Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

bedengel

, n.poss.3s

body; corpse; skin; color; type; kind; appearance; physique.
bedengel a chesbereberel, mamed a mellemau a bedengel. bedengel a chelechedal, ungil okerulel el ngalek a ungil a bedengel.

chansing

, v.t., [From Japanese anshin]

be too sure or proud of (oneself).

chung

, n.

luck or fate.

di

, mod.

only; just; any.
di a olkael; di kau a mei e diak a ngodech; di tedei el buik a mong; se di kau, se di ngii.

el di mle ngii

expr.

all by himself; on his own.

ngii di lebong

expr.

whatever it is; whatever there may be.

Examples:

Ngii el siseball a di mle ngii el mengai a chesmerel.

> The gate opened for them by itself.

Ng ko er a osechel a mengur el di ngar er a milkolk el mo er a milkolk.

> It's like coconut juice that goes from the dark (of the inside of coconut) to the dark (of the inside of the drinker's mouth). - i.e. It's a matter kept secret or something whose source and use are unknown.

Ak di ngar er a ziu er ngak.

> I do whatever I please./Nobody tells me what to do.

Te di oumesingd el menga a rodech me a chemadech el kall.

> They tend to eat fruits and raw food.

Ak merael e ko er a di meleluluut a renguk.

> I'm leaving, but I don't know if I really want to (lit., my heart keeps returning).

Proverbs:

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.

Ng ko er a mur er a Ngchesar, el di klukuk el di klukuk.

> It's like the feast of Ngchesar, postoned till tomarrow, then the next, and forever.

You keep sayng tomorrow, tomorrow. You're lucky there's a tomorrow. Presumably, in the past the village of Ngchesar in central Palau tried and tried again to schedule a mur, the largest, villagewide feast conducted in Palau. But for various reasons the feast was forever postponed. The saying applies to the risk of procrastination.

A remeteet a ko er a redechel a bngaol el di ruebet e oulkou.

> Those of high family are like the seed pod of the bngaol tree, which falls with its leafy cap upright.

The bngaol, a mangrove tree, bears a long pod which is sharply pointed on one end and has a leafy "cap" on the other. When it falls from the tree it generally lands standing in the mud with "cap" end up. Hence, the quality of being socially elite (meteet) is gained naturally at birth. One is born in good standing with a cap or insignia of high rank. It follows, then, that the elite need not display their high standing, everyone knows they are elite when they are born (and there is no other way to become elite). Going a step further, the elite may display proper humility and refer to a group including themselves as kid a remechebuul (we commoners).

Ng ko er a terriid el teloi er a klab e di mengerem.

> Like the terriid, in the taro garden but hungry

The terriid, a bird, is often seen in the taro garden but, unlike the purple swamp hen which eats taro corms, the terriid seems to eat nothing. The idiom may apply to anyone who works hard without recognition, or to a man frequently in the company of women but with no success as a lover.

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:

Ng di chemechemel a olik.

> It's raining very lightly.

Ng diak klsakl, ak di mesaik.

> There's nothing wrong with me. I'm just lazy.

Soak lekong e ng di motenai ochik.

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

Ngka el sechesech a mera el di uletemtimd er a kesus, tiang locha ngera belkul.

> The gecko kept chirping last night, I wonder what it meant.

Kamei aika el uaol. Aika el ngikel a di menga uolek.

> Pass the bait. The fish keep eating my bait.

kmo

, v.t.

to like someone dearly; express extra or preferential love, care, attention to one person; love; care for; take care of; favor; give preference to. [Unlike the English word 'love,' the usage of this word tends to imply favoritism.]

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:

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.

Ng mla imiit a cheokl.

> The worst is over.

A eolt a mla mo diak lsal meses.

> The wind/storm has abated.

A Toki a mla mechell.

> Toki has had a baby.

Ak mla menga a diokang me a ngikel me a chemang.

> I've eaten tapioca, fish and crab.

Proverbs:

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.

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.)

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 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:

Achedil, ng mla omung aika el kerdeu.

> The ixora plant is blooming.

Ak mla er a blai.

> I was at the house.

Ng mla er ngii a temem el mesuub el kirel a test er a klukuk?

> Did you get an opportunity to study for the test tomorrow?

Aika bla kues.

> I have seen these.

Mla er ngii a ngesul a ngisel a malk er a lukel er a elii.

> There was significant lower number of chicken eggs from her nest yesterday.

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 mla mo diak a chull.

> The rain's stopped.

A Droteo a kmal mlo smecher me a lolkakl a chimal e ng di mo medeu.

> Droteo is so sick that when he tries to lift himself up with his arms, they just bend (in weakness).

A ngelekel a kiuid a mla mo oubusech.

> The blackbird has begun to grow/get feathers.

Ng mla mo chuib a ede el klebesei er a lebo lsecher.

> Three days had passed since she got sick.

Ng mla mo diak a urerel a rubak.

> The old man lost his job.

Proverbs:

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 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 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.

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:

Ak ulemekall el mo er a stoang e ng mo diak a eolt er a taia er a mlik.

> I was driving to the store when I got a flat tire.

Ak mo er a sers.

> I'm going to the garden or farm.

A bo lemeoud e ng mo ngerang, ngii di le mlei.

> So what if he is late, as long as he comes.

Ke ko er a mo melebedebek er a chomkekerei?

