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 ngara a ultikillel a bilsengem?

> How many passengers can your boat carry?/What's the capacity of your boat?

A Droteo a uai a decham er a omeruul el mlai.

> Droteo fixes cars as well as you.

Ak moalech el ua chudel.

> I wither like grass.

Ng mla mo ua ngara a chubs er a chimam?

> How's the wound on your arm healing?

Ke ua ngarang?

> How are you?

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

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

Ng ua kukau el omertort a ditel e chemoes.

> Like taro, though the leaves are tall, still immature.

Taro (Colocasia esculenta) is mature only when the leaves produced by the plant are small. When the plant produces its largest leaves the tuber in the ground is still quite small. The saying may be applied to a person who, while yet young and inexperienced, is proud and boastful.

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.

More Examples:

Ng ua ngara a chasi er a iedel?

> What does mango taste like?

Ke ua ngarang?

> How are you?

Ngka el John el ko er a di ua chelideuid; ngera telemall?

> John is really in a hurry; what's wrong?

Ng mle ua ngara siou?

> How was the movie?

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

Search for another word: