei

er

ngii;

medengelii

a

tekoi.

mei
/me

, v.i.

come; arrive.

mei

a

okedongel

a

chad;

mei

er

tiei,

mei

me

kulekoi,

ka

mei.

be

v.imp.

be

a

ta

er

a

telengtengil

a

tekoi

el

mengai

er

a

tekoi

el

mei;

be

bong,

be

metengel.

ble

v.s.hypo.

mera

cont.

mei er a

merekung
/merkung

v.i.pred.

is about to come or arrive.

mermang
/meremang

v.inch.

meremang

a

merael

mei;

ngar

er

a

omerolel

el

mei;

dumiang

er

a

dmuil.

mlei
/mle

v.past

came; arrived.

mlei

a

mla

mei

me

ngar

tiang;

skoki

a

mlei

er

a

tutau.

mle

a

melekoi

er

a

rrekui;

Bung

a

mle

tmuu;

ng

mle

mekerang?

mlera

cont.

mlei er a

be kbong

expr.

goodbye; I'm leaving.

me e mong
/memong

expr.

pass by; go on; "(in a direction) towards me and then keep going (past me)."

nguu el mei

expr.

bring.

ta el buil er mla me e mong

expr.

one month ago.

Examples:

Ng

sebechek

el

omes

er

a

ngalek

e

le

ng

mle

ungil

a

blekerdelel

er

tia

el

mlo

merek

el

taem.

> I can watch/babysit the child because he behaved well last time.

Me

ta

er

a

kiklou

el

sualo.

> Give me a basket that's a little bigger.

Ng

mle

ngiuk.

> I was sent for.

Ngera

melungd

er

kau

me

ke

di

diak

chomngar

er

a

blai?

> What is it that makes you stay away from home so much?

A

Toki

a

metord

er

a

bechil

me

ng

kie

er

a

blil

a

demal.

> Toki is fed up with her husband, so she's living at her father's place.

Proverbs:

Ng

ta

el

suk

me

ng

diilut

re

Meduu.

> A full basket was dropped in Ngeremeduu bay.

From the folk tale about Obak era Kedesau on his way to a feast being given in honor of his wife by her adoptive father. While crossing Ngeremeduu Bay between Ngatpang and Ngeremlengui, Obak dropped a basket of Palauan money overboard. Despite this terrible loss, he still had the courage and sufficient cash to carry off his visit in high style. The saying may be used to reassure someone, following a loss, reminding them that Obak era Kedesau recovered from an even greater loss.

Ng

okouik

me

ng

obached,

e

a

lokouim

eng

diak

lobached.

> If it is my lunch it can be divided, if it is yours then it cannot

Two men habitually trapped fish in the same region of the lagoon. One would occasionally ask the other to join him at lunch, the other would always refuse. One day the man who refused arrived with no lunch. When the usual invitation was extended the man refused, saying that, anyway, he had no lunch. The invitation was insistently pressed until the reluctant one gave in. As they split the taro between them the one who shared made the above statement. The idiom is a mild rebuke of a retentive person

Ng

diak

kobetik

rengii

recheroid

e

me

douchi

er

a

rebai.

> Without looking afield, it was cut down behind the house.

From the folk tale concerning Mesubed Dingal, the inventor of the Palauan kite (see also No. 73). After his wife had been kidnapped, he constructed a kite using feathers from all the birds of Palau and he needed also wood from an Edebsungel tree to fashion the body of the bird-kite. After looking all over Palau and being on the point of giving up, he found the tree he needed behind his own house. The saying may be applied to anyone who does things the hard way, or who goes far afield to find something which is close at hand.

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.

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:

Ngerang

me

ke

di

mengisngull?

> Why are you frowning all the time?

Lak

be

mtobed.

> Don't come outside.

A