Banking & ATM

1. Ng ngar er ker a ATM el kmeed?

   Ng ngar er ker a A-T-M el kmeed?

   Where is the nearest ATM?

   Usage

   Used to find the nearest ATM when you need cash

   Grammar Note

   "Ng ngar er ker a ..." is the stock "where is ...?" pattern. "el kmeed" adds "near" (kmeed is "near"). Diak means "not / none" and is not a way to ask where.

2. Ng soak el merukem a udoud.

   Ng so-ak el me-ru-kem a u-doud.

   I'd like to exchange currency.

   Usage

   Used to request currency exchange

   Grammar Note

   Merukem means "break money into smaller denominations; exchange money" and is the word for changing money. Udoud is "money; cash". Mekngit means "bad".

3. Ng tela a exchange rate er a chelechang?

   Ng te-la a exchange rate er a che-le-chang?

   What is today's exchange rate?

   Usage

   Used to check the current exchange rate

   Grammar Note

   "chelechang" means "today" in Palauan

4. Ng sebechek el mengai a udoud er a foreign card?

   Ng se-be-chek el men-gai a u-doud er a foreign card?

   Can I withdraw cash with a foreign card?

   Usage

   Used to ask if a foreign card is accepted

   Grammar Note

   Palauan often uses English loanwords, particularly in banking terminology

5. Ng soak el omuchel a account er a bank.

   Ng so-ak el o-mu-chel a account er a bank.

   I'd like to open a bank account.

   Usage

   Used to request opening a bank account

   Grammar Note

   "Omuchel" means "to start / establish". There is no dedicated word for "open an account", so this verb stands in. Mengurs means "to pull", not to open an account.

6. A card er ngak a blocked — bo mngesuak.

   A card er ngak a blocked — bo mnge-su-ak.

   My card has been blocked — can you help?

   Usage

   Used when your card is blocked and you need help

   Grammar Note

   "Bo mngesuak" is "please help me". Kausechelei means "to be friends with each other", not "to help".

7. Ng ngar er ngii a transaction fee er a foreign card?

   Is there a transaction fee for foreign cards?

   Usage

   Used to ask about fees for using foreign cards

   Grammar Note

   "ng ngar er ngii" is the Palauan existential question "is there?"

8. Ng soak el oleuul a udoud el mo er a overseas.

   Ng so-ak el o-le-uul a u-doud el mo er a o-ver-seas.

   I'd like to transfer money internationally.

   Usage

   Used to request an international money transfer

   Grammar Note

   "Oleuul" means "to move from one place to another". Money is udoud. There is no word for "overseas", so the English is kept.

9. Ng sebechek el mengai a receipt er tia el transaction?

   Ng se-be-chek el men-gai a receipt er ti-a el transaction?

   Can I get a receipt for this transaction?

   Usage

   Used to request a receipt after a transaction

   Grammar Note

   Palauan speakers commonly use English banking terms like "receipt" and "transaction"

10. Ng diak el mei a card er ngak er a ATM — ng ngera a kirek?

    Ng di-ak el mei a card er ngak er a A-T-M — ng nge-ra a ki-rek?

    The ATM swallowed my card — what do I do?

    Usage

    Emergency phrase for when an ATM retains your card

    Grammar Note

    ngera = "what"; kirek is the first-person singular of kirel (obligation / what one must do), so "Ng ngera a kirek?" = "what must I do?". ngar er ngii means "there is", not "what to do"

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