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 di kea ak tekingii a ngelekek.

> I'm no longer able to discipline my child by talking to him.

Te ko er a ngemokel el bilis el diak leturk a nglemekelel.

> They are like greedy dogs that never get enough.

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 Droteo a dimlak longang me a ka lullim a merael.

> Droteo neither ate nor drank and just left.

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

> Droteo doesn't really know Japanese.

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 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 derumk, el di merrumk er ngii el diak a ultutelel.

> Like lightning, a big, unnecessary noise.

Lightning rarely strikes in such a way as to cause serious damage in Palau. May be applied to any unnecessary fuss or oratory at a meeting.

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.

A isnged a di kmeed e diak dengetemii.

> Our nose is close (to the mouth), but cannot be licked.

i.e. we shouldn't be too sure of, or overconfident in, ourselves. The nose is very close to the mouth, but, no matter how reassuringly available, it cannot be licked by the tongue. The idiom cautions those who are careless with their possessions to be less assured about wealth.

More Examples:

Ka bo er a oreomel e mues aike el rambotang el kmo mla mo marek e mngai a bebil mei. Ke mo ungil mart me ng diak leues a rechad el lolengit er a uchei er a be mrei.

> Go check the rambutan in the rain forest. If there are ripe ones, bring them home but make sure to hide them so people don't bum them off you.

Ng mera el a diak a kmo ngak.

> No one likes me.

Ng diak a mokar el bom nguu er ngii.

> You won't profit from getting it.

A Belau a teluidel, a remerrau me a remechebuul, dikea klaukerreu er a delongeled.

> Belau is divided into two; the rich and wealthy and the poor, theres no caring amongst the people.

Ng diak bai debo dongedub er a bdelul a chang?

> Why don't we go take a swim at the dock?

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:

Ng mla meluches a babier.

> The letter has been written.

Ng mla ngmasech a bidokel er ngak.

> I've broken out in hives.

A rebebil er a rengeleked el redil a mla moterau el mo sibai.

> Some of our daughters have already been sold as slaves.

Ng mla mo osiu a bteluk er tia el delengerengerem.

> I've become so fed up with your behavior (that I can't think of anything else).

Ke mla choitii a omelamech el dekool?

> Have you quit or giving up smoking?

Proverbs:

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.

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."

More Examples:

A kimlo melechong er a diong e mla er ngii a melengok.

> There was a peeping tom when we went shower.

Aika bla kues.

> I have seen these.

Achedil, ng mla omung aika el kerdeu.

> The ixora plant is blooming.

A Lurvey a mlo elireuakl e ngubetii tia el medalia el ngkedel a Wilbur el mla er a chiklel e nguu el turecheklii er a deel el ngar er a bebul a blil a Wilbur.

> Lurvey bent down and removed Wilbur's medal from his neck and hung it from a nail at the top of Wilbur's pen.

Akai! Ng mla motab a ochik er a rais.

> Ouch! I stubbed my toe on a tree root.

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 di mlo merek el mengedecheduch a Wilbur e a ngelekel a sib a tmoech.

> Wilbur finished talking and the lambs came out.

Bo mkodir se el kob er a bebul a tebel; a John a mlo kmedii a kob er a bebul a tebel; a John a kiledir a kob er a bebul a tebel.

> Put the cup on the table; John was putting the cup on the table (just now, recently); John put the cup on the table (yesterday, a week ago, etc.).

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

> My boat almost won the race.

Ng ngar er ngii a kekere el ududek el silber el sebechek el mo msang.

> I have a small silver coin that I can give him.

Ak remurt el mo er a tuangel.

> I'm running to the door.

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:

Tia el ochechel a bul a kired el mo blak a rengud el otutii me a rengeasek a mo mellengmes a llach.

> This enforcement of the stated curfew needs to enforced for the young generation to respect the laws.

E kemiu a mlo er ker er a kesus?

> And you, where did you go last night?

