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 luut er a rengul a Droteo.

> Nothing makes Droteo give up what he's doing.

A Droteo a dimlak longang me a ka lullim a merael.

> Droteo neither ate nor drank and just left.

Ng diak lsoam el mo er a mubi, me a ka lsoam el mo er a restorangd, e kau a di ngara a soam?

> You don't want to go to the movies, and you don't even want to go to the restaurant, so what do you really want to do?

Ng diak rriid a resmel.

> She's very thorough./She doesn't miss anything.

A Droteo a diak lsal medengei a tekoi er a Siabal.

> Droteo doesn't really know Japanese.

Proverbs:

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.

Ke di lotkii a Chelechang, e diak mletkii a Cherechar.

> You think only of Present, not of Future.

Chelechang (Present) and Chrechar (Future) were brothers. Present was the favorite of his mother. These are the words of Future reprimanding his mother. The idiom is used of those who inadequately plan for the future.

A ralm a diak locheraol.

> Water is without cost.

Palauans bathe frequently; many will not miss a daily bath if at all possible. Bathing places are usually widened areas, natural or artificial (some elaborately paved with stone) in fresh-water streams. The phrase simply reminds another, probably a reluctant child, that he should bathe.

Ng ko er a omelkesel Ngirakerisil, el di diak lecheldereder a mlil.

> Like Kerosene, poling his canoe with no obvious destination

Under the German administrator Winkler before World War I, a Palauan named Ngirakerisil (Mr. Kerosene) was employed as a canoe operator. Daily he would take the tireless administrator to a different part of Palau to inspect the various economic programs (largely coconut planting) instituted by the now legendary Winkler. The operator, least of all, could predict where they would be going next. The idiom is applied to any aimless person or action; indecision; a changeable person.

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.

More Examples:

Kmal di soad a mereched e beot el sisebel a udoud. Ng diak domdasu er a ngar er a medad el taem.

> We like it quick and easy money making schemes without thinking for the future.

Ng soak a mekelekolt el ralm. Tia el imelek a diak lemekelkolt.

> I want cold water. My drink is not cold.

Komeng, ng dimlak kungedecheduch er kau er a dengua er a elii.

> Sorry I missed your call yesterday.

Ng diak el ngerang, ng kmal betekngang a tellemall er a beluu.

> The reason is, there are too many crimes in the society.

Ulang a mera el mekreos a kelel iedel el chetil el merrous. Ng diak el dilechelid el lebo el meringel a delel.

> Ulang is hoarding her mango and doesn't want to share, hopefully she will get a bellyache.

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:

Kom mla mo meteet?

> Are you already rich?

Ng mla ngmasech a bidokel er ngak.

> I've broken out in hives.

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.

Ng mla tmaut a oak.

> The anchor has gotten stuck.

A rebek el babii el mla mo ungil el odoim a leblechoel el omekoad se el lebo lemekelekolt a beluu.

> All the pigs that are ready to eat are always killed in the winter.

Proverbs:

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."

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.

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 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 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.

More Examples:

Me ka mouchais, ngera mla er ngii er a kesus?

> Do tell, what happened last night?

Kom kmal mera el dengerodek el ngalek el mla chidir a chiklel a belochel me ng medei.

> Unruly kids that have twisted the pigeon's neck so it died.

Ak mla er a blai.

> I was at the house.

Ng mla ngmasech er a mlai e merael mo er a kmung ker.

> He climbed into the car and went I don't know where.

A Luke a silebedak el kmo ng mla er ngii a mlai er a rikl.

> Luke told me there was a car outside.

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:

Ng kau a mo chuarm.

> You are the one who will suffer.

A bilsengek a kilo mo er a uche er a klaidesachel.

> My boat almost won the race.

A Kukumai a ngiluu a kall el mo er a delal.

> Kukumai brought the food to her mother.

Ng dirk dekmekimes a ochim er a beluu, me ke mo kerekikl a omerellem.

> You're still a newcomer around here, so watch your behavior.

Ak mo ngoititerir el mesterir a recherroir, el tirke el sorir el omekoad er tir.

> I will hand them over to their enemies, who want to kill them.

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.

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.

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.

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:

Kmal mera el mla mo takai a cheral a dekool.

