klou, v.s.big; large; great; old.
a
le
a
er
a
kiklouv.s.redup.a little bigger.
a
el
el
klungangv.s.inch.is getting big/growing.
a
mla
mo
meklouv.s.pl.big; large; great; old (required with plural subject).
a
el
el
el
klou a chullexpr.heavy rain.
klou a rengulexpr.patient; confident.
klou el chadexpr.adult.
klou er a rengulexpr.determined.
See also: ,
Examples:
> Children tend to grow up.
> Rehina thought herself to be a big girl because she was wearing a dress.
> An empty drum makes a large noise (i.e., those who talk a lot really have little to say).
> He's a brave man.
> They were determined to chase the robbers.
Proverbs:
> From the Metkul boundary point at Ngirair, Palau is yet huge up to Ngerechelong.
This saying is given two meanings, both negative, pertaining to the people of northern Palau and to Ngaraard particularly: (i) the people of northern Palau are so provincial that they still think Palau is a huge country; (2) the people of northern Palau are the biggest liars (a play on "to deceive," which sounds like Belau [Palau] ). The idiom may be shortened to "Men of the point" (Chad ra bkul), referring to a point of land at Ngirair marking the boundary of Ngaraard. Or the act of patting the elbow (bkul) may carry the same meaning. Actually, the idiom is of fairly recent vintage, pertaining in part to resistance on the part of some of the people of northern Palau to administrative programs instituted by the Japanese.
> Like the duck of Ngechur, he became industrious after growing old.
The idiom is applied to a person who has more or less vegetated into maturity and old age and who, already far past his prime, suddenly tries without success to do all the things he might have done when younger. It may be used with reference to an elder who tries to be a dandy.
More Examples:
> Is it raining hard over there?
> I heard there is a big party for Reklai's birthday.
> It's kitchen is large.
> My garden has been neglected and has become badly overgrown. It needs to be cleared.
> His ears are bigger than elephant taro leaves.

Search for another word: