Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

ngii

, pro.

he/she/it (emphatic).

ngii

a

melekoi

el

kirel

a

chad

me

a

klalo;

ngii

el

dil,

ngii

el

kall,

ngii

el

beluu;

ngii

el

urreor;

ngii

el

udoud.

bedengel

, n.poss.3s

body; corpse; skin; color; type; kind; appearance; physique.

bedengel

a

chesbereberel,

mamed

a

mellemau

a

bedengel.

bedengel

a

chelechedal,

ungil

okerulel

el

ngalek

a

ungil

a

bedengel.

bedengek

n.poss.1s

bedengem

n.poss.2s

bedengam

n.poss.1pe

bedenged

n.poss.1pi

bedengiu

n.poss.2p

bedengir

n.poss.3p

bedengel a chab

expr.

gray.

bedengel a chudel

expr.

green.

bedengel a chutem

expr.

brown.

bedengel a daob

expr.

deep blue.

bedengel a eanged

expr.

sky blue.

ngar er ngii er a bedengel a kmo

expr.

have a premonition that; have a gut feeling that; feel in one's bones that.

olab bedengel

expr.

well-built; able-bodied; ready and able.

Examples:

A

mlik

a

bekerkard

a

bedengel.

> My car is red.

Ng

di

tirke

el

silobel

a

kmal

di

ulebriid

me

te

chiliis

el

di

chad

me

a

bedengel.

> The survivors scattered, each man running off by himself.

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.

Ng

ngar

er

ngii

er

a

bedengek

a

kmo

ng

mo

er

ngii

a

mekngit.

> I have a premonition that something bad will hapen.

A

rodech

a

ungil

er

a

bedenged.

> Fruits are healthy for our bodies.

Proverbs:

Ng

ko

er

a

bukitang,

el

meduch

el

meldelodech

a

bedengel.

> Like the octopus, able to change the color of its body.

He's too erratic or too easily persuaded. A leader, or any person, who is highly erratic, too adaptive; one who appears capable of taking any convenient or easy position.

More Examples:

Ng

meringel

a

bedengem

el

dirrek?

> Does your whole body hurt also?

Ngar

er

ngii

a

delngod

er

a

bedengem?

> Do you have any tattoos?

Ak

chetitau

a

bedengek

e

melemalt

a

chiuk

e

meklou

a

medak.

> I'm brown skinned with straight hair and big eyes.

Ng

becheleleu

a

bedengel.

> He or she is white.

Ng

ua

ngerang

a

bedengel

a

mlim?

Ng

mellemau

adang

ng

bekerkard?

> What is the color of your car? is it blue? or is it red?

chansing

, v.t., [From Japanese anshin]

be too sure or proud of (oneself).

chung

, n.

luck or fate.

di

, mod.

only; just; any.

di

a

olkael;

di

kau

a

mei

e

diak

a

ngodech;

di

tedei

el

buik

a

mong;

se

di

kau,

se

di

ngii.

el di mle ngii

expr.

all by himself; on his own.

ngii di lebong

expr.

whatever it is; whatever there may be.

Examples:

Ng

di

mlengimet

a

blai

el

mo

er

a

chei.

> There was no one at home because they'd all gone fishing.

Ng

diak

be

mrei

el

di

merekmo

a

chobetik

er

ngii.

> Don't return until you've found her.

Ngara

me

ke

di

mengchechelebed

er

a

rengalek?

> Why are you always hitting the children?

Te

kaidesachel

el

di

merael.

> They are racing and just walking.

A

Klekekerengel

a

Belauad

a

di

ua

dimech

er

a

map.

> The smallness of our Belau is like a dot on a map.

Proverbs:

Ng

ko

er

a

tengadidik

el

di

melekoi

el

suebek.

> Like the kingfisher, chattering while taking to wing.

The kingfisher, a restless, bullying bluebird, may be heard to chatter loudly when flying up from the ground or from a perch. The saying applies to one who suddenly spouts instructions to a group, then leaves, or to a leader at a meeting who impatiently interrupts a discussion with a burst of pronouncements, then ends the meeting.

Ng

ko

er

a

meiko

er

a

Tmel,

el

di

mengereel

el

olsiu

er

ngii

er

a

ngau.

> Like the blind man of Ngetmel, twisting twine into the fire.

The image is that of a blind elder, warming his frail body beside the fire while twisting strands of fiber into twine against his thigh. Only as he pulls the finished twine away, he pushes it into the flames. The saying may be applied to any utterly pointless activity or dissipation of wealth.

Ng

kora

ilaot

Itkib

el

di

ngii

el

romur.

> Like the ilaot [coconut juice] of Ngetkib, mixing itself.

Probably of folk-tale derivation, the idiom may be applied to a man who has married too close to his own clan, thus not gaining the assistance of the wife's clan in food and services, since this would amount to the clan giving to itself. Also applied to a situation where a person expects to have some service performed for him but ends up doing it himself.

Ke

di

medochii

e

rouar;

kemam

a

mekerang?

> You pluck the fruit and pick it up; what of us?

Why don't you share or let us participate in your activity?/Why are you the only one to laugh at your joke? Usually one person climbs the tree or uses a long stick to knock down the fruit while an assistant shares the task and rewards by catching the falling fruit or picking it up. The saying may be applied to a person who prepares something to eat by himself, then eats it without sharing. It can apply also to a person who laughs at his own joke, leaving his audience unmoved.

Ng

ko

er

a

kim

er

a

Murael,

el

di

dengarech

e

oker

a

chais.

> She's like the clams at Murael, lying face up (and open) and asking for news.

i.e., she just sits at home asking passersby about what's going on outside. Murael is a reef near Ngerechelong where, as elsewhere in Palau, the various kinds of tradacna shell bask, open and feeding, in the shallow lagoon. The saying applies to gullibility combined with high curiosity for news and to persons who simply sit at home, letting the happenings of the community come to them via passing persons.

More Examples:

Ochoi,

se

er

a

tutau

el

me

er

elechang

el

di

lechull.

> Yes, it's been raining since morning.

Ak

milengereel

er

a

bdelul

a

chang.

Ng

di

mle

luut

a

cheldik.

> I fished at the dock. I only caught squid.

Mnguu

el

msang

a

di

chim

el

chad.

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

A

ochellek

a

di

tang.

> I have one younger brother. (Can only be said by a maile).

Choi,

ak

di

omes

er

a

eanged

me

a

lsa

el

mo

mekngit

e

ak

merael.

> Yes, if the weather gets worse, I'll leave.

kmo

, v.t.

to like someone dearly; express extra or preferential love, care, attention to one person; love; care for; take care of; favor; give preference to. [Unlike the English word 'love,' the usage of this word tends to imply favoritism.]

mla

, v.s.

was/were (located); existed.

mla

a

melekoi

er

a

rrekui

el

tekoi;

mla

mong;

mla

er

ker;

mla

er

a

skuul.

bla

v.s.hypo.

mla

aux.

has (done something).

mlar

cont.

mla er

mlara

cont.

mla er a

a lebla er ngii

expr.

if there had been.

mla mo

expr.

has become.

ng mla er ngii

expr.

there has or have been; there was or were.

Examples:

Ng

sechelik

a

bla

leberngii

a

obekuk.

> It's my friend who my brother has hit.

A

Toki

a

mla

mechell.

> Toki has had a baby.

A

ngelekel

a

kiuid

a

mla

mo

oubusech.

> The blackbird has begun to grow/get feathers.

Ke

mla

metik

er

a

soam?

> Have you found something you like?

Ng

mla

merngii

a

deleb.

> A ghost or evil spirit has slapped him (i.e. he's having an epileptic fit).

Proverbs:

A

rekung

el

daob

a

mla

otitech

a

rekung

el

beluu.

