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.

bedengek

n.poss.1s

bedengem

n.poss.2s

bedengam

n.poss.1pe

bedenged

n.poss.1pi

bedengiu

n.poss.2p

bedengir

n.poss.3p

bedengel a chab

expr.

gray.

bedengel a chudel

expr.

green.

bedengel a chutem

expr.

brown.

bedengel a daob

expr.

deep blue.

bedengel a eanged

expr.

sky blue.

ngar er ngii er a bedengel a kmo

expr.

have a premonition that; have a gut feeling that; feel in one's bones that.

olab bedengel

expr.

well-built; able-bodied; ready and able.

Examples:

Ak chetitau a bedengek e melemalt a chiuk e meklou a medak.

> I'm brown-skinned with straight hair and big eyes.

Ng di tirke el silobel a kmal di ulebriid me te chiliis el di chad me a bedengel.

> The survivors scattered, each man running off by himself.

Ng sebeched el koreel a bek el bedengel a ngikel.

> We can catch many kinds of fish.

Ng ngar er ngii er a bedengek a kmo ng mo er ngii a mekngit.

> I have a premonition that something bad will hapen.

Ng kmal kilurs a bedengel.

> He flinched (from fright, etc.).

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a bukitang, el meduch el meldelodech a bedengel.

> Like the octopus, able to change the color of its body.

He's too erratic or too easily persuaded. A leader, or any person, who is highly erratic, too adaptive; one who appears capable of taking any convenient or easy position.

More Examples:

Ng meringel a bedengem el dirrek?

> Does your whole body hurt also?

Ng mellemau a bedengel.

> Its color blue

Ngar er ngii a delngod er a bedengem?

> Do you have any tattoos?

A bilel er a Mark a becheleleu a bedengel.

> Mark's socks are white.

A bedengel a ulekoad el chad a mo er a morque.

> The body will be at the morque.

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:

Ng kmal mechesang er omilil meng di chelitang a ngerchelel.

> He's so busy playing around that his responsibilities are neglected.

Ng di osisiu.

> It's just or exactly the same.

Ng di rasech a bilel.

> His clothes are covered with blood.

Ngara me ke di mengchechelebed er a rengalek?

> Why are you always hitting the children?

Ng di renguk el mo er a Merikel.

> It's my own desire or decision to go to America.

Proverbs:

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 kora ilaot Itkib el di ngii el romur.

> Like the ilaot [coconut juice] of Ngetkib, mixing itself.

Probably of folk-tale derivation, the idiom may be applied to a man who has married too close to his own clan, thus not gaining the assistance of the wife's clan in food and services, since this would amount to the clan giving to itself. Also applied to a situation where a person expects to have some service performed for him but ends up doing it himself.

Ng di ua dorael er a medal a oles.

> It's as if we were walking on the blade of a knife.

i.e., we're treading on dangerous ground; if we make one wrong move, we're finished.

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.

Kau, ke ngelekel a Redechor, me ke di dechor?

> Are you the son of Redechor

is that why you're standing around so much?

More Examples:

Ak kmal mechesang e ng di ak kmal mo melasem el olengoech er a taem leko meskau.

> I'm very busy but trying to squeeze some time to come visit you.

A chelebirukel a diak lochellii a llemalt, e ng di chebirukel.

> Crookedness will not bear straight, it will always be crooked.

Ng oldubech a ungelel a ngelekek me ng di merael a mbesel me tia bilek el dekmesang er a ngibes.

> My baby is teething and drooling so much that my shirt is now wet from the drool.

Ng di ungil a kumekedong er kau er a ta er a taem?

> Is it OK for me to call you sometime?

Lak di momuit er tia el butiliang e moitel a imelem er a kob.

> Don't just take a drink from the bottle and pour your drink in a cup.

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:

Ke mla obes el kmo a Droteo a me er a klukuk?

> Have you forgotten that Droteo is coming tomorrow?

Ak mla tmuk a kloklel a kleblilliu er aike el beluu el dirk medechel me aike el beluu el mla mengai.

> I have assigned as the possession of your tribes the land of the nations that are still left, as well as of all the nations that I have already conquered.

tir el rokui el sechal el mla er a blil

> all the males in his household

Ng sechelik a bla leberngii a obekuk.

> It's my friend who my brother has hit.

A rebebil er a rengeleked el redil a mla mo ulterau.

> Some of our daughters have become sold.

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."

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 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.

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.

Tirka el chad el mle er a mur a mla kaiririid.

