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 mo metirem a rengum er a Ekipten, el di ua se er a lemetirem a rengum er a Asiria.

> You will be disappointed by Egypt, just as you were by Assyria.

Ng mla mo ua ngara a chubs er a chimam?

> How's the wound on your arm healing?

A ultirek er kau a di uai a chudel er a mekesokes.

> My love for you is boundless.

Kau ng blak a rengum el merirem er a renguk el ua a omoachel el mo medirt er a blsechel a kleald?

> Do you intend to disappoint me like a stream that goes dry in the summer?

Ng mo ua kerrekar el mla medul er a ngau a rechelel, me a bngal a mosebek er a eolt el mo cheroid.

> They will be like trees whose branches are burned by fire, whose blossoms are blown away by the wind.

Proverbs:

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

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 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

More Examples:

Ng mle ua ngerang a cherellem?

> How was your labor?

A delal a mesesuau me ng kmal di ua ingii.

> Her mother is an idiot and she is just like her.

Ng ua lsal meringel a cheral a dengki er chelecha el buil.

> The electric bill this month is a bit high.

Ng ua ngara a bul a iedel?

> What does mango smell like?

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

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

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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