> Sea crabs have pushed out land crabs.

Outsiders have taken over the land or titles of local people. An outsider (e.g., adopted child, friend) has become more important than a blood relative.

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

mla

merekakl

a

tekingel.

> He swallowed his words.

An inconsistent person, especially one who has stated that he would never do something, then does it.

Ng

mla

mkelii

a

tual.

> He cut down his own banana.

A man supplies fertilizer (money) for a banana tree that, eventually, provides fruit (gifts of food). The cycle, in this saying, is compared with that of the food-money cycle of a marriage in which the wife's clan provides food and service, while the husband's clan provides occasional payments of money. If a banana tree is cut down before it bears fruit, the cycle is interrupted. Hence, a man who marries incestuously within his own clan and thereby inhibits the foodmoney cycle.

Ng

ko

er

a

Ngiramesemong,

el

omilt

a

mla

me

e

mong.

> Like Ngiramesemong, rehashing what has been finished.

Pertains to a person who repeatedly reminds another of past favors or continually recalls the mistakes of others. (My sources no longer recalled the episode or story from which this idiom derives.)

More Examples:

A

resensei

a

mla

er

ngii

a

klisischir

el

mellach

e

mesmechokl

er

a

rengalek

er

a

skuul.

> Teachers had the authority to discipline and correct the kids on premises.

Aika

el

olsengek

a

di

mla

kaiririid.

> My knives have gone missing.

Ng

mera

el

chituuk

mla

rullii

a

umengel

a

bechil.

> He's very resourceful and made his wife a kitchen.

Aika

el

kalngebard

a

mla

mo

ouuid.

> Cotton trees are ready to be reaped.

A

choblong

e

ke

mla

mlei.

> If you had left already (instead of procrastinating or complaining or whatever), you'd already be back by now.

mo

, aux.

will; shall; become; get.

mo

a

melekoi

er

a

ngar

medad;

mo

er

a

klukuk;

ng

mo

el

merekong?

ng

mo

e

mei.

bora

cont.

bo er a

mlo

aux.past.

became; got.

mlo

a

melekoi

er

a

taem

el

tekoi

a

dilubech;

mlo

kot

er

a

rurt;

mlo

smecher;

mlo

er

a

omerael.

mlor

cont.

mlo er

mlora

cont.

mlo er a

mora

cont.

mo er a

ng mo er ngii

expr.

there will be.

Examples:

A

omelekingel

a

Droteo

a

ko

er

a

soal

el

mo

er

a

party.

> Droteo spoke as if he wants to go to the party.

Tia

el

babier

a

mloiuid

el

mo

tekoi

er

a

Doisu.

> This letter got translated into German.

Ng

kirek

el

mo

er

a

oderuchel.

> I've go to go on an errand.

Ng

meral

melemalt

a

lomechas

me

ng

di

mo

mas

er

sel

kired

el

melecholech

er

ngii.

> It is exactly marked and it is to cut when when we need to saw it.

Ak

mo

er

a

bodk.

> I'm going to have an operation.

Proverbs:

Ng

ko

er

a

teribsel

a

daob

el

di

mei

e

mo

diak.

> It's like the foam of the sea, which forms unexpectedly and then disappears.

It's a matter that comes up for lengthy discussions and then is dropped without resolution or effect. Some things, like sea foam, drift on without settlement. Endless discussion without reaching agreement.

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

kora

osechel

a

mengur,

el

di

ngar

er

a

milkolk

el

mo

er

a

milkolk.

> Like coconut water, passing from darkness to darkness.

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

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.

A

uel

el

kuk

meremang

el

me

omeklatk

me

ng

mo

uchul

a

klengitereng

> When the purple swamp hen appears, it brings remembrance

There is a song (Oumachas) from which this saying derives: Once there was a young couple who made love in a secluded spot in the taro garden. While they were lying together a purple swamp hen darted out of the brush startling the couple. Eventually love cooled, but thereafter whenever the girl saw a purple swamp hen while she worked in the gardens, she recalled her lover. Hence any occurrence that brings back fond memories.

