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:

Ke rongesii a chad el oukita?

> Do you hear someone playing a guitar?

A John ng chad er ker?

> Where's John from?

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

> the two friends who planned to go fishing

A Droteo a kmal dektelek el chad.

> Droteo is someone who really frightens me.

A Tony a ngar er a eou el chad.

> Tony is lower in rank.

Proverbs:

Ng ko er a biul el chad el ngesonges er a buld.

> Like a man circumcised, insufficient skin.

Circumcision seems to have been known in Palau prior to contact, perhaps through contact with the Philippines, but was not widely practiced. As in this context, it usually draws attention in the form of ridicule. The idiom applies to any circumstance in which there has been insufficient preparation or planning; a premature decision.

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 chad er a Ngerechemai, el metom er a uel el metom er a mlai.

> Like the man of Ngerechemai, who lost his turtle and lost his canoe.

Relates to a fisherman who jumped from his canoe to catch a turtle only to find that his canoe had drifted beyond recovery. Applies to any situation where a person fails at a task, or, aptly, to a situation where a man, through his own foolishness, loses both his wife and his mistress.

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 ker el melechong e ngak a mekerasem.

> Like a person somewhere taking a bath, but I'm cold.

Applies to any embarrassing act, such as boasting or gossiping, on the part of a friend.

More Examples:

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.

Ngika el chad a ungil a klemengetal.

> This person's height is average.

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

> My American friend is learning Palauan.

Kau ke chad er ker?

> Where are you from?

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

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

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:

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 rirebet er a kerrekar el mecham a ochil.

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

A chiul a me mengoir er a bkul a ochil.

> Her hair reaches down to her 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 milemiakl er a didelboi e kmoll a ochil e ruebet.

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

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:

Mruul a ochim e tia bellum el di ultom.

> Fix your legs, I can see your privates.

Ng rirebet er a kerrekar el mecham a ochil.

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

Soak lekong e ng di motenai ochik.

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

Mekekad a cheruel a ochik.

> The bottom of my feet itches.

Ng meringel a ochik.

> My foot(feet) hurts or I have sore feet.

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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