Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

> And there was a poor man who lived in that village whose heart was so light that it was his ability to make the town survive, but there wasn't anyone who thought about him.

Ngii

di

el

chad

a

sebechel

el

rullii

tia

el

ureor.

> Anyone at all could do this work.

Proverbs:

Ng

ko

er

a

omelechong

er

a

diong

er

a

Tellei:

Lolecholb

a

chad

e

ke

mekerasem.

> It's like taking a shower at Tellei's bath, when somebody takes a shower, you shiver from the cold.

Someone's actions makes you embarrassed.

Ng

ko

er

a

chad

er

a

Ngesias,

el

ngemuu

er

a

mla

mokom.

> It's like when the men of Ngesias clamored over what they had lost (after a party of raiders had attacked without warning and taken a head as a trophy).

The men of the Ngesias (Peleliu) village club were sitting near their clubhouse one evening when raiders broke through the brush, shouted wildly, and excaped with the head of one of them. When they recovered their senses, the men jumped to their spears and shouted threats into the darkness of the surrounding brush. Aroused by the commotion, the village chief appeared and ,when appraised of the situation, admonished them to be quiet since the fuss would gain nothing. "Don't cry over spilt milk."

Ng

ko

er

a

chad

er

ker

el

melechong

e

ngak

a

mekerasem.

> Like a person somewhere taking a bath, but I'm cold.

Applies to any embarrassing act, such as boasting or gossiping, on the part of a friend.

Ng

ko

er

a

chad

er

a

Ngcheangel,

el

di

me

chemed

er

a

Ngkesol.

> Like the man of Kayangel, who procured his gifts from Keso

The saying refers to a man from the atoll of Kayangel, some twenty miles north of the main islands of Palau, who, on his way south to visit friends, stopped at an intermediate reef, Kesol, to fish for a present for his host. Refers to a person who, en route to a visit, tries to borrow a present from another guest; any person who suddenly wants to borrow money.

A

chimad

el

dodersii

a

chimal

a

chad

el

odersii.

> Put out your arm and a man's hand will reach back

The proper spirit of cooperation and mutual aid

More Examples:

Ak

chad

er

a

Beliliou.

> I'm from Peliliu

Seselk

a

renguk

el

orrenges

er

tirka

el

chad

er

a

balatiks

te

di

mesaod

a

selaod,

e

ng

di

soak

el

di

mo

omengur.

> I don't want to go listen to the politicians speak because they're so boring and talk forever but I wouldn't mind just going to eat the food.

Mnguu

el

msang

a

di

chim

el

chad.

> Take it and give it to an empty-handed person.

Ng

ua

techa

ngikal

el

chad?

> What is this person like?

A

bedengel

a

ulekoad

el

chad

a

mo

er

a

morque.

> The body will be at the morque.

chad

, n.

liver.

chad

a

ta

er

a

klekedellel

a

bedengel

a

chad,

charm;

chedengal

a

rrull.

chedengal

n.poss.3s

chedengal a chad; chedengal a babii, chedengal a rrull.

Aika chedengal (a matukeoll)!

interj.

Exclamation

indicating

surprise;

often

used

after

realizing

a

deception.

See

it's

entry

in

Proverbs

for

more

information.

chedengaol

v.s.

have a large liver.

chedengaol

a

melaok

a

chedengal;

chedengaol

el

rrull.

chedengaol

v.s.

sick with jaundice.

chedengaol

a

secher,

rekdel

a

chad.

Examples:

Ke

ullengeseu

er

a

ngii

di

el

chad

er

a

elecha

el

sils?

> Did you help anybody today?

Ng

klou

a

chedengal

el

chad.

> He's a brave man.

A

lsekum

ng

ngar

er

ngii

a

chad

el

omdasu

el

kmo

ng

profet

me

a

lechub

e

ng

ngar

er

a

klereng

e

bo

lodenge

aike

el

tekoi

el

kuluches

el

eko

er

kemiu

el

kmo

ng

meirei

er

a

Rubak.

> If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

A

rokui

el

chad

er

a

buai

a

ongtiall

el

mo

lmuches

a

uldesuir.

