Visitors:

Chad er a ngodech el beluu

Term used for people from other countries.

"Good Morning":

Ungil tutau

"Good Afternoon":

Ungil chodechosong

"Good Evening":

Ungil Kebesengei

"Welcome":

Mengemedáol;
Outkéu

--"Welcome"
--to greet or welcome, enthusiastically

"Come in":

Be mtuu

"Goodbye":

Ak morolung;
Mechikung

--"I am leaving"
--"Goodbye" said to someone leaving

Different Administrative Eras

Spanish period

Taem er a Sebangiol

From 1886 to 1898

German period

Taem er a Dois

From 1898 to 1914

Japanese period

Taem er a Siabal

From 1914 to 1945

American period

Taem er a Merikel

From 1945 to 1994

Independent

Dokurits,

Japanese term for independent (from 1994 to present)

Other Terms:

Government

Amt

Japanese term for government

Law

Llach

General term for law

Boundary

Oliochel

General term for boundary

Community land

Chutembuai

Land that belong to the community

Clan's land

Chutem er a kebliil

Land that belong to the clan

Individual landowner

Chetemel a ta el chad

Land that belong to individual person

Foreigners

Disease

Baiking

Borrowed Japanese word for germ or disease

Disease

Rakt

General term for diseases or illnesses

Sickness

Secher

General term for sickness

Epidemic

Rakt

General term for diseases or illnesses

Doctor

Toktang

Borrowed English word "doctor"

Healthy (Strong)

Mesisiich

General term for strong, healthy, and well

Notes on Pronunciation:

This is a brief outline of some of the spelling and pronunciation issues for Palauan orthography. It should help readers to better pronounce the many Palauan words used in this website. But for a complete discussion, see Josephs (1990: xxxiv-xlv).

• The letters used to spell the consonants are b, t, d, k, ch, s, m, ng, r, and l.

• B is pronounced as b at the beginnings of words and when between two vowels, or before l. Otherwise, it is pronounced as p.

• D is in pronounced like th when between vowels or at the end of a word.

• K, when between vowels, is pronounced more like g.

• Ch is *not* pronounced as "ch," ever. It represents a glottal stop, as in "uh oh." The glottal stop is a letter of equal value to other consonants, as its presence or absence changes the meaning of a word.

• When vowels are doubled, it indicates that the sound is held longer.