More Examples:

Ng

diak

ksal

medengei

el

kmo

tia

el

mur

ng

mo

er

ngii

er

a

oingerang.

> I'm not really sure when the feast going to take place.

Eya,

ak

urrenges

e

ng

mo

er

ngii

a

klou

el

blengur

e

le

ng

tansiobi

er

a

Reklai.

> I heard there is a big party for Reklai's birthday.

Ng

kuk

mocha

kebesengei

me

ng

kuk

mo

ribsakl

a

sils.

> It's getting dark and the sun is setting.

A

mechas

er

a

ureram

a

mo

merek

el

oureor.

Aki

oba

el

mo

omengur.

> Lady at work is retiring. We are taking her out for lunch.

Ka

mnguu

se

el

sualek

e

dorael

mo

er

a

mesei.

> Go and bring my basket so we can go to the taro patch.

mong

, v.i.

go (in a direction not towards either the speaker or listener).

mong

a

merael

mo

cheroid;

skuul

a

ngar

a

mong.

Bong!

v.imp.

Go! Go ahead!.

bocha
/bochang

v.s.hypo.

may become.

bochung
/bochu

v.s.hypo.

is about to go.

bong

v.s.hypo.

mlong

v.past

went.

mlong

a

mla

mong;

mlo

er

a

skuul.

mochang
/mocha

v.inch.

is beginning to arrive; is just arriving.

mochang

a

omerolel

el

mong;

locha

mochang.

mochung
/mochu

v.pred.

is about to go.

mochung

a

kmeed

el

mong;

ke

mochung?

ak

mochung.

el mo

expr.

until.

el mo el mong

expr.

(do something) in a continuous fashion; go on or keep on (doing something).

ng mochu er ngii

expr.

there is about to be.

nguu el mong

expr.

take.

Examples:

Ke

meliked

el

mo

er

ker?

> Where are you going? Why are you moving like that (when the boat is so crowded)?

Ka

molukl

el

mo

er

se

el

ta

er

a

kingall.

> Please move into another chair.

Ak

mla

tmurk

er

a

omelekoi

el

mo

er

tir.

> I've done as much talking to them as I can (with no results)./I've had it with talking to them.

Ng

mla

mo

kirek

el

mo

omekeek

er

a

ollumel.

> Now I need to fill the pitcher.

A

chad

a

rruul

el

mo

songerenger.

> Human beings are made or born to be hungry.

Proverbs:

Ng

kora

osechel

a

mengur,

el

di

ngar

er

a

milkolk

el

mo

er

a

milkolk.

> Like coconut water, passing from darkness to darkness.

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.

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.

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.

More Examples:

Ke

choilii

a

ralm

el

omrechorech

er

ngii

e

mochu

oldebodeb

a

billum.

> Wait for the water to boil and then put in the tapioca.

Ak

milruul

a

oeaol

er

blik.

Ak

milekrolii

el

mo

er

a

tank.

> I made rain gutters for my house. I ran it into a tank.

Aike

el

blil

a

sobdringk

a

sebeched

el

mo

oterau.

> We can sell the soda cans.

A

sechelimam

a

mo

merael

el

mo

er

a

Rosia

er

tia

el

mei

el

sandei.

> Our friend is leaving to Russia next week.

Ak

mo

er

a

omelilt

er

a

ngelekek

el

mo

tuobed

er

a

ongeai

el

skuul.

> I'm going to my kid's graduation from elementary school.

ngar

, v.s.

be (located); exist; be alive.

ngar

a

outeliil;

chad

a

ngar;

ngar

er

ngii

a

klengar

er

ngii;

charm

a

ngar.

ngar ngii

cont.

ngar er ngii

ngarker

cont.

ngar ker

ngar er a bab a rengul

expr.

conceited; disrespectful; proud; arrogant; haughty; snobbish.

ngar er a bab el chad

expr.

