Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

dmung

, v.pf.3s

say; tell. In some constructions, the initial d sound may be dropped.
dmung a melekoi, "a le mei a Siang e ke dmung er ngii me ng choielak".

duch

, n.

ability; skill.
duch a meduch; dachelbai, chedechuul, duch er a omenged, ngar ngii a duch er ngii er a urreor; ngar ngii a dechal er a omerreder, meduch el merreder.

ua
/uai

, mod.

like; as.
ua a ko er a; ua medal a demal; chad er a Belau e ua bedengel a chad er a ngebard.

uaisei

cont.

ua se

ua se
/uai sei

expr.

like that.

Synonyms: ,

Examples:

Ng ua ngarang?

> How is it?

Ng ua ngara a dertel a selokel?

> How is the laundry coming along (i.e. is it dry yet)?

Ng ua ngara a telemtemul a kall?

> What does the food taste like?/How is the food?

Ng ua ngara a kldidiul a kerrekar?

> How high is the tree?

Ng ua ngara a chetul a blim?

> What's the condition of your house?

Proverbs:

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 mlenga a telochel a demal me ng uai ngii.

> Like his father, for he ate his father's premasticated food.

Applied to a child by adoption, with the implication that the adopted child resembles his adoptive father

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.

A ungil el merreder a ua chull el melemedem er a daob.

> A good leader, like rain, stills the ocean.

Rain falling during an ocean squall often seems to wipe away the winds and still the ocean. A good leader should be able to dispel the problems facing his people. He can calm down disputes and settle problems easily.

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

More Examples:

Ng ua techa ngikal el chad?

> What is this person like?

Ke ua ngarang?

> How are you?

Ng ua ngara a teletelel a iedel?

> What's the shape and texture of mangoes?

Ng mle ua ngera kall?

> How was the food ?

Ng ua ngerang a bedengel a mlim? Ng mellemau adang ng bekerkard?

> What is the color of your car? is it blue? or is it red?

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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