Common Palauan Phrases and Beginner Conversational Palauan With Audio

Audio    PalauanEnglish
Hello.
Good Morning.
Greetings at midmorning (toward noon)
Good Afternoon.
Good Evening.
Ke
ua
How are you?
Ak
I'm fine.
E
kau
a
ua
And How are you?
Ak
el
I'm fine, too.
me
a
Bye? See you later.
Ng
What is my name?
Ng
What is your name?
Ng
What is his or her name?
Ng
What are your names?
Bo
Stand up.
Bo
Sit   down.
Bo
el
Please speak slowly.
Ak
I understand.
Ng
I don't understand.
Ke
Thank you. Formal.
Ke
Thanks. Informal.
Thanks. Very informal.
el
Repeat and say that again.
Lak
el
Don't repeat.
Lak
Don't make noise.
Lak
bo
Don't stand up.
Lak
bo
Don't sit down.
Lak
Don't go.
Lak
Don't come.
ng
Hello, good morning.
Good morning.
Ke
ua
How are you?
Ak
E
kau
a
ua
I'm fine. How are you?
Ak
el
I'm fine too.
Ng
a
What's your friend's name?
Ke
mo
er
Where are you going?
Ak
mo
er
a
I'm going to the house.
Ke
mla
er
where did you come from?
Ak
mla
er
a
I came from school.
Ke
mla
er
a
er
a
Were you at the house yesterday?
Ke
mo
er
ker
er
a
Where are you going tomorrow?
Ak
mo
er
a
er
a
I'm going to school tomorrow.
Ke
mo
er
a
Are you going tomorrow?
ak
mo
er
a
er
a
Yes, I'm going to school tomorrow.
Ng
ng
bo
er
a
er
a
No, I'm going to school tomorrow.
Goodbye.
Ak
mla
er
a
I was at the house.
Ke
mlo
er
ker
er
a
Where did you go yesterday?
Ke
mo
er
a
er
a
Are you going to school tomorrow?
Give me.
Lak
Don't give me.
Take, get, bring.
Lak
Don't get, take, or bring.
Ng
a
What's your father's name?
Ng
a
What's your mother's name?
Ng
a
a
What's your opposite sex sibling's name?
Ng
a
What is your older brother's name?
Ng
a
a
What's your younger brother's name? (male to
Ng
a
What is your older sister's name?
Ng
a
What's your younger sister's name? (female to
Ng
a
el
What's your grandmother's name?
Ng
a
What is your uncle's name?
A
er
a
a
There are 8 people in my family.
A
a
I have three opposite sex siblings.
A
a
I have two older brothers. (Can only be said by a male).
A
a
di
I have one younger brother. (Can only be said by a maile).
E
te
a
er
a
And you, how many people are in your family?
E
a
And how many opposite sex siblings do you have?
What's this?
What's that?
Se
What's that?
What are these?
What are those?
What are those?
Ng
How old are you?
Ng
me
a
a
I'm sixteen years old.
Ng
a
How old is your father?
Ng
a
How old is your mother?
Ng
a
How old is your opposite sex sibling?
Ng
a
How old is your older brother? (only said by a male)
Ng
a
How old is your younger brother? (only said by a male)
Ng
a
How old is your older sister? (only said by a female)
Ng
a
How old is your younger sister? (only said by a female)
Ke
er
a
a
er
a
Which Island of Palau are you from?
Ak
er
a
I'm from Peliliu
Ke
er
a
a
er
a
Where in the U.S are you from?
Ke
er
ker
el
Where were you born?
Ak
er
a
I was born In Guam.
Ng
a
er
What's your phone number?
a
el
This is my friend Huan.
Ng
me
a
eai
a
He's 18 years old.
Ng
er
a
He's from Palau.
Ng
er
a
He was born in Koror.
Bo
Go outside.
Lak
bo
Don't go outside.
Be
Come outside.
Lak
be
Don't come outside.
Bo
Go inside.
Lak
bo
Don't go inside.
Be
Come inside.
Lak
be
Don't come inside.
Look.
Lak
Don't look.
Point to it.
Lak
Don't point
Ng
a
er
tia
el
How do you say this word?
Ng
ua
tia
el
How do you spell or write this word?
Ka
el
er
a
el
Can you repeat what you just said?
ng
di
Yes, it's correct.