> Do you still remember when you were young?

Ng kirek el mo omechar a subelengek el mo er a skuul.

> I need to go buy me some pants for school.

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:

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.

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 Kukumai a ngiluu a kall el mo er a reokiak.

> Kukumai brought the food to the guests.

Ak ousbech a oles el mo meles a ngikel.

> I use a knife to fillet fish.

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?

Proverbs:

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.

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.

More Examples:

Ak mo er a mesei el mo melai a teblo er a brak.

> I'm going to the taro garden to get two yellow taro.

Ke mo merael er a oingerang el mo er a Belau?

> When are you leaving to Palau?

Ng mochu soiseb a skuul.

> School is starting soon.

Aike el blil a sobdringk a sebeched el mo oterau.

> We can sell the soda cans.

Mtektuk a meduu el mo ungil a meklungel.

> Cut the breadfruit into good size bite.

ngar

, v.s.

be (located); exist; be alive.
ngar a outeliil; chad a ngar; ngar er ngii a klengar er ngii; charm a ngar.

ngar ngii

cont.

ngar er ngii

ngarker

cont.

ngar ker

ngar er a bab a rengul

expr.

conceited; disrespectful; proud; arrogant; haughty; snobbish.

ngar er a bab el chad

expr.

one's superior; wealthy/well-to-do person.

ngar er a eou a rengul

expr.

(person is) humble/respectful.

ngar er ngii

expr.

there is.

ngar ker

expr.

where is it.

Examples:

Ng ngar er ngii a chad er tiang.

> Somebody's here.

Ng ngar er a oderuchel.

> He's on an errand.

Ke ngarker?

> Where are you?

A blik a ngar er a bita er a skuul.

> My house is next door to (or across the street from) the school.

A Satsko a ulumulak er a Toki el kmo a John a ngar er ngii a betok el ududel.

> Satsko told Toki a lie (saying) that John has lots of money.

Proverbs:

Ng ngar ngii a melebisech er a chutem e imiit

> Are there any who spear at the ground and miss?

Used to describe something that is easily accomplished.

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.

Melim e menga er a ngar er a ucharm.

> To eat and drink by the mast tip.

The ucharm (bird) is the hardwood tip at the top of the canoe mast. The person to whom the idiom is applied is accused of thriving on gifts from other places. Particularly it may be applied to persons of a highranking village who rather expect that visitors in canoes from other villages will come provisioned with gifts-thus, those who watch for the canoes. Sometimes the idiom goes: Ngkora chad ra Oreor, "Like the man of Koror," with reference to the high ranking community of Koror in central Palau.

More Examples:

Ng ngar er ngii a eolt.

> It's typhoon condition.

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

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

A eolt a ngar er a ongos el mei.

> The wind is coming from the east.

Ng ngar er ngii a desiu.

> There's an earthquake.

A rechad el smecher el ngar er a osbitar a kmal betok.

> There are a lot of sick people at the hospital.

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?

ngii

, pro.

he/she/it (emphatic).
ngii a melekoi el kirel a chad me a klalo; ngii el dil, ngii el kall, ngii el beluu; ngii el urreor; ngii el udoud.

ngii di el

, pro.

any.

singio

, n., [From Japanese]

trust; reputation.

meruul a singio er ngii

expr.

show (oneself) in a good light; show (oneself) to be responsible or trustworthy; put one's best food forward.

Examples:

Ng ungil a singio er ngii.

> She is trustworthy.

ta
/tang

, num.

1 [one] (unit of time; human; counting).
tang a ochur el chimong , ta el buil, ta el tekoi, ta el chad.

tal

cont.

ta el

tara

cont.

ta er a

el di ngak el tang

expr.

alone; by myself.

ko el tang

expr.

the very first time; the first time after a long while.

ngii di el tang

expr.

either one; anything.

ta el chad

expr.

one person; (persons) having same mother or father; (persons) of same blood.

ta el rak

expr.

one year.

ta el sils

expr.

one day.

ta er kemam

expr.

one of our relatives (usually, close); one of us.

ta er ngak

expr.

one of my relatives (usually, close).

ta er tir

expr.

one of them.

Examples:

Ng ko er a ko el ta el mmermang.

> This is the first time you've been here in ages.

Ng ko el ta el leme chull.

> It's the first time it's rained in a long while.

Ng mla mo er ngii a kmeed el ta el sandei er a lekie er tiang.

> It's been almost a week since he's been staying here.

Me ta er a kiklou el sualo.

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

A blai a mlukbeches er a chelsel a ta el buil.

> The house was renovated in a month.

Proverbs:

Ng kora chebiei el Cheangel, el di ta e chutur a ta el suk.

> Like the breadfruit of Kayangel, just one rotten piece will spoil the whole bunch.

One bad person can ruin the reputation of a whole group. It is said of the Chebiei variety of breadfruit found at Kayangel atoll that one rotten one will spoil others packaged with it. Similar to "One bad apple spoiled the bushel."

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 chelebed er a Utaor, el di ta temetemir

> Like the blow at Utaor, one stroke for all

A person or perhaps a club of the hamlet of Utaor (a hamlet of either Koror or Chol) offended a major village and, in consequence, the village retaliated by attacking the whole hamlet. The idiom applies to any general statement or punishment that might better be directed toward a particular group or individual

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.