> All interested persons are invited to submit comments.

A

ngikel

er

a

omoachel

a

mlad

er

a

chad

er

a

omenged.

> The fish in the river died by the fisherman.

Proverbs:

Ng

ko

er

a

biul

el

chad

el

ngesonges

er

a

buld.

> Like a man circumcised, insufficient skin.

Circumcision seems to have been known in Palau prior to contact, perhaps through contact with the Philippines, but was not widely practiced. As in this context, it usually draws attention in the form of ridicule. The idiom applies to any circumstance in which there has been insufficient preparation or planning; a premature decision.

Ng

ko

er

a

chad

er

a

Ngerechelong,

el

di

bita

el

mo

dechor

er

a

debsel

a

lei.

> Like the people of Ngerechelong, standing together on the base of the coconut tree.

The mound or hump that forms at the base of the coconut tree is said to represent the highest ranking village clan. The leader of that clan is spoken of as "standing on the mound." In the idiom, it is suggested that the people of Ngerechelong (northern Palau) would all like to be leaders-all standing on the mound at the same time. The idiom may be applied where too many people try to direct an operation; too many leaders.

Ng

kmes

a

usekerel

el

chad

> A man whose breechcloth is closed

A well-organized man, particularly one who uses his money carefully; hence, sometimes, a stingy person.

Ngika

el

chad

a

ko

er

a

debar.

> That man is like a duck.

The native duck, debar, doesn't fly very well, or high like other birds, it doesn't walk or run like some animals, it can't sing well, and it doesn't swim as well as a fish. But it can do all these things. Applied to a person who seemingly can do many different things, none of them expertly. "Jack of all trades."

Ng

ko

er

a

chad

er

a

Ngerechemai,

el

metom

er

a

uel

el

metom

er

a

mlai.

> Like the man of Ngerechemai, who lost his turtle and lost his canoe.

Relates to a fisherman who jumped from his canoe to catch a turtle only to find that his canoe had drifted beyond recovery. Applies to any situation where a person fails at a task, or, aptly, to a situation where a man, through his own foolishness, loses both his wife and his mistress.

More Examples:

Ng

chad

er

a

Belau.

> He's from Palau.

Tia

el

otngeklel

a

chutem

el

mo

er

a

mera

el

chad

er

tia

el

kebliil

a

kma

el

mle

ungil

omesodel

el

dimlak

a

uldikel

er

ngii.

> The return of the land to the original clan members went well as planned without any disruptions.

A

chad

er

a

laibreri

a

oungerachel

aike

el

rokui

el

buk

me

a

babier

el

ngar

er

a

laibreri.

> A librarian's job is to take care of all the books and documents in the library.

Ngika

el

chad

a

ungil

a

klemengetal.

> This person's height is average.

Ng

mo

er

ngii

a

kemeldiil

er

a

chad

er

a

oingerang?

> When is his/her funeral?

chad

, n.

man; person; human being; living being; someone; somebody; anyone; anybody.

chad

a

rokui

el

diak

lulekoad

el

klaol;

chad

el

dait;

chad

el

babii;

chad

el

ngikel;

chad

el

lius.

chad

a

sechal,

dil,

redil,

ngalek,

chad

er

a

Belau,

chad

er

a

Merikel.

chedak

n.poss.1s

chedam

n.poss.2s

your (singular) relative.

chedal

n.poss.3s

his or her person or relative.

chedal

a

kmeed

er

ngii

el

chad,

kauchad,

Calista

a

chedal

a

Toni.

chedemam

n.poss.1pe

chedad

n.poss.1pi

our (inclusive) relative.

chedemiu

n.poss.2p

chederir

n.poss.3p

chad

v.s.

alive; living.

chedengang

v.s.inch.

becoming alive; reviving.

chedengang

a

sobelang

er

a

kodall

mesisichang,

dikea

le

mad.

chad er a daob

expr.

person knowledgeable about the sea.

chad er a government

expr.

government employee.

chad er a moros

expr.

barbarian; cannibal.

chad er a reng

expr.

considerate person.

chedal a chelid

expr.

person having religion; believer.

chedal a ochil

expr.

lap; upper thigh.

mo chad

expr.

become alive; come to life.