Ng
ng
No, it's not correct.
e
ng
el
What day is today?
e
ng
Kot
el
Today is Monday.
e
ng
el
What day is tomorrow?
e
ng
el
Tomorrow is Tuesday.
A
e
ng
el
What day is the day after tomorrow?
A
e
ng
el
The day after tomorrow is Wednesday.
A
e
ng
mle
el
What day was yesterday?
A
e
ng
mle
Yesterday was Sunday.
A
e
ng
mle
el
What was the day before yesterday?
A
e
ng
mle
The day before yesterday was Saturday.
ke
mla
er
ker
el
Hello, where did you come from?
Ak
mla
er
a
I came from the States.
Ke
er
a
When did you arrive here?
Ak
er
a
el
I came on Wednesday.
Ke
mo
er
ker
er
a
Where are you going tomorrow?
Ak
mo
er
a
I'm going to Palau.
Ke
mo
er
a
el
el
How long will you be in Palau?
Ng
di
ta
el
el
er
a
I'll be in Palau for only one week
Ke
er
a
el
What month were you born?
Ak
er
a
el
I was born in May.
A
ng
er
ker
el
Where was your friend born?
E
kau
a
er
ker
el
And you, where were you born?
A
ng
er
a
el
What month was your friend born in?
el
a
Thirtieth day of the month.
me
a
ta
el
a
Thirty first day of the month.
A
el
e
ak
At 6:00 a.m. I wake up.
A
el
me
a
e
ak
mo
At 6:30 a.m. I take a shower.
A
el
e
ak
e
a
At 7:00 a.m. I dress and comb my hair.
A
el
me
a
e
ak
At 7:30 a.m. I eat breakfast.
A
eai
el
e
ak
el
mo
er
a
at 8:00 a.m. I leave for school.
Ke
mo
er
a
Will you stay long in Palau?
me
a
Well, bye'see you later.
Ak
a
I'm combing my hair.
Ak
I'm eating.
Ak
a
I'm brushing my teeth.
Ak
el
mo
er
a
I'm walking to the window.
Ak
el
mo
er
a
I'm running to the door.
Ak
a
I'm drinking water
Ak
mo
er
a
I will shower tonight.
Ak
a
el
oba
a
I'm combing my hair with a comb.
Ak
mle
a
er
a
I brushed my teeth yesterday.
Ke
a
Do you need help?
Ng
ng
a
No, I don't need help.
Ng
el
Can you help me?
Ng
ng
el
No, I can't help you.
Ng
el
a
Can you give me a pencil?
Ng
el
a
Can I borrow your book?
Ng
ng
el
a
No, you can't borrow by book.
a
Touch your head.
a
point to his or her eyes, or face.
Ng
ua
el
What is this person like?
Ng
el
He or she is a tall person.
Ng
a
He or she is white.
Ke
ua
el
What are you like?
Ak
a
e
a
e
a
I'm brown skinned with straight hair and big eyes.
Ng
a
What is Mary wearing?
A
a
a
me
a
a
Mary is wearing a skirt and short-sleeved shirt.
Ng
a
What kind of footwear is Mary wearing?
a
a
me
a
Mary is wearing socks and sport shoes.
Ng
He or she is not dressed.
Ng
a
Who's wearing earrings?
A
me
a
me
a
a
Mary, Lily, and Betty are wearing earrings.
Ng
a
Who's wearing a necklace?
Ng
a
Who's wearing a ring?
Te
el
a
How many females are wearing rings?
Ng
ua
a
a
a
What color is Tina's dress?
A
a
a
a
Tina's dress is red.
A
er
a
a
a
Mark's socks are white.
Ng
uoi
a
Ke
a
er
I really like your dress. Where did you buy it?
ng
er
a
me
a
me
a
Yes, they have blue, white, and red.
el
a
a
This person's height is average.
el
a
a
This person has a long nose.
Ng
a
a
He or she has short and curly hair.
Ng
a
el
He or she is wearing red earrings.
Ng
a
er
a
He or she is wearing a yellow shirt.
ke
Good morning. Are you sick?
Ng
Ng
a
No. My child is sick
Ng
What's wrong with him or her?
Ng
er
a
He or she has a cold, fever, flu, etc.
