Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

diak

, v.s.

is/are not; does not exist; non-existent.
diak a bechachau; diak a kall, diak a udoud, diak a chad er a blai.

diadiak

v.s.redup.

dikeang
/di kea
/di keang
/dikea

v.s.inch.

no longer; no more; not... after all.
di keang a mla er ngii e mla mo diak, udoud a di keang.

dimlak

v.s.past

were not; did not exist; was/were non-existent.
dimlak a di mla diak, dimlak le medung er a cheldecheduch, dimlak rengesii, dimlak lemei.

ng diak

mod.

no.

ngdiak

cont.

ng diak

diak a rengul

expr.

inconsiderate; impolite.

mo diak

expr.

run out; stop; disappear; become non-existent.

Examples:

Ng diak a rolek e kbo er a Merikel.

> I don't have any way of going to America.

E le a rechad a diak lsal mellomes a rengrir el ua a recharm.

> Because humans aren't as smart as animals.

Ng diak a temek el mo er a party.

> I don't have time to go to the party.

Ng diak chobo er a chei, e le ke menga el mo smecher.

> Don't go fishing because you'll get sicker (than you are now).

Ng diak a cheldechulel er ngak.

> I have no means or way to do it.

Proverbs:

Kmakm mechab: charm er a chab el kmeed er a ngau e diak lemedul.

> Like the insects which stays at ashes of fire but doesn't burn.

You're near a situation which needs immediate attention but you don't lend a hand.

Ke ko er a bisech er a bai el dechor er a rebai e diak dousbech er ngii.

> You're like the bisech plant in the backyard which has no purpose.

A person who isn't trusted so he/she is not needed.

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.

Ng ko er a chelatngikl el diak lebeldakl oltellel e dingemuu.

> Like the honey bee, celebrating without first boiling down the coconut syrup.

Once coconut syrup, dripping from the cut flower stem, is collected it is thickened by boiling. The honeybee, however, collects his nectar, puts it in the hive without boiling it, then proceeds to fly around noisily as though celebrating the completed task. Hence, to talk or boast loudly about successes and accomplishments when one has none; to make plans but never carry them out; to celebrate without cause.

Ng dimlak longesimer a tekoi el chad.

> One for whom the door of words was not closed.

When the secrets of a clan or a profession were being taught by an expert, the house was completely closed and instruction took place in strict, whispered secrecy. the idiom may be applied to a person who, while having the proper status to be knowledgeable, has never learned in closed session; an important but uninformed person. Conversely, an expert or knowledgeable clan his torian is one who "has had the door closed" (mleng a simer).

More Examples:

John, ke kuk meral di uleiitel a imelek el oisur me ng dikea lesebechek el ngilmii.

> John, you've poured my drink so full that I will not be able to drink it all.

Ng diak, ng diak lemeringel a delel.

> No, he or she doesn't have a stomachache.

Kede mochung er a rolel me ke mo diak chomdu tekingem.

> If we go at it, yoy won't be able to say anything.

Diak ka mongebelung.

>

Ngerang a sebechem el rullii er a delengcheklem me ng mo diak msal kurusii?

> What can you do in your household that would help relieve your stress?

e ng di

, mod.

but.

imiit

, v.i.

miss; fail to hit; pass by or over; go from one state to another.
imiit a iit, diak el taut; imiit er a delenguchel, ometech e imiit, omurech e imiit, ietel, iit er ngii.

kele

, mod.

don't ... (because); I wonder if; maybe.
kele a tekoi el kirel a omengelechel; alii ng diak; kele bochu mongesuch; kele morutech er tilecha el kall.

klebesei

, n.

night; tonight.
klebesei a ngeltel a sils el mo lmuut er a ngesechel a sils, milkolk.

le
/e le

, mod.