See also:

OCHAD

Examples:

A

sebekreng

a

mekberedii

a

rengul

a

chad.

> Worry can rob you of happiness.

A

Droteo

a

kmal

dektelek

el

chad.

> Droteo is someone who really frightens me.

A

chad

el

diak

lemeduch

el

mengikai

a

mo

remos.

> Anyone who doesn't know how to swim will drown.

A

rechad

er

a

osbitar

a

chad

el

smecher.

> The hospital patients are sick people.

Ng

mla

er

ngii

a

rebebil

el

chad

el

dimlak

leklikiid

e

le

te

rirtechii

a

bedengel

a

ulekoad

chad.

> There were some people who were ritually unclean because they had touched a corpse.

Proverbs:

Ng

ko

er

a

chad

er

a

Ngerechelong,

el

di

bita

el

mo

dechor

er

a

debsel

a

lei.

> Like the people of Ngerechelong, standing together on the base of the coconut tree.

The mound or hump that forms at the base of the coconut tree is said to represent the highest ranking village clan. The leader of that clan is spoken of as "standing on the mound." In the idiom, it is suggested that the people of Ngerechelong (northern Palau) would all like to be leaders-all standing on the mound at the same time. The idiom may be applied where too many people try to direct an operation; too many leaders.

Ng

ko

er

a

chad

er

a

Ngesias,

el

ngemuu

er

a

mla

mokom.

> It's like when the men of Ngesias clamored over what they had lost (after a party of raiders had attacked without warning and taken a head as a trophy).

The men of the Ngesias (Peleliu) village club were sitting near their clubhouse one evening when raiders broke through the brush, shouted wildly, and excaped with the head of one of them. When they recovered their senses, the men jumped to their spears and shouted threats into the darkness of the surrounding brush. Aroused by the commotion, the village chief appeared and ,when appraised of the situation, admonished them to be quiet since the fuss would gain nothing. "Don't cry over spilt milk."

Ng

ko

er

a

biul

el

chad

el

ngesonges

er

a

buld.

> Like a man circumcised, insufficient skin.

Circumcision seems to have been known in Palau prior to contact, perhaps through contact with the Philippines, but was not widely practiced. As in this context, it usually draws attention in the form of ridicule. The idiom applies to any circumstance in which there has been insufficient preparation or planning; a premature decision.

Ngika

el

chad

a

ko

er

a

debar.

> That man is like a duck.

The native duck, debar, doesn't fly very well, or high like other birds, it doesn't walk or run like some animals, it can't sing well, and it doesn't swim as well as a fish. But it can do all these things. Applied to a person who seemingly can do many different things, none of them expertly. "Jack of all trades."

Mengoit

a

chedal

a

Ngetkeuang.

> Disposing the group at Ngetkeuang.

The saying pertains to a situation that occurred at Ngetkeuang, a hamlet in Peleliu. Some members of a group about to sail north were already at the docks ready to board their canoes and set sail with a good strong wind from the south, slightly at an angle to the course they would follow and ideal for sailing. Impatient, the group at the dock finally left the remainder behind and the wind was so strong that they were soon well on their way. The phrase is applied to a wind that is strong, steady, and from the south, like a steady "tradewind"

More Examples:

Ngika

el

chad

a

kemangel

a

isngel.

> This person has a long nose.

A

bedengel

a

ulekoad

el

chad

a

mo

er

a

morque.

> The body will be at the morque.

Ke

chad

er

ker

er

beluu?

> Where are you from?

Ke

chad

er

a

keskelel

a

beluu

er

a

Belau?

> Which Island of Palau are you from?

A

kot

e

riou

el

chellibel

al

ngar

ngii

ar

mengkar,

oililaol,

ma

bebil

erar

di

chad

era

urreor

ma

NCO.

> The first floor contained a guard room, recreation room, hallway, workers room, and an NCO room.

chad e ngikel

, expr.

half-human and half-fish; mermaid.

