Adjectives

1. Klou

   Big

   Usage

   For asking for another size; use it with a gesture

2. Kekerei

   Small

   Usage

   For describing clothing or room size

3. Meringel

   Heavy

   Usage

   For excess baggage, or asking someone to lift something

   Grammar Note

   "Meringel" covers heavy, difficult, and costly; for prices say "meringel a cheral" (the price is heavy).

4. Kebekakl

   Light (weight)

   Usage

   About weight only — in many languages this is a different word from “bright”

   Grammar Note

   "Kebekakl" means light in weight. "Beot" means easy or cheap, not light in weight.

5. Meringel a cheral

   Expensive

   Usage

   The opening move in a haggle; pair it with a face

6. Beot a cheral

   Cheap

   Usage

   For asking whether a cheaper option exists

7. Mekeald

   Hot (thing)

   Usage

   About food, drink, or water — not the same word as hot weather

   Grammar Note

   "Mekeald" is a hot object; hot weather is "mekeald a eanged" (the sky is hot).

8. Mekelekolt

   Cold (thing)

   Usage

   About drinks and food — not the same word as cold weather

9. Beches

   New

   Usage

   For checking whether something is unused

10. Chuodel

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    For objects only; used of people it is rude in many languages

    Grammar Note

    "Chuodel" is for objects; it is not used of people.

11. Ngeasek

    Young

    Usage

    About a person’s age; a small-talk word

12. Rubak

    Old (person)

    Usage

    The dedicated word for people; pick the respectful one

    Grammar Note

    "Rubak" is an honorific for an older man and also denotes a village chief; an older woman is "mechas." Palau observes strict deference to both.

13. Klikiid

    Clean

    Usage

    For the cleanliness of a room, water and the like

14. Diak el klikiid

    Dirty

    Usage

    Useful when asking to change rooms

    Grammar Note

    Palauan naturally expresses dirtiness negatively, as "diak el klikiid" (not clean).

15. Ungil

    Good

    Usage

    The all-purpose word for agreement and approval

16. Mekngit

    Bad

    Usage

    For saying that your health or an item’s quality is poor

17. Kmeed

    Near

    Usage

    For checking whether somewhere is within walking distance

18. Cheroid

    Far

    Usage

    Tells you whether you need transport

19. Ngar a uchei

    Early

    Usage

    About clock time; in many languages a different word from “fast”

    Grammar Note

    "Ngar a uchei" means "being ahead," i.e. early in time.

20. Ngar a uriul

    Late

    Usage

    About clock time; in many languages a different word from “slow”

    Grammar Note

    "Ngar a uriul" means "being behind," i.e. late; slow in speed is "meoud."

21. Betok

    Many

    Usage

    About quantity or how crowded somewhere is

22. Kesai

    Few

    Usage

    Also useful for asking for a smaller portion

23. Mekeald a eanged

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

    About the weather — a different word from a hot object

24. Mekelekolt a eanged

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

    About the weather — a different word from a cold object

25. Choisii

    Delicious

    Usage

    The word you will reach for most often at the table; a loanword from Japanese

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