Tia el otngeklel a chutem el mo er a mera el chad er tia el kebliil a kma el mle ungil omesodel el dimlak a uldikel er ngii.

> The return of the land to the original clan members went well as planned without any disruptions.

Ng kmo ng mo ngera belkul a donga iasai.

> He asked what is the purpose of eating vegetables.

Ng kileed e a kusebek a rengrir e le ak mlo meoud.

> I was close to worrying everyone as I was a little late.

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 mlo er a stoa el mo omechar a klalo.

> He went to the store to buy something.

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

> Kukumai brought the food to the guests.

A Toki a milengetakl er a Droteo el mo er a bulis.

> Toki persuaded Droteo to go to the police.

Tia el blil a Wilbur a mla er ngii a tungelel me ng mle sebechel a Wilbur el mo tuobed.

> Wilbur's pen had a gate, so Wilbur could go outside.

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.

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 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 ulemkokl el mo er a kederang el mo omes er a ngesechel a sils.

> I went to the beach at crack of dawn to watch the sun rise.

Aki mlo mesauch a buuch er a ked, e aki bong e te mla smauch.

> We went to pick the betelnuts on the hills but when we got there, someone already picked them.

A ngelekek a milengilt el mo omtechei er a resechelil el mengedecheduch er a omelilt.

> My kid had the honor to speak on behalf of his class on their graduation.

Ak remurt el mo er a tuangel.

> I'm running to the door.

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

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

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 mle klou er a rengrir a oltoir er a merechorech.

> They were determined to chase the robbers.

Ng mla medeb a klengar er ngii.

> His life was cut short.

Ng daiziob a bilem.

> Your clothes look really fine or great.

Ak mlo smecher er a sasimi, e ng di a Droteo a liluut el kmal mlo smecher.

> I got sick from the sashimi, but Droteo got even sicker.

Ng di melemolem el dmeu a renguk.

> I will continue to be happy.

Proverbs:

Ng ua beab el mengard.

> Nibbling like a rat.

Activity that slowly destroys another person or institution. Generally applied to verbal actions; spreading malicious gossip; a speech loaded with subtle insults. However, it can be applied to wider behavior such as economic behavior that destroys the resources of the country: killing fish by dynamite; cutting forests without planting

Ng di ngmai a llechul er a rael.

> He gets his law from the streets.

Rael has the general meaning "way," applicable both to method and to a street. The implication is that if a child will not learn from his parents, he will learn the hard way from experience. It may be used in the positive sense of someone who is quick to learn from experience.

Ng ua lemechebiso tolekngel a Modelab

> Like making a whirlpool in Modelab's water tub.

Probably having reference to a folk tale, this saying is applied to any state of general social confusion. Some worldly Palauans used it with reference to the state of world affair

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.

Ng ko er a rrut rubak.

> Like the running elder.

Elders do not run fast, but they can run for great distances. Young men can sprint, but have little endurance. Hence, a person with enduring persistence.

More Examples:

Ng mekngit a chasi er ngii.

> It doesn't taste good.

Ng meketeketang er a lebo el chull?

> Has it been raining long?

Ng meringel a delel?

> Does he or she have a stomachache?

Ng diak a lmuut el soam?

> Do you want anything else?

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

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

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.

rolek

n.poss.1s

rolem

n.poss.2s

rolel

n.poss.3s

rolel a rael er ngii.

rolam

n.poss.1pe

roled

n.poss.1pi

roliu

n.poss.2p

rolir

n.poss.3p

Rael Kedam

n.

The mountain range that runs North-South on Babeldaob. In Palauan legend, it comes from Uab's spine. It marks the boundary of many states in Babeldaob. The name literally means the flight path of the kedam.
Ng ikel rois el meliud er a Keiukl me a Desbedall.

rael el beluu

n.

person without a fixed residence.

chad er a rael

expr.

outsiders.

ng diak a rolel e

expr.

there's no way to/have no way to.

ngalek er a rael

expr.

fatherless child; bastard.

rolel a ralm

expr.

ditch.

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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