Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

The mound or hump that forms at the base of the coconut tree is said to represent the highest ranking village clan. The leader of that clan is spoken of as "standing on the mound." In the idiom, it is suggested that the people of Ngerechelong (northern Palau) would all like to be leaders-all standing on the mound at the same time. The idiom may be applied where too many people try to direct an operation; too many leaders.

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.

Metkul

a

bkul

a

Ngirair,

e

klou

el

Belau

el

mo

er

a

Ngerechelong.

> From the Metkul boundary point at Ngirair, Palau is yet huge up to Ngerechelong.

This saying is given two meanings, both negative, pertaining to the people of northern Palau and to Ngaraard particularly: (i) the people of northern Palau are so provincial that they still think Palau is a huge country; (2) the people of northern Palau are the biggest liars (a play on "to deceive," which sounds like Belau [Palau] ). The idiom may be shortened to "Men of the point" (Chad ra bkul), referring to a point of land at Ngirair marking the boundary of Ngaraard. Or the act of patting the elbow (bkul) may carry the same meaning. Actually, the idiom is of fairly recent vintage, pertaining in part to resistance on the part of some of the people of northern Palau to administrative programs instituted by the Japanese.

Ng

kora

osechel

a

mengur,

el

di

ngar

er

a

milkolk

el

mo

er

a

milkolk.

> Like coconut water, passing from darkness to darkness.

Water, drunk from a coconut, passes from the dark of the nut to the dark of the mouth. Some discussions, such as those of village leaders, are secretively passed from mouth to mouth without public discussion.

More Examples:

Aika

el

bilas

lesileseb

a

rechad

er

Belau

a

leko

ng

olangch

el

mo

er

a

beluulechad.

> The ships that were burned is a message to the world not to mess with Belau.

Ailecha

el

itotech

a

ungil

mecherdoched

el

mo

er

a

makit.

> Those emperor fish should be fried and be sold at the market.

soak

el

mo

er

a

Siabal

>

Ka

mesa

blim

me

a

delengcheklem

e

bochu

molemalt

er

a

rengelekir

a

rubliil.

> Look at where you came from let alone your household before you try to wise up a stranger.

Kom

kaukotai

el

melimet

er

a

chert

me

lemereched

el

mo

diak

a

ngmatel.

> You all take turns bailing the boat so that it will be finished quickly.

elechang
/chelechang
/elecha
/chelecha

, n.

now; just now; today; these days.

elechang

a

chelecha

el

sils;

elecha

el

dekasoues;

chelecha

el

taem;

chelecha

el

de

katekoi.

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

mera

el

ungil

a

chung

er

kau.

> You are very lucky.

Ng

ngar

er

a

mei.

> It's closer to here.

Ng

mera

el

chibaselei

a

delemérab

er

ngak.

> My room is very messy.

Ak

mera

el

mla

mo

rrau

a

renguk

er

aika

el

subelek.

> I've become very confused by my studies.

Ke

mekdechar

a

rengum

me

ke

lomelemii

a

skulem.

> Be firm in your resolve to finish your schooling.

Proverbs:

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

ko

er

a

Ngiramesemong,

el

omilt

a

mla

me

e

mong.

> Like Ngiramesemong, rehashing what has been finished.

Pertains to a person who repeatedly reminds another of past favors or continually recalls the mistakes of others. (My sources no longer recalled the episode or story from which this idiom derives.)

Ng

mlenga

a

telochel

a

demal

me

ng

uai

ngii.

> Like his father, for he ate his father's premasticated food.

Applied to a child by adoption, with the implication that the adopted child resembles his adoptive father

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

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.

More Examples:

A

sechelik

me

a

telungalek

er

ngii

a

mo

er

a