Diving & Water Sports

15 phrases · Palauan with romanization, English and audio

  1. Ng soak el mo er a scuba diving.

    I'd like to go scuba diving.

    Usage

    Used to express interest in scuba diving

    Grammar Note

    Olab means "bring / carry" (Ak olab a ilumel el mo er a party. = "I'm bringing drinks to the party."), not "want to". A wish uses the possessive forms of sau "liking", and the subject marker is ng, not ak: Ng soak el ... = "I would like to ..." (Ng soak a rodech. = "I would like fruit."; Ng ngara soam el kliou? = "What would you like for dessert?")

  2. Ng kirel el ngar er ngii a diving certification?

    Is a diving certification required?

    Usage

    Used to ask if a diving certification is needed

    Grammar Note

    Necessity is expressed by the possessive paradigm of kirel (n.poss.3s); the first person is kirek (ng kirek el omad er tia el bduu... = "I need to heat up my boil"). Note: kirir is the third-person plural possessive, "their obligation", and cannot carry a first-person meaning.

  3. Ng tela el ollomes a dive site?

    How deep is this dive site?

    Usage

    Used to ask about the depth of a dive site

    Grammar Note

    ollomes = depth. dive site borrowed from English

  4. Ng ngar er ngii a shark er tiang?

    Are there sharks here?

    Usage

    Used to ask about sharks or dangerous marine life

    Grammar Note

    shark borrowed from English. ngar er ngii = there is/are (existence)

  5. Ng ungil el mo diving er chelechang?

    Are conditions good for diving today?

    Usage

    Used to check if diving conditions are favorable

    Grammar Note

    ungil = good/suitable. chelechang = today/now

  6. Ng soak el mo er a snorkeling.

    I'd like to try snorkeling.

    Usage

    Used to express interest in snorkeling

    Grammar Note

    Olab means "bring / carry" (Ak olab a ilumel el mo er a party. = "I'm bringing drinks to the party."), not "want to". A wish uses the possessive forms of sau "liking", and the subject marker is ng, not ak: Ng soak el ... = "I would like to ..." (Ng soak a rodech. = "I would like fruit."; Ng ngara soam el kliou? = "What would you like for dessert?")

  7. Ng ngar er ker a cheluchel el bilas?

    Can I book a boat dive?

    Usage

    Used to book a boat diving excursion

    Grammar Note

    bilas = boat. cheluchel = trip/excursion

  8. Ng ngar er ker a coral reef?

    Where is the coral reef?

    Usage

    Used to ask where the coral reef is located

    Grammar Note

    coral reef borrowed from English. "Where" is ker, in the pattern Ng ngar er ker a X? ("Where is X?"). tela el beluu means "how many villages", not "where"

  9. Ak el PADI Open Water diver.

    I'm a certified PADI Open Water diver.

    Usage

    Used to inform about your diving certification level

    Grammar Note

    PADI Open Water is an internationally recognized diving certification name (kept in English)

  10. Ng soak el meleng a surfboard.

    I'd like to rent a surfboard.

    Usage

    Used to rent a surfboard

    Grammar Note

    Meleng means "borrow; rent; hire" (Ak meleng a udoud... = "I am borrowing money")

  11. Ng ngara el ngikel a ngar er tiang?

    What marine life can we see here?

    Usage

    Used to ask about marine life at a dive site

    Grammar Note

    "What kind of ..." is Ng ngara el + noun (Ng ngara el rodech a soam? = "Which fruit do you like?", Ngara el bail a chobo mosiik? = "What kind of clothes are you going to buy?"). Ngar is "be (located); exist", and er tiang is "here". Note: tela is "how many", not "what kind of", and leko is the conjunction a leko "intended to; apparently", not "see" (that is omes).

  12. Ngera a emergency signal er a chelsel a ralm?

    What is the emergency signal underwater?

    Usage

    Used to ask about underwater emergency signals

    Grammar Note

    ralm = water. chelsel a ralm = inside the water / underwater

  13. Ng ngar er ker a ungil el beluu?

    Where is a good spot?

    Usage

    Used to ask for beginner-friendly dive spots

    Grammar Note

    The frame for asking a location is Ng ngar er ker a ...?

  14. Ng tela el bung a diving?

    How long is the dive?

    Usage

    Used to ask about the duration of a dive

    Grammar Note

    "Bung" is a loanword from Japanese 分 (minute); klebesei means "night / 24-hour period" and cannot express a duration

  15. Ng ngar er ngii a night diving?

    Is night diving available?

    Usage

    Used to ask if night diving is available

    Grammar Note

    night diving borrowed from English. ngar er ngii = there is / available

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