See also:

NGIKEL

chad el ngais

, expr.

developing egg (of bird).

chad er H.O.

, expr.

country rube (used pejoratively with reference to inhabitants of Babeldaob).

See also:

H.O.

chad er a Biskor

, expr.

Peace Corps volunteer.

See also:

BISKOR

chad er a Dois

, expr.

German.

See also:

DOIS

chad er a Marsial

, expr.

Marshallese.

See also:

MARSIAL

chad er a Merikel

, expr.

American.

See also:

MERIKEL

chad er a Modekngei

, expr.

follower of Modekngei.

See also:

MODEKNGEI

chad er a Siabal

, expr.

Japanese (person).

See also:

SIABAL

chad er a Sina

, expr.

Chinese person.

See also:

SINA

chad er a bakutsi

, expr.

gambler.

See also:

BAKUTSI

chad er a balech

, expr.

archer.

See also:

BALECH

chad er a bekai

, expr.

potter.

See also:

BEKAI

chad er a bekall

, expr.

driver.

See also:

BEKALL

chad er a beluu

, expr.

fellow villager.

See also:

BELUU

chad er a bengall

, expr.

inhabitant of Ngerechelong.

See also:

BENGALL

chad er a blai

, expr.

members of the family.

See also:

BLAI

chad er a blengur

, expr.

person who likes to eat a lot.

See also:

BLENGUR

chad er a buai

, expr.

persons active in community affairs.

See also:

BUAI

chad er a chais

, expr.

person who always has news to tell.

See also:

CHAIS

chad er a charm

, expr.

butcher; cattle-raiser.

See also:

CHARM

chad er a chei

, expr.

fisherman.

See also:

CHEI

chad er a cheisei

, expr.

sanitation inspector.

See also:

CHEISEI

chad er a cheldecheduch

, expr.

story teller; person skilled in talking or having many girlfriends.

See also:

CHELDECHEDUCH

chad er a chelebacheb

, expr.

inhabitant of Beliliou or Ngeaur (pejorative term).

See also:

CHELEBACHEB

chad er a cheleblad

, expr.

deceiver; cheater.

See also:

CHELEBLAD

chad er a dangs

, expr.

person who likes dancing.

See also:

DANGS

chad er a desachel

, expr.

canoe builder.

See also:

DESACHEL

chad er a diall

, expr.

sailor.

See also:

DIALL

chad er a honto

, expr.

inhabitant of Babeldaob.

See also:

HONTO

chad er a iungs

, expr.

islander (way of referring to inhabitants of other Micronesian districts).

See also:

IUNGS

chad er a kansok

, expr.

weatherman.

See also:

KANSOK

chad er a kerrekeriil

, expr.

judge; prosecutor.

See also:

KERREKERIIL

chad er a klekool

, expr.

person skilled at games; player; team member; athlete; sportsman.

See also:

KLEKOOL

chad er a koad

, expr.

person knowledgeable about fighting techniques; person good at shirking responsibility.

See also:

KOAD

chad er a llach

, expr.

lawyer.

See also:

LLACH

chad er a mekaeb

, expr.

inhabitant of Peleliu.

See also:

MEKAEB

chad er a mekemad

, expr.

warrior.

See also:

MEKEMAD

chad er a mengikai

, expr.

good swimmer.

See also:

MENGIKAI

chad er a menguiu

, expr.

avid reader; bookworm.

See also:

MENGUIU

chad er a ngebard

, expr.

Westerner; foreigner (including Japanese).

See also:

NGEBARD

chad er a ngellakel

, expr.

jokester.

See also:

NGELLAKEL

chad er a ochalechutem

, expr.

inhabitant of Babeldaob.

See also:

OCHALCHUTEM

chad er a olai

, expr.

magician.

See also:

OLAI

chad er a omelasech

, expr.

carpenter.

See also:

OMELASECH

chad er a omenged

, expr.

fisherman.

See also:

OMENGED

chad er a omengkar

, expr.

member of patrol.

See also:

OMENGKAR

chad er a omenguiu

, expr.

avid reader; bookworm.

