Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

bakes

, n.

step (in walking).
bakes a blekeklel a uach; omakes, omekebakes, mekesii a ochil; bekesel.

bkul a oach

, n.

knee.

chad

, n.

man; person; human being; living being; someone; somebody; anyone; anybody.
chad a rokui el diak lulekoad el klaol; chad el dait; chad el babii; chad el ngikel; chad el lius. chad a sechal, dil, redil, ngalek, chad er a Belau, chad er a Merikel.

chedak

n.poss.1s

chedam

n.poss.2s

your (singular) relative.

chedal

n.poss.3s

his or her person or relative.
chedal a kmeed er ngii el chad, kauchad, Calista a chedal a Toni.

chedemam

n.poss.1pe

chedad

n.poss.1pi

our (inclusive) relative.

chedemiu

n.poss.2p

chederir

n.poss.3p

chad

v.s.

alive; living.

chedengang

v.s.inch.

becoming alive; reviving.
chedengang a sobelang er a kodall mesisichang, dikea le mad.

chad er a daob

expr.

person knowledgeable about the sea.

chad er a government

expr.

government employee.

chad er a moros

expr.

barbarian; cannibal.

chad er a reng

expr.

considerate person.

chedal a chelid

expr.

person having religion; believer.

chedal a ochil

expr.

lap; upper thigh.

mo chad

expr.

become alive; come to life.

See also:

Examples:

Tirke el dmeu a rengrir a tirke el mekedidai a rengrir el chad.

> Proud people are the ones who are happy.

Tirka el chad el meringel a bderrir a remo er a osbitar.

> These people with headaches are the ones who are going to the hospital.

a reterung el kausechelei el chad el millib er a mo er a chei

> the two friends who planned to go fishing

Tirka el chad a mla remenges el kmo kau, e Rubak, a obengkemam.

> These people have already heard that you, Lord, are with us.

A chad el diak lemeduch el mengikai a mo remos.

> Anyone who doesn't know how to swim will drown.

Proverbs:

Mengoit a chedal a Ngetkeuang.

> Disposing the group at Ngetkeuang.

The saying pertains to a situation that occurred at Ngetkeuang, a hamlet in Peleliu. Some members of a group about to sail north were already at the docks ready to board their canoes and set sail with a good strong wind from the south, slightly at an angle to the course they would follow and ideal for sailing. Impatient, the group at the dock finally left the remainder behind and the wind was so strong that they were soon well on their way. The phrase is applied to a wind that is strong, steady, and from the south, like a steady "tradewind"

Ngika el chad a ko er a debar.

> That man is like a duck.

The native duck, debar, doesn't fly very well, or high like other birds, it doesn't walk or run like some animals, it can't sing well, and it doesn't swim as well as a fish. But it can do all these things. Applied to a person who seemingly can do many different things, none of them expertly. "Jack of all trades."

Ng ko er a omelechong er a diong er a Tellei: Lolecholb a chad e ke mekerasem.

> It's like taking a shower at Tellei's bath, when somebody takes a shower, you shiver from the cold.

Someone's actions makes you embarrassed.

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 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:

Ngka el sechelik el chad er a ngebard a mesuub a tekoi er a Belau.

> My American friend is learning Palauan.

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

> The body will be at the morque.

Ngika el chad a ungil a klemengetal.

> This person's height is average.

Ak omdasu e a rechad er a Irrai a bai ungil el meruul a omelai el oleng er a ngii di el chad el mo er a skozio.

> I think people in Airai should make toll booths at the airport and collect fees.

Ak chad er a Beliliou.

> I'm from Peliliu

kesol

,

/uploads/pics/11132.jpg, n.

turmeric plant (used to make orange dye).
kesol a dellomel el tuobed a reng er ngii, kesol er a ngebard.

melechang

, v.t.

put (into particular position); take (to particular place).
melechang a lochang; ngmai el mechei; loiang, lechengel.

mengam

, v.t.

break (long object) in two; fracture.
mengam a chomur; chuam a kerrekar; chomur el mo erung; chemul a bambuu.

meses

, v.s.

strong; industrious; diligent; active.
meses a bekurreor; diak a ulengellel er a urreor; sesengel er a omenged; diak le mesaik.

oach
/ouach
/uach

, n.

foot; leg; back paws (of animal).

ochik

n.poss.1s

ochim

n.poss.2s

ochil

n.poss.3s

ochil a ouach er ngii; ochil a buik.

ochemam

n.poss.1pe

ochid

n.poss.1pi

ochemiu

n.poss.2p

ocherir

n.poss.3p

delel a oach

expr.

calf of leg.

ochil a mlai

expr.

wheel.

ochil a osongd

expr.

teeth of comb.

uchul a oach

expr.

upper thigh.

See also:

Examples:

A dolech a me kirel a bkul a ochik.

> The tide reaches as high as my knees.

Ng diak a medulel a ochim me ke di dechor.

> Why don't you sit down (lit., are you standing up because you don't have a bend in your legs)?

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.

Ng milemiakl er a didelboi e kmoll a ochil e ruebet.

> He was climbing on the ladder when his foot slipped and he fell.

Ng rirebet er a kerrekar el mecham a ochil.

> He fell out of the tree and broke his leg.

Proverbs:

A ochim a meklechem.

> Your legs are your taro patch.

Your legs will find you good fortune, you seek what you desire

Ng ko er a uel, el suebek e mekebekabes a ochil.

> Like the purple swamp hen, flying off with its legs hanging down

The purple swamp hen (uek; other sources name another bird, sechou [heron]) is careless about its legs when it flies, letting them dangle in flight instead of neatly tucking them up like other, more trim flyers. The saying applies to persons who do sloppy work or carelessly leave a task half finished

Ke ko er a sechou el suebek e mekebekabes ochil.

> You're like the stork which flies with its legs dangling.

You leave unfinished business behind and split.

More Examples:

Ngika el rubak a kilderii a ngelekel el meringel a ochil el loia er a ongelengelel e te merolang el mo remei.

> Her father picked his daughter onto his shoulder as her foot was hurting and they walked home.

Ak dirrek el mildobech a ochik er a butiliang er a kngalek.

> I cut my foot on a broken bottle when i was little.

Akai! Ng mla motab a ochik er a rais.

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

Mekekad a cheruel a ochik.

> The bottom of my feet itches.

Ng milekerang e mo deuall a delel a ochim?

> How did you get that bruise on your calf?

omedebed

, v.t.redup.

omedebed a telkib el omed.

medebed a ochil

expr.

walk carefully, quietly or softly.

bekesek	n.poss.1s
bekesem	n.poss.2s
bekesel	n.poss.3s
bekesam	n.poss.1pe
bekesed	n.poss.1pi
bekesiu	n.poss.2p
bekesir	n.poss.3p
erebakes	n.	erebakes a eru el bakes; omakes el erung; mekesii, ngmai a eru el bakes.
bekesel a ochil	expr.	fate; destiny.
meklou a bekesel a ochil	expr.	walk with short steps.
See also:

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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