[contentless linking word]; because.

merekui

, v.t.

finish (completely; entirely); consume; accomplish.
merekui a mochu merek; merekui er a urrereel a blai; kmedu el mo merek.

metik

, v.i.

find.
metik a seliik; mla smiik; mla siekii; mla metik a ririid el kiis.

mla

, v.s.

was/were (located); existed.
mla a melekoi er a rrekui el tekoi; mla mong; mla er ker; mla er a skuul.

bla

v.s.hypothetical

mla

aux.

has (done something).

mlar

cont.

mla er

mlara

cont.

mla er a

a lebla er ngii

expr.

if there had been.

mla mo

expr.

has become.

ng mla er ngii

expr.

there has or have been; there was or were.

Examples:

Ke mla mo cherecheriaol er a beluu.

> You've become a laughing stock in the village.

Aika el merkong el elolem el buil e ng ngar ngii a dellemelem el mla mekang er a beab?

> In the past 6 months have rats eaten your plants?

A Toki a kmal soal el mo er a Guam, e ng di ng mla mo diak a ududel.

> Toki wanted to go to Guam, but her money ran out.

A ngalek a ulutingaol er a Toki el kmo a sechelil a Toki mla mad.

> The child lied to Toki (saying) that her friend had died.

Ak ko el mesuba e le ng mla merael a Toki.

> I've finally gotten to study because Toki has left.

Proverbs:

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 ko er a chad er a Ngesias, el ngemuu er a mla mokom.

> It's like when the men of Ngesias clamored over what they had lost (after a party of raiders had attacked without warning and taken a head as a trophy).

The men of the Ngesias (Peleliu) village club were sitting near their clubhouse one evening when raiders broke through the brush, shouted wildly, and excaped with the head of one of them. When they recovered their senses, the men jumped to their spears and shouted threats into the darkness of the surrounding brush. Aroused by the commotion, the village chief appeared and ,when appraised of the situation, admonished them to be quiet since the fuss would gain nothing. "Don't cry over spilt milk."

Ng mla merekakl a tekingel.

> He swallowed his words.

An inconsistent person, especially one who has stated that he would never do something, then does it.

Ng mla mkelii a tual.

> He cut down his own banana.

A man supplies fertilizer (money) for a banana tree that, eventually, provides fruit (gifts of food). The cycle, in this saying, is compared with that of the food-money cycle of a marriage in which the wife's clan provides food and service, while the husband's clan provides occasional payments of money. If a banana tree is cut down before it bears fruit, the cycle is interrupted. Hence, a man who marries incestuously within his own clan and thereby inhibits the foodmoney cycle.

A rekung el daob a mla otitech a rekung el beluu.

> Sea crabs have pushed out land crabs.

Outsiders have taken over the land or titles of local people. An outsider (e.g., adopted child, friend) has become more important than a blood relative.

More Examples:

Ng mla mo suibes a deromukang me ng omelloes er a bab.

> The drum was overfull and flowed over the top.

Ng mla er ngii tirrudii a mado er a blimam.

> Someone broke in our window.

Achedil, ng mla omung aika el kerdeu.

> The ixora plant is blooming.

Ak mla mo make.

> I have lost.

A ochedak a mle blechoel el mesauch a buuch. Chelecha el bla lorael e ng kuk urerek.

> My brother used to get the betelnuts. Now that he left, it's my duty.

mo

, aux.

will; shall; become; get.
mo a melekoi er a ngar medad; mo er a klukuk; ng mo el merekong? ng mo e mei.

bora

cont.

bo er a

mlo

aux.past.

became; got.
mlo a melekoi er a taem el tekoi a dilubech; mlo kot er a rurt; mlo smecher; mlo er a omerael.

mlor

cont.

mlo er

mlora

cont.

mlo er a

mora

cont.

mo er a

ng mo er ngii

expr.

there will be.

Examples:

Mla mo tela el hours er a chomekong?

> How many hours ago did you get there?

A rechad ra llach a mo tames el mesmechokl a rokui meng diak el bo ra keras.

> The attorneys will attempt at a settlement to avoid trial.

Ng ko er a mlo telkib el suebek a rengmam.

> We sort of became a little bit worried.

Ng mo omes er a tolechoi.