> The people who came to the feast are now all gone.

Dachelbai a mla okedii er a Ulang, ngera te locha kaketib er chelechang.

> Dachelbai brought himself close to Ulang, what kind of schemes are they planning now?

Akai! Ng mla motab a ochik er a rais.

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

Ng mla er ngii a ngloik?

> Was there much dancing?

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:

A Droteo a kilenge er a Toki me ng mo mengedub.

> Droteo allowed Toki to go swimming.

Ak mo chemuiu aika el uldasu e ke ouchais el kmo ke kongei, ng diak chomkengei, ke oumededenger, a lechub e ng diak modengei.

> I am going to read you a list of statements and you tell if you agree, disagree, neutral or don't know.

Ak kmal mlo merur me ak di kileed e kisets.

> I was so embarrassed I thought I'd die.

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 mo biusech a medam er a rechedam.

> Be attentive to the needs of your relatives.

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:

Ak mlo meruul a ungelek er a haishia.

> I went to fix my teeth at the dentist.

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

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

A rechad er a blik a mla mo smecher.

> My folks have passed on.

Me dorael el mo melim a rrom.

> Lets go drink alcohol.

Ke mlo meloik?

> Did you dance?

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 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.

Ng di mle ngii el tang el mo ngmasech er a rois el mo meluluuch. Me se er a bocha lekebesengei, e a Jesus a di mle ngii el tang.

> He went up a hill by himself to pray. When evening came, Jesus was there alone.

Ke ma kot el mo er a skuul, e ngak ekong.

> You go on ahead to school, and then I'll follow.

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).

Ke kmal menga el mo klebokel.

> You're becoming even prettier.

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:

Aika el oruikl el chemadech el kukau a kirel kdill er a rengalek el sechal mo er a taoch el mo doiderekl er a bilas el mo er a omerael.

> These uncooked baskets of taro had to be carried by the young men to the boat at the channel to go on the trip.

Ng kuk mocha kebesengei me ng kuk mo ribsakl a sils.

> It's getting dark and the sun is setting.

Ng soak el mo er a Merikel.

> I want to go to the States.

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.

Ak mo melobech a llel a tuu el mo koeas.

> I'm going to cut down banana leaves for compost.

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:

A lsekum te ngar er ngii a remo 50 el melemalt el chad el ngar er se el beluu, e ...

> If there are fifty innocent people in the city, then ...

Ng ngar er ngii a ngodech el basio el chomomdasu e ng dirrek el kirel mo er ngii a bul er ngii?

> Is there any other areas that you think to be protected?

Ng ngar er a mong.

> It's further over there.

Ak di ngar er a ziu er ngak.

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

Ng ngar er a mei.

> It's closer to here.

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:

A eolt el ngar er ker el mei?

> Where is the wind coming from?

Tilechang ngar er ker?

> Where is that?

Ngar er ngii a kerik.

> I have a question.

Ochoi, ng ngar er ngii a mellemau me a becheleleu me a bekerkard.

> Yes, they have blue, white, and red.

Ngar er ngii a deleb er a taoch.

> There is a ghost at the mangrove channel.

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:

Te liluches aike el siasing er a chelsel a ta el sikang.

> They drew those pictures in an hour.

Te miltik a bresengt er tir er a chelsel a ta el sikang.

> They found their presents in an hour.

Ng cheiko a omekrael er a ta er a cheiko.

> The blind leading the blind.

Te di mle ta el mengedecheduch.

> They both spoke at the same time.

Ng ko er a ko el ta el mmermang.

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

Proverbs:

Ng cheiko e omekrael er a ta er a cheiko.

> A blind man leading another blind man.

The application is identical to that of the familiar English idiom

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 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.

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

More Examples:

Ak oureng er a ta er a taem el mo sebeched el kasoues.

> I only wish that we will see each other in the future.

A rsul a babii a kma el kirel di tang.

> The stabbing of the pig should only take once.

Okedei me a ta el kebesengil a buil.

> Thirty first day of the month.

Ak meleng a udoud el diak lengesonges me a lechub lemekesai er a ta el telael.

> I'm borrowing money not less than a thousand dollars.

Ochoi, Ng di mle ta el bo kuloik.

> Yes, but I only danced once.

tab

, n.

destination.
tab a motab; tabeluach.

teblo
/teblong

, num.

2 [two] (animal; nonliving thing).
teblong a ochur ; bduu a teblong. mengur a teblong; teblong el blai.

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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