> Cigarrette prices has gone up a lot.

A sechelimam a mo merael el mo er a Rosia er tia el mei el sandei.

> Our friend is leaving to Russia next week.

Ng di bita el mera el mo soal mo er ngii a eolt.

> It seems like there is a possibilty of a typhoon.

Ke mekudem el mo er a Oreor me a kuk kesengil e bo mtuchakl el oldingel er a rechedam.

> You visit Koror frequently so at least visit your relatives.

Ak mo omechar a subong me a chelechedal a bail me a oecherek.

> I'm going to buy pants and a shirt and shoes.

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:

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 kirek el mo er a oderuchel.

> I've go to go on an errand.

Ng ngiluu a kall a Kukumai el mo er a ngii di el chad?

> Did Kukumai bring the food to anyone?

A bocha lemeched a rengum e ke melim a bodes er a bngal a kerrekar.

> Whenever you get thirsty, you drink nectar from the flowers in the trees.

Ak dirrek el mo omrotech a chimak , e mo dobodeb a ngsechel a renguk.

> I also will clap my hands, and my anger will be over.

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 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.

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.

More Examples:

Ka mnguu tia el terekill el mo er a blil Dachelbai e msbedii el kmo ng mla er a Ulang el sbedel a Ocherolel a Kitalong.

> Bring this basket of prepared food to Dachelbai's house and tell him that it's from Ulang for Kitalong's house-party.

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.

Ak milruul a oeaol er blik. Ak milekrolii el mo er a tank.

> I made rain gutters for my house. I ran it into a tank.

Ng kmal mera el meringel a sils, soad el mo taorer.

> It is just too hot like we could faint.

Ng ko er a mererengang tia el eanged me a kuk mocha metetermokl er a uldesuek el kirem.

> As the sky turns red I am perplexed about my thoughts for you.

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 mochu er ngii a chull.

> It's about to rain.

Ng ua ngara a telemtemul a kall?

> What does the food taste like?/How is the food?

Ng ngar er ngii a bul er a belochel.

> There's a restriction on (killing) pigeons.

Ng tuobed a ngertel.

> His nose is running.

Ng di rirekui.

> He died instantly.

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a belochel, el mesengei otelochel e suebek.

> Like a pigeon-seeing the danger, yet it flies from cover

The pigeon sits quietly concealed until some threat appears, then it flies out, revealing itself. The idiom applies to a person who unnecessarily exposes himself to danger, leaves the house in the rain, or takes a boat out in a storm.

Ng di sengsongd e mrechorech a kauang.

> Even a small twig can bring the pot to boil.

From small contributions, great accomplishments; a lot of small twigs can make a hot fire; the virtue of cooperation.

Ng ko er a chelid er a Ngebuked, el di rirekir er a bab.

> Like the gods of Ngebukd, completed up above.

As part of the festivities of a village feast or in celebration of some event, such as the completion of a community hall, Palauan young people produce a variety of named dances. One type of dance, called ruk, was never conducted in Ngebukd (in Ngaraard, northern Palau). It was said that the gods of the village had done their dancing in heaven before coming to earth and thus it was not necessary for the people of Ngebukd to dance. The saying pertains to a completed task, indicating to another that the work need not be repeated.

Ng ko er a chameiu.

> Like coconut syrup.

A general reference to incestuous relations. That this is a recent idiom, probably first used during the period of Japanese administration, is suggested by the Japanese word "ameyu," used in Palau to mean coconut syrup. The incident from which the idiom derives is said to be one in which a Palauan coconut-syrup maker had relations with his wife's sister.

Ng ko er a cherellel a beab el di ta e keroker.

> It's like the birth of a rat with one offspring per mother.

It's something that happens just once, something I put up with only once. According to this saying, the rat bears but one litter. Hence the application "once is enough" about an act that bears no repeating.

More Examples:

Ka mtebechelau e ng diak el mekemad!

> Control yourself, it isn't war!

Ng dimlak kisang er sei.

> I didnt see him or her there.

Ng di ta el sandei el kngar er a Belau.

> I'll be in Palau for only one week

Ng mla tmaut a ureor.

> The work has (recently) begun.

Sebechem lousubes er ngak adang ng diak?

> Would you forgive me please?

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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