See also:

OMENGUIU

chad er a omesumech

, expr.

masseur.

See also:

OMESUMECH

chad er a ongedechuul

, expr.

clever person; person with knack for doing things.

See also:

ONGEDECHUUL

chad er a ongelil

, expr.

fortune-teller; seer.

See also:

ONGELIL

chad er a ongeu

, expr.

rudderman; person who steers boat.

See also:

ONGEU

chad er a ongos

, expr.

legendary figurs who came from and showed Palauans how to use fire.

See also:

ONGOS

chad er a oreomel

, expr.

person knowledgeable about the forest; hermit.

See also:

OREOMEL

chad er a rael

, expr.

outsiders.

See also:

RAEL

chad er a sbots

, expr.

athlete; sportsman.

See also:

SBOTS

chad er a sebadong

, expr.

Seventh Day Adventists.

See also:

SEBADONG

chad er a sers

, expr.

farmer.

See also:

SERS

chad er a sers er a bung

, expr.

florist.

See also:

BUNG

chad er a sibai

, expr.

actor; jokester.

See also:

SIBAI

chad er a ta el renged

, expr.

members of the same religious group; inhabitants of hamlets belonging to same municipality.

See also:

RENGED

chad er a techelbakl

, expr.

good diver.

See also:

TECHELBAKL

chad er a temall

, expr.

practitioner of black magic.

See also:

TEMALL

chad er a uchul a eanged

, expr.

foreigner.

See also:

UCHUL

chad er a urech

, expr.

midget.

See also:

URECH

chebirukel el chad

, expr.

unfair or deceptive person.

See also:

CHEBIRUKEL

chedelekelek el chad

, expr.

person of African descent.

See also:

CHEDELEKELEK

cheleched el chad

, expr.

ambidextrous person.

See also:

CHELECHED

kebelu el chad

, expr.

fool; idiot.

See also:

KEBELUNG

klou el chad

, expr.

adult.

See also:

KLOU

kmes a usekerel el chad

, expr.

person who is hard to coax or flatter; person who is firm or straight-laced.

See also:

KMES

meang el chad

, expr.

strange looking person.

See also:

MEANG

melul a chad

, expr.

cremate.

See also:

MELUL

mera el chad

, expr.

adult; dependable person.

See also:

OUMERANG

mera el chad er a beluu

, expr.

legitimate resident; loyal citizen.

See also:

OUMERANG

mimokl a usekerel el chad

, expr.

person who is easy to coax or flatter; person who is flexible or generous.

See also:

MIMOKL

ngar er a bab el chad

, expr.

one's superior; wealthy/well-to-do person.

See also:

NGAR

ngellitel el chad

, expr.

person chosen specifically because of particular skills, qualities etc.; consultant; specialist.

See also:

MELILT

rasechebeab el chad

, expr.

cruel; heartless; ungrateful person.

See also:

RASECHEBEAB

rebetok el chad

, expr.

many people.

See also:

BETOK

rebetok el chad

, expr.

many people.

See also:

RE-

ta el chad

, expr.

one person; (persons) having same mother or father; (persons) of same blood.

See also:

TA

teim el chad

, expr.

five people.

See also:

TEIM

teru el chad

, expr.

two people.

See also:

TERUNG

teruich el chad

, expr.

ten people.

See also:

TERUICH

tetiu el chad

, expr.

nine people.

See also:

TETIU

tirilecha el chad

, expr.

those people (near you).

See also:

TIRILECHA

uel el chad

, expr.

man who reaches sexual climax slowly.

See also:

UEL

bek el chad

, pro.

everybody.

See also:

BEK

chad er a amt

, n.

politician.

See also:

AMT

chad er a Oles

, n.

Phillipino.

See also:

OLES

chad era budech

, n.

Peace Corps volunteer.

See also:

BUDECH

ng diak a tal chad
/ng diak a ta el chad
/ng diak a ta el chad

, pro.

nobody.

ngii di el chad

, pro.

anybody.

See also:

NGII

DI

EL

uel el chad

, n.

persistent person.

See also:

UEL

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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