> He will watch a particular baby/some baby/the baby.

Ng/Te mlo meched a rengrir a remerael er a chelsel a bebil el sikang.

> The travelers became thirsty in a few hours.

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a teribsel a daob el di mei e mo diak.

> It's like the foam of the sea, which forms unexpectedly and then disappears.

It's a matter that comes up for lengthy discussions and then is dropped without resolution or effect. Some things, like sea foam, drift on without settlement. Endless discussion without reaching agreement.

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.

A uel el kuk meremang el me omeklatk me ng mo uchul a klengitereng

> When the purple swamp hen appears, it brings remembrance

There is a song (Oumachas) from which this saying derives: Once there was a young couple who made love in a secluded spot in the taro garden. While they were lying together a purple swamp hen darted out of the brush startling the couple. Eventually love cooled, but thereafter whenever the girl saw a purple swamp hen while she worked in the gardens, she recalled her lover. Hence any occurrence that brings back fond memories.

Ng ko er a chad er a Ngerechelong, el di bita el mo dechor er a debsel a lei.

> Like the people of Ngerechelong, standing together on the base of the coconut tree.

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 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:

Ak mlo dengerenger er a ochedal bechil a ochedak.

> I had an affair with my brother in laws sister.

Tia el chutem a tilobed el mo er a rengelekel a Ngerkumer el okiu a cheldecheduch.

> This property went to Ngerkumer's kids through verbal agreement.

Morael el mo er a stoang e mocherar a ta er a malk el mei bo lodoim er a kebesengei.

> Go to the store and buy a chicken for dinner tonight.

Te mlo kakoad er a kesus e ng oboes a chimal er a boes er a ngikel.

> They got into a fight last night and he was shot in the arm by a fishing gun

Ng kirek el mo meredem aike el teblong er a biskang.

> I need to put together at least two more spears.

mong

, v.i.

go (in a direction not towards either the speaker or listener).
mong a merael mo cheroid; skuul a ngar a mong.

Bong!

v.imp.

Go! Go ahead!.

bocha
/bochang

v.inch.hypo.

may become.

bochung
/bochu

v.hypothetical

is about to go.

bong

v.hypothetical

mlong

v.past

went.
mlong a mla mong; mlo er a skuul.

mochang
/mocha

v.inch.

is beginning to arrive; is just arriving.
mochang a omerolel el mong; locha mochang.

mochung
/mochu

v.pred.

is about to go.
mochung a kmeed el mong; ke mochung? ak mochung.

el mo

expr.

until.

el mo el mong

expr.

(do something) in a continuous fashion; go on or keep on (doing something).

ng mochu er ngii

expr.

there is about to be.

nguu el mong

expr.

take.

Examples:

Ak mla tmurk er a omelekoi el mo er tir.

> I've done as much talking to them as I can (with no results)./I've had it with talking to them.

Ng mlo er a stoa el mo omechar a klalo.

> He went to the store to buy something.

Tia el babier a mloiuid el mo tekoi er a Doisu.

> This letter got translated into German.

Ng rulleterir el mo meruul er a bleob el okesiul ngike el kot el charm el miltemall er a saider e ngdi ng silobel.

> The beast told them to build an image in honor of the beast that had been wounded by the sword and yet lived.

A Droteo a ko el mocha er a Guam.

> Droteo should just be arriving in Guam.

Proverbs:

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.

Ng ko er a chad er a Ngerechelong, el di bita el mo dechor er a debsel a lei.

> Like the people of Ngerechelong, standing together on the base of the coconut tree.

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.

More Examples:

Ng locha ngar er ngii a techelled el mo mesisiich er tia el iakiu.

> Maybe we have a chance to win this baseball game.

Ak omdasu el mo meruul er a berruk er chelecha el wikend.

> I think I will put together a bamboo raft this weekend.

A demak a ulisechakl er ngak el mengaus a toechel el mo chado.

> My dad taught me how to make thatch roofs.

Aki mlo er a taoch el mo mengduul.

> We went to the mangrove channel to get clams.