E
ng
el
a
And you, is your child sick, too?
ng
Yes, he or she has diarrhea.
Ng
el
Does he or she vomit, too?
Ng
Ng
bai
ko
er
a
di
No. He or she only feels dizzy.
e
a
Sit and wait your turn while we go see the doctor.
Ng
a
Which part of your body hurs?
Ng
a
My head hurts, or I have a headache.
Ng
a
My foot(feet) hurts or I have sore feet.
Ng
a
Do  you have sore throat (does it your throat)?
ng
a
Yes, my throat is sore.
Ng
Ng
a
No, My throat isn't sore (doesn't hurt).
Ng
a
Does he or she have a stomachache?
ng
a
Yes, he or she has a stomachache.
Ng
ng
a
No, he or she doesn't have a stomachache.
Ke
el
What 's wrong with you?
Ng
a
e
My head is aching and I feel dizzy.
Ng
a
el
Does your whole body hurt also?
Ng
el
mo
a
You really should see a doctor.
Me
e
ak
mo
el
mo
I have to go or I'll be late.
Ak
I'm lazy.
Ak
I'm cold.
Ak
I'm hot.
Ng
ak
di
There's nothing wrong with me. I'm just lazy.
Ng
a
Who is sick?
Ng
a
a
Who has a headache?
Ng
a
Who is not feeling sick?
Ng
Who is hot?
Ng
a
Who is lazy?
Ng
er
a
el
a
He or she fell out of the tree and broke his or her leg.
Ng
el
a
He or she slipped and scratched his or her arm.
Ng
el
a
e
a
He or she played with a knife and accidentally cut his or her arm.
Ng
er
a
le
a
He or she fell off a ladder and cracked his or her head.
Ng
a
e
He or she played with matches and burned himself or herself.
Ng
el
He or she has pink eye.
Ng
e
How did you sprain it?
Ke
Are you hungry?
Ak
I'm very hungry.
Ng
I'm not too hungry.
Ng
I'm not hungry.
Ak
I'm full
Ng
a
Are you thirsty?
Ng
a
I'm thirsty.
Ng
a
I'm not thirsty.
Ke
Are you sleepy?
ak
Yes, I'm sleepy.
Ng
I'm not sleepy.
Ke
Are you tired?
ak
Yes, I'm very tired.
Ng
I'm not tired.
Ak
I'm fine.
Ke
Are you shy?
ak
Yes, I'm very shy.
Ng
I'm not shy.
Ke
Are you cold?
ak
Yes, I'm cold
Ng
I'm not cold.
A
a
My house in concrete.
Ng
a
Its color blue
Ng
a
er
It has five doors.
er
a
el
There are eight windows.
er
a
el
er
It has four rooms.
Ng
di
a
er
It has only one bathroom.
A
uum
er
a
It's kitchen is large.
Ng
er
a
el
It has one refrigerator.
Ng
er
a
el
me
a
el
There are 6 tables and 8 chairs.
Ng
di
a
er
It has one stove or oven.
Ak
What am I doing?
Ak
a
el
oba
What am I wiping my hands with?
Ke
a
el
oba
a
You're wiping your hands with a towel.
Ke
er
a
You're sleeping on a pillow.
Ke
e
You're sleeping under a blanket.
a
Sweep the floor!
a
Sweep the yard!
a
Mop the floor!
a
Wash the clothes!
a
Fold the clothes.
a
Wash your hands.
a
Wash the dishes
a
Cook or prepare the food.
a
Clean the house.
a
Mow the lawn.
er
a
Watch the children.
a
er
a
What chores do you do at home?
Ak
e
e
a
e
er
a
I sweep and mop and make food and clean the house.
Ak
di
a
e
I only cook the food.
a
el
a
We use a knife to slice food.
a
er
a
el
a
We use ladles for ladling soup.
a
el
What do we use pot holders for?
a
el
a
We use pot holders for lifting hot pot and pans.
a
el
a
We use frying pans to fry food.
a
el
a
We use tongs to pick food.
a
el
a
We use cutting boards for cutting or slicing food on.
a
el
a
me
a
a
er
We use basins to put water or food in.
a
er
a
el
a
We use fish scale to scale fish
a
el
a
We use kerosene stove to cook food.
a
el
a
We use pots to cook food in.
a
el
a
We use matches to light fires.
a
el
a
We use spoons to each soup.
a
el
a
er
We use pitchers to put drinks in.
a
kor
el
a
We use cups to drink.
a
Peel the skin off the breadfruit
a
el
mo
a
Cut the breadfruit into good size bite.
a
el
er
a
a
Put the breadfruit in the pot.
a
el
mo
er
Crack the coconut into halves.
a
Grate the coconuts.
a
el
kob
el
el
er
a
Put four cups of water in the basin.
a
e
a
er
Put some crated coconut in the piece of cloth.
a
Wet the cloth.
er
a
a
a
Squeeze the wet cloth with grated coconut in it to squeeze out the coconut milk.
a
er
a
Put some salt in the basin.
a
er
a
Put some sugar in the basin.
a
er
a
a
Pour the coconut milk in the pot.
a
el
er
a
Put the pot on the kerosene stove.
a
e
Light a match.
a
Use the lighted match to light the kerosene stove.
Ke
a
el
me
a
eim
el
Cook the breadfruit for about 45 minutes.
Se
el
a
e
ke
el
el
me
a
eim
el
When it starts boiling, let it boil for about 15 more minutes.
a
Turn off the kerosene stove.
a
Taste the breadfruit.
Ak
mo
er
a
I'm going to the garden or farm.
Ng
ke
mo
What are you going to get?
Ak
mo
a
er
a
e
a
I'm going to harvest some tapioca and dig up some sweet potato.
Ak
mo
er
a
el
mo
a
er
a
I'm going to the taro garden to get two yellow taro.
Ak
mo
er
a
I'm going fishing.
Ak
mo
I'm going mangrove crab hunting.
Ak
mo
a
I'm going to catch lobsters.
Ak
mo
a
I'm going to hunt for clams
Ak
mo
a
I'm going to trap chickens
Ak
mo
a
I'm going crab hunting
Ak
mo
I'm going to hunt for coconut crabs
Ak
mo
a
I'm going to hunt for pigeons.
Ng
ua
a
a
What's the shape and texture of mangoes?
Ng
It's smooth.
Ng
It's round.
Ng
It's rough or it has edges.
Ng
It's longish.
Ng
It's oval shaped.
Ng
It's flat.
Ng
ua
a
bul
a
What does mango smell like?
Ng
a
It's fragrant.
Ng
a
It's smell sour.
Ng
a
It smells bad.
Ng
ua
a
er
a
What does mango taste like?
Ng
It's sour.?
Ng
It's sweet.
Ng
It's bitter.
Ng
It's salty.
Ng
It's not sweet or salty enough.
Ng
a
er
It tastes good.
Ng
a
er
It doesn't taste good.
Ng
el
er
What do you want to eat?
Ng
el
me
a
I feel like eating fish and breadfruit.
Ng
el
a
Which fruit do you like?
Ng
el
a
I would like to eat papaya
E
el
And what do you want to drink?
Ng
el
a
I'll have water.
Ng
a
el
Do you want anything else?
Ng
Ke
No, thank you.
a
el
kob
el
mix
el
er
a
Pour 4 cups of pancake mix in a basin.
a
er
a
Pour water on the pancake mix.
a
el
Use a spoon to mix the engredients.
a
er
a
el
Take some ripe bananans.
er
a
el
oba
Cut in half with knife.
a
Peel them.
tuu
er
a
Put bananas in the pancake mix.
er
a
Put frying pan on the kerosene stove.
oil
er
a
Pour salad oil in it( frying pan).
a
take a match and strike it.
er
a
oil
el
mo
Wait till the salad oil is hot.
er
a
tuu
er
a
Put some banana in the frying pan.
el
mo
a
Watch till the other side is brown.
a
tuu
el
oba
a
Turn the bananas with tongs.
el
mo
Wait till they are cooked.
a
el
Take them out with tongs.
a
el
tuu
er
a
Put the cooked bananas in a plate.
er
a
el
Put the other uncooked bananas in the frying pan.
Se
el
a
e
Taste them when you finish.
Ng
a
er
a
What did Mary have for breakfast
Ng
a
er
a
What did Mary drink for breakfast yesterday?
Ng
a
er
a
What did Mary have for lunch?
Ng
a
er
a
What did Mary drink for lunch yesterday?