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

ngar er a eou a rengul

expr.

(person is) humble/respectful.

ngar er ngii

expr.

there is.

ngar ker

expr.

where is it.

Examples:

Ng

ngar

er

ngii

a

chad

er

tiang.

> Somebody's here.

Ng

soam

el

ngar

Belau?

> You like being in Palau?

Ng

ngar

er

ngii

a

kekere

el

ududek

el

silber

el

sebechek

el

mo

msang.

> I have a small silver coin that I can give him.

Ng

ngar

er

ngii

a

uldesuek.

> I have an idea.

A

delak

a

ngar

er

a

uum.

> My mother is in the kitchen.

Proverbs:

Ng

kora

osechel

a

mengur,

el

di

ngar

er

a

milkolk

el

mo

er

a

milkolk.

> Like coconut water, passing from darkness to darkness.

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

ngar

ngii

a

melebisech

er

a

chutem

e

imiit

> Are there any who spear at the ground and miss?

Used to describe something that is easily accomplished.

Melim

e

menga

er

a

ngar

er

a

ucharm.

> To eat and drink by the mast tip.

The ucharm (bird) is the hardwood tip at the top of the canoe mast. The person to whom the idiom is applied is accused of thriving on gifts from other places. Particularly it may be applied to persons of a highranking village who rather expect that visitors in canoes from other villages will come provisioned with gifts-thus, those who watch for the canoes. Sometimes the idiom goes: Ngkora chad ra Oreor, "Like the man of Koror," with reference to the high ranking community of Koror in central Palau.

More Examples:

A

okdemelek

a

ngar

er

ngii

a

chelsengul

a

bechil

er

chelechang.

> My uncle's wife has an obligation to go to today.

A

Yigo

a

ngar

er

a

mo

bedul

a

diluches.

> Yigo is located on the north side of the island.

A

Lurvey

a

mlo

elireuakl

e

ngubetii

tia

el

medalia

el

ngkedel

a

Wilbur

el

mla

er

a

chiklel

e

nguu

el

turecheklii

er

a

deel

el

ngar

er

a

bebul

a

blil

a

Wilbur.

> Lurvey bent down and removed Wilbur's medal from his neck and hung it from a nail at the top of Wilbur's pen.

Ng

ngar

er

ngii

a

chimong

el

chaisbaks.

> It has one refrigerator.

Kmal

meringel

a

cheroid

er

a

deluill

me

ng

blechoel

ngar

er

ngii

a

rrau

el

reng.

> Long distance realtionship are hard and misunderstandings are always a concern.

ngera
/ngerang
/ngarang
/ngara

, pro.

what; which; what kind of; anything (but or except).

ngerang

a

ker;

ngera

ke

melekoi?

tia

ng

ngerang?

ngera

soam?

ng diak a ngerang

pro.

nothing.

ua ngarang

pro.

how.

ngera me

expr.

why? for what reason?

ngera ngar ngii

expr.

what's up? what's happening?

ngera uchul me

expr.

why? for what reason?

Examples:

Ng

ua

ngara

a

telkelel

a

subelengem?

> What's the measurement of your trousers?

Te

mesuub

a

ngarang?

> What are they studying?

Se

ng

dichel

a

ngerang?

> What is that light?

Ngara

me

ke

di

mengchechelebed

er

a

rengalek?

> Why are you always hitting the children?

Ng

ngera

a

nger

er

kau?

> What is your answer?

Proverbs:

Ngara

eseos

e

olengimech

el

mera

dalem.

> From the mature tree the sapling dribbles.

Eseos is a mature tree, dalm is a sapling; olengimch means to drip, drizzle, or dribble. Application is to the similarity of the child to its parents, generally its father.

More Examples:

E

kau

a

ua

ngarang?

> And How are you?

Ngera

a

dereuakl?

> What is the laughter about?