A debar a mlo chebecheb e odbechii tia el ulebangel er ngais el mo bedul a Templeton.

> The duck bent down and pushed the unhatched egg towards Templeton.

ng

, pro.

he/she/it (nonemphatic).
ng a ngii; ngii el chad; ngii el kall; ngii el blai; ng melim a ralm; ng kall; ng blimiu?

Examples:

Ng diak a dibus er a blil.

> There's nothing he doesn't have at his house.

Ng di ngii mak kiei ra iemoch meng uoi diak kudengei a ngerang.

> It's as if I live somewhere so far away that I don't know what's going on.

Ng dirkak debo demerek er a subeled.

> We haven't finished our homework yet.

Ng diak lemekesakl.

> Nothing will go wrong./Nothing will happen to it.

Ng techa a mo odiur a renguk, a lak lekemiu el bla ktemall a rengmiu.

> Who would be left to cheer me up? Only the very persons I had made sad.

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a ilotel a melenges er a Ngesebei, el melecheseb er a tedobech el omekeek er a mui.

> Like the man who made coconut syrup in Ngesebei, dipping from half-filled containers to keep one overflowing.

Pertains to a situation which may have occurred in Ngesebei, a small hamlet in Ngardmau (northern Palau): a coconutsyrup specialist always kept one coconutshell container full and in sight of guests, who, thus, would think that all of his containers were full. The idiom applies to any pointed display of opulence. It's a deceptive display of wealth.

Ng ua kukau el omertort a ditel e chemoes.

> Like taro, though the leaves are tall, still immature.

Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is mature only when the leaves produced by the plant are small. When the plant produces its largest leaves the tuber in the ground is still quite small. The saying may be applied to a person who, while yet young and inexperienced, is proud and boastful.

Ng ko er a beremel a chelechelui.

> Like the chelechelui [fish].

The chelechelui fish reputedly resists rotting when cooked, remaining firm long after other fish would be soft and rotten. The saying implies mature persistence.

Ng ko er a omenga el Raus, el sosokod e di keang.

> It's like the way they eat in Ngeraus (where food is scarce): as soon as they get to like or enjoy the food, it's gone.

Just as something becomes popular, it becomes unavailable. Ngerraus is a small village in Ngchesar (central Palau). The idiom suggests a person who begins to feel hungry just as the food runs out. The reference is to the meager food resources of a small village. In contemporary Palau the idiom may be applied to some popular import that soon disappears from the shelves of the stores.

Ng oba a otebedel a chulad.

> It's like the emerging of the earthworm.

Once an earthworm comes out of the ground, so the saying suggests, it can never return. An irreversible decision or action.

More Examples:

Ng techang a kot le meduch el chad er a bingbong er tia el skuul?

> Who is the best at pingpong at this school?

Eia, ngar er ngii a chomengerakl er a sebadong, ng diak debong?

> Hey, theres work exchange on Saturday, do you want to go?

Ng mla er ngii a chermek el bilis e ng di mla mad.

> I had a pet dog but he died.

Ng becheleleu a bedengel.

> He or she is white.

Ng kmo ng mla mo betok el lebong.

> He says he's been there several times.

ng diak a tal chad
/ng diak a ta el chad
/ng diak a ta el chad

, pro.

nobody.

ngera
/ngerang
/ngarang
/ngara

, pro.

what; which; what kind of; anything (but or except).
ngerang a ker; ngera ke melekoi? tia ng ngerang? ngera soam?

nguemed

, v.i.

finish; die out; run out; get used up; get depleted.
nguemed a mo diak; mla nguemed a remechuodel el chad.

rael

, n.

road; path; way; canal; means; solution; way out (of); way to someone's heart; connection (between families, etc.).
rael a ulekrael el usbechall er a omerael; ledes a rael el mo er a blai; rolel a mlai; ngar ngii a ungil rolel a omengedecheduch, rolel a tekoi.

rur

, n.

shame; timidity.
rur a merur; rrengel er a recherechel; seked; titmekl.

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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