Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

Water, drunk from a coconut, passes from the dark of the nut to the dark of the mouth. Some discussions, such as those of village leaders, are secretively passed from mouth to mouth without public discussion.

Ng

ko

er

a

ebedel

a

Mengellakl

el

di

mochu

meleketek.

> Like the clouds of Mengellakl that just pile up

High points like Mengellakl in Palau sometimes create clouds as the moisture-laden air is lifted by the wind to higher cooler altitudes. This saying applies to a situation or a fad that spreads; drinking to excess.

Metkul

a

bkul

a

Ngirair,

e

klou

el

Belau

el

mo

er

a

Ngerechelong.

> 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.

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.

More Examples:

Ng

sebechek

el

melidai

er

kau

el

mo

er

a

beluu?

> Could I catch a ride with you to the city?

Ng

lmuut

el

mo

meringel

a

tekoi

er

a

keizai.

> The economic situation will become more difficult.

Ng

mochu

soiseb

a

skuul.

> School is starting soon.

Kom

kaukotai

el

melimet

er

a

chert

me

lemereched

el

mo

diak

a

ngmatel.

> You all take turns bailing the boat so that it will be finished quickly.

A

sechelimam

a

mo

merael

el

mo

er

a

Rosia

er

tia

el

mei

el

sandei.

> Our friend is leaving to Russia next week.

elechang
/chelechang
/elecha
/chelecha

, n.

now; just now; today; these days.

elechang

a

chelecha

el

sils;

elecha

el

dekasoues;

chelecha

el

taem;

chelecha

el

de

katekoi.

mei
/me

, v.i.

come; arrive.

mei

a

okedongel

a

chad;

mei

er

tiei,

mei

me

kulekoi,

ka

mei.

be

v.imp.

be

a

ta

er

a

telengtengil

a

tekoi

el

mengai

er

a

tekoi

el

mei;

be

bong,

be

metengel.

ble

v.s.hypo.

mera

cont.

mei er a

merekung
/merkung

v.i.pred.

is about to come or arrive.

mermang
/meremang

v.inch.

meremang

a

merael

mei;

ngar

er

a

omerolel

el

mei;

dumiang

er

a

dmuil.

mlei
/mle

v.past

came; arrived.

mlei

a

mla

mei

me

ngar

tiang;

skoki

a

mlei

er

a

tutau.

mle

a

melekoi

er

a

rrekui;

Bung

a

mle

tmuu;

ng

mle

mekerang?

mlera

cont.

mlei er a

be kbong

expr.

goodbye; I'm leaving.

me e mong
/memong

expr.

pass by; go on; "(in a direction) towards me and then keep going (past me)."

nguu el mei

expr.

bring.

ta el buil er mla me e mong

expr.

one month ago.

Examples:

A

Droteo

a

ulemeklatk

er

a

bechil

me

ng

meruul

a

kall.

> Droteo reminded his wife to prepare the food.

Ng

mle

kisets.

> He was in a faint or knocked out.

Ke

mera

el

mererched!

> You're very fast!

Alii!

Be

mtuu!

> Hello! Come in!

A

Droteo

a

ulutoketok

er

a

Toki

me

ng

dinges

e

deel

ku

er

a

tekingel.

> Droteo was arguing with Toki and (now) he regrets or is ashamed of what he said.

Proverbs:

Ke

mera

el

di

medochii

el

rouar.

> You grab and then you pick it up.

Like telling a joke, you're still telling it yet you laugh like you just heard it.

Ak

meruul

me

kau

er

a

terudel?

> I build it and you destroy it?

May be applied to a person who feels his aims or projects are being destroyed by the actions of another.

Ng

ko

er

a

char

er

a

Kosiil,

el

lecheraches

e

ng

mong

me

a

lekeriik

e

ng

mei.

> Like seaweed at Kosiil, out with the tide and in with the tide.

Kosiil is a location in the lagoon where the seaweed can be seen to bend in and out with the tide. The idiom is applied to a leader who is too flexible and unreliable. In the short form (Kora char ra Kosiil) it may simply mean, "I'll go along with what you decide."

Ng

ko

er

a

remechas

el

kerekikl

er

a

klukl

me

a

rames.

> Like an old woman who is cautious about coughing and breaking wind.

Among elderly women, it seems, coughing sometimes produces the unwanted effect of breaking wind. The idiom may be applied to any action that might produce an undesirable side effect, such as a hasty decision at a political meeting. As a caution, it suggests the need for leaders to consider all the consequences.

Ke

mera

el

ngelekel

a

ulled.

> Really a child of the back.

A child (sometimes an adult) that behaves well whether its parents are present or not; a child that is good when one's back is turned.

More Examples:

Ngka

el

Ulang