Ng
a
er
a
er
a
What did Mary drink for dinner ?
Ng
ua
a
How is the weather?
Ng
a
The weather is good.
Ng
a
The weather is bad.
Ng
a
It's cloudy (with a small chance of rain).
Ng
a
It's cloudy (with the possibility of rain.)
Ng
It's raining.
Ng
a
It's very windy.
Ng
a
It's sunny.
Ng
er
a
It's typhoon condition.
Ng
er
a
There's an earthquake.
Ak
me
I'm going swimming.
Ng
ko
er
a
a
e
kau
a
Why are you going swimming when the weather is very bad?
Ng
Ng
di
a
It won't rain. It's just cloudy today.
e
ke
mo
el
Take care. Don't hurt yourself.
ak
di
er
a
me
a
lsa
el
mo
e
ak
Yes, if the weather gets worse, I'll leave.
er
ker
a
a
From which direction is the wind coming from?
A
el
er
ker
el
Where is the wind coming from?
A
a
er
a
el
The wind is coming from the east.
A
a
er
a
el
The wind is coming from the west.
A
a
er
a
el
The wind is coming from the north
A
a
er
a
el
The wind is coming from the south.
A
a
er
a
el
The wind is coming from the northeast.
A
a
er
a
el
The wind is coming from the northwest.
A
a
er
a
el
The wind is coming from the southeast.
A
a
er
a
el
The wind is coming from the southwest.
er
a
mo
ker
a
Which direction is Yigo located on the map?
A
a
er
a
mo
a
Yigo is located on the north side of the island.
Ak
el
a
I'll be going due south.
a
el
er
a
a
Put the book on top of the dest
a
el
er
a
a
Put the pencil on top of the book.
Bo
er
a
er
a
Sit on the opposite side of the window
Bo
el
er
a
Sit next (or near) to your friend.
Bo
el
er
a
Sit away from the window.
Bo
er
a
a
me
a
Sit between Mary and John
A
a
er
a
a
The book is under the table.
Ng
a
kot
el
er
a
Who is the one closest to the door?
Ng
a
er
a
What is on the table or desk?
Ng
a
er
a
er
a
Who is next to Mary?
A
Tom
a
kot
el
er
a
Tom is the one farthest from the door
Ng
el
It's raining heavily and continuously.
Ng
di
It's just starting to rain lightly.
Ng
di
It's raining lightly and continuously.
Ng
di
a
It's raining very lightly.
ng
ua
a
er
Hello, how's the weather over there?
Ng
a
er
The weather here is very bad.
Ng
a
er
Is it raining hard over there?
Ng
el
el
It's raining heavily and continuously.
Ng
er
a
el
Has it been raining long?
se
er
a
el
me
er
el
di
Yes, it's been raining since morning.
E
a
er
a
ua
And how is the weather over there?
Ng
er
a
e
ng
ko
er
a
di
a
It's raining here but only lightly.
Ng
el
a
er
a
What subjects are you studying at
Ak
a
me
a
er
a
me
a
a
me
a
I'm studying math, Palauan, and Science.
Ng
a
kot
el
el
What's your favorite subject?
Ng
kot
el
a
a
er
a
My favorite subject is the study of the Palauan language.
Ng
a
a
er
a
Is it hard to learn the Palauan Language?
Ng
It's not very hard.
Ke
a
Do you need assistance?
Ng
a
What do you want me to do?
a
buk
er
Take out your book
a
buk
er
Take out your books.
a
buk
er
kau
er
a
Take out your math book.
a
buk
er
Take your book.
Tia
ng
a
What does this mean?
Ng
a
What do you want us to do?
Ng
mo
er
a
er
a
When is our test?
Ng
mo
er
a
er
a
el
We're going to have a test on Friday.
a
el
kot
el
er
Point to the person nearest to you.
a
er
el
Give me your books
Be
a
buk
er
Сome and get your books
a
buk
er
close your books.
a
Take out your books
a
Write your names.
a
el
er
a
a
Put the trash in the trash can.
a
buk
el
er
a
a
Put the book under the table
a
buk
er
Put your books away.
a
Ring the bell.
a
Turn on the fan.
Ng
a
a
What is the job of a school principal or president?
A
a
er
a
A principal or president is the head of the school.
Ng
a
a
What is the job of a teacher?
A
a
er
a
er
a
A teacher's job is to teach the students.
Ng
a
a
er
a
What is the job of the student?
A
er
a
a
el
a
What he or she is being taught at school
Ng
a
a
a
What is the job of a school secretary?
A
a
a
el
a
el
er
a
A secretary's job is to keep all the school records in order.
Ng
a
a
er
a
What is the job of the libarian?
A
er
a
a
el
el
buk
me
a
el
er
a
A librarian's job is to take care of all the books and documents in the library.
Ng
a
a
er
a
What is the job of a janitor or custodian.
A
a
er
a
a
a
e
er
a
The job of a janitor or is to collect trash and keep the school clean.
A
a
er
a
el
a
a
a
er
a
The job of a cook is to make the food.
a
er
tia
el
Number of teachers at this school.
a
er
tia
el
Number of students attending this school.
a
el
a
er
tia
el
Number of cooks at this school
a
a
er
tia
el
Names of the cooks at this school.
Ng
net
er
a
It's a volleyball net.
Ng
oba
a
er
a
Who has the baseball?
Ng
a
kot
el
el
er
a
er
tia
el
Who is the best baseball at this school?
Ng
a
kot
le
el
er
a
er
tia
el
Who is the best at pingpong at this school?
Ng
a
kot
el
el
er
a
er
tia
el
Who is the fastest runner at this school?
Ng
a
kot
el
el
er
tia
el
Who is the best volleyball player at this school?
Ng
a
kot
el
el
er
a
er
tia
el
Who is the best swimmer at this school?
Ke
er
a
What did you do over the weekend?
Ak
mlo
er
a
er
a
I went to the school party.
Ng
mle
Were there a lot of people at the party?
ng
mle
Yes, there were a lot of people at the party.
Ng
mla
er
a
Was there much dancing?
te
mle
a
el
Yes, a lot of people were dancing.
Ke
mlo
Did you dance?
Ng
di
mle
ta
el
bo
Yes, but I only danced once.
E
kau
a
er
a
and you, what did you do over the weekend?
Aki
mlo
a
we went to a baseball game.
Te
a
mlo
Who won?
A
tim
er
a
a
mle
The team from Mangilao won the game.
Ng
mla
er
a
el
el
a
er
a
Did you get an opportunity to study for the test tomorrow?
Ng
.
Ng
el
er
a
No, so I really have to study tonight.
Ke
mo
a
What are you going to buy?
Ak
mo
a
I'm going to buy clothes.
el
a
What kind of clothes are you going to buy?
Ak
mo
a
me
a
a
me
a
I'm going to buy pants and a shirt and shoes.
Ak
mo
a
el
me
a
I'm going to the store to buy rice and canned meat.
Me
ke
mo
er
ker
el
Which store are you going to?
me
a
Well see you later.
Ng
el
What would you like for dessert?
Ng
a
I would like fruits for desserts.
Tia
a
el
This tastes a little bland.
Tia
a
This is too salty.
Tia
a
This is to sweet.
Ng
el
a
er
a
Can you give me some water?
Me
ta
er
a
Please give me a fork
Ng
a
er
This taste delicious
Ng
a
a
What is the cost of our food?
Ng
er
a
el
Do you want anything else?
Ng
Ke
No, thank you
Ng
ua
a
How's your meat?
A
a
el
My meat is a little too salty.
A
a
el
My meat is to tough
A
a
My meat is too rare.
A
a
My meat is burnt
Ng
ua
a
How's your drink?
A
a
el
My drink needs a little more sugar.
A
a
My drink is to sweet
Ng
a
el
Tia
el
a
I want cold water. My drink is not cold.
Kom
mlo
er
ker
er
a
Where did you go last night?
Ng
er
a
a
Which restaurant did you go to?
Ng
ke
What did you eat?
Ak
a
me
a
a
me
a
I ate rice and beef with vegetables.
Ng
mle
ua
How was the food ?
Ng
mle
It was very good
Ng
a
a
er
a
Is the food expensive at Denny's?
Ng
Ng
di
a
No. The price is reasonable
E
a
mlo
er
ker
er
a
And you, where did you go last night?
Aki
mlo
er
a
We went to the movies
Ng
mle
ua
How was the movie?
Ng
mle
It was very good with a lot of action.