Palauan Baby Words
The Palauan language has a few words reserved for babies. This may be motivated by the fact that the human brain is capable of language before the human palate is capable of articulation. The Palauan baby words are much simpler to pronounce than their adult counterparts and as such allow Palauan babies to communicate earlier than if these words did not exist. Note that this is similar to the baby sign language that has been popular recently in America.
Here is a list of the Palauan specialized baby words and their adult equivalents:
| Palauan_Baby | Palauan_Adult | English |
|---|---|---|
| akeke | kmal ungil | good job. |
| cheche | chemei | defecate. (Similar word in many languages due to it being an ononomatopoeia.). |
| chobu | melim | drink. |
| chochchong | melecholb | bathe. |
| enchi | bom dengokl | sit down. |
| kekech | omeob | spank. |
| mamach | chemachel | betelnut chew. |
| mammam | mengang | eat. |
| nenneng | mechiuaiu | sleep. |
| opai | tmut | breast-feed. |
| sisi | mengemochem | urinate. |
| susu | kall | food; source of milk. |
| taitai | meringel | injury. |
| tatach | kikiongel | dirty. |