Ng

ngara

a

urerel

a

chad

er

a

laibreri?

> What is the job of the libarian?

Se

ngarang?

> What's that?

Tia

el

siasing

er

kau

el

ngar

er

a

chelbacheb,

tiang

ngerang

el

dengchokl

er

ngii?

Ng

brer

me

a

lechub

e

ng

totang?

> Your picture at the rock island, what are you sitting on? Is it bamboo raft or tin canoe?

ngii di el

, pro.

any.

singio

, n., [From Japanese]

trust; reputation.

meruul a singio er ngii

expr.

show (oneself) in a good light; show (oneself) to be responsible or trustworthy; put one's best foot forward.

Examples:

Ng

ungil

a

singio

er

ngii.

> She is trustworthy.

ta
/tang

, num.

1 [one] (unit of time; human; counting).

tang

a

ochur

el

chimong

,

ta

el

buil,

ta

el

tekoi,

ta

el

chad.

tal

cont.

ta el

tara

cont.

ta er a

el di ngak el tang

expr.

alone; by myself.

ko el tang

expr.

the very first time; the first time after a long while.

ngii di el tang

expr.

either one; anything.

ta el chad

expr.

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

ta el rak

expr.

one year.

ta el sils

expr.

one day.

ta er kemam

expr.

one of our relatives (usually, close); one of us.

ta er ngak

expr.

one of my relatives (usually, close).

ta er tir

expr.

one of them.

Examples:

A

Osilek

a

ta

er

a

milrael

a

chisel.

> Osilek was very well known.

A

rechad

er

a

Ngiual

a

euid

el

omengur

er

a

ta

el

sils.

> The inhabitants of Ngiual eat constantly (lit. seven times) throughout the day.

Ka

molukl

el

mo

er

se

el

ta

er

a

kingall.

> Please move into another chair.

Ng

cheiko

a

omekrael

er

a

ta

er

a

cheiko.

> The blind leading the blind.

Te

ulemais

er

a

chelsel

a

ta

el

sikang.

> They wandered around in an hour.

Proverbs:

Ng

cheiko

e

omekrael

er

a

ta

er

a

cheiko.

> A blind man leading another blind man.

The application is identical to that of the familiar English idiom

Ng

ko

er

a

chelebed

er

a

Utaor,

el

di

ta

temetemir

> Like the blow at Utaor, one stroke for all

A person or perhaps a club of the hamlet of Utaor (a hamlet of either Koror or Chol) offended a major village and, in consequence, the village retaliated by attacking the whole hamlet. The idiom applies to any general statement or punishment that might better be directed toward a particular group or individual

Ng

ko

er

a

cherellel

a

beab

el

di

ta

e

keroker.

> It's like the birth of a rat with one offspring per mother.

It's something that happens just once, something I put up with only once. According to this saying, the rat bears but one litter. Hence the application "once is enough" about an act that bears no repeating.

Ng

ta

el

suk

me

ng

diilut

re

Meduu.

> A full basket was dropped in Ngeremeduu bay.

From the folk tale about Obak era Kedesau on his way to a feast being given in honor of his wife by her adoptive father. While crossing Ngeremeduu Bay between Ngatpang and Ngeremlengui, Obak dropped a basket of Palauan money overboard. Despite this terrible loss, he still had the courage and sufficient cash to carry off his visit in high style. The saying may be used to reassure someone, following a loss, reminding them that Obak era Kedesau recovered from an even greater loss.

Ng

kora

chebiei

el

Cheangel,

el

di

ta

e

chutur

a

ta

el

suk.

> Like the breadfruit of Kayangel, just one rotten piece will spoil the whole bunch.

One bad person can ruin the reputation of a whole group. It is said of the Chebiei variety of breadfruit found at Kayangel atoll that one rotten one will spoil others packaged with it. Similar to "One bad apple spoiled the bushel."

More Examples:

Ak

mo

mesab

er

a

ta

er

a

blungek.

Ng

kmal