Language Learning

1. Ngera a "thank you" er a tekoi er a Belau?

   Nge-ra a "thank you" er a te-koi er a Be-lau?

   How do you say "thank you" in Palauan?

   Usage

   Used to ask how to say something in Palauan

   Grammar Note

   "Ngera a X?" asks "what is X?". Tekoi means "word; speech; language", so tekoi er a Belau is "the Palauan language". Put the expression you want in English and ask for its Palauan form

2. Bo mokokau el melekoi.

   Bo mo-ko-kau el me-le-koi.

   Please speak more slowly.

   Usage

   Use when someone is speaking too fast

   Grammar Note

   Palauan has no word for "please"; a polite request is just the imperative. An example is Bo mokokau el melekoi. = "Please speak slowly."

3. Ng sebechem el meluches er ngak?

   Ng se-be-chem el me-lu-ches er ngak?

   Can you write it down for me?

   Usage

   Use when you want someone to write something down

   Grammar Note

   Palauan is verb-initial (VOS). The preverbal particles ak / ke / ng carry subject agreement, and a full noun-phrase subject comes last (e.g. Ng mo el bub a laochel = "a storm is approaching"). An alternative analysis reads those particles as subject pronouns and puts the subject first, so the point is unsettled

4. Ngera a belkul a tia el tekoi?

   Nge-ra a bel-kul a ti-a el te-koi?

   What does this word mean?

   Usage

   Used to ask the meaning of an unfamiliar Palauan word

   Grammar Note

   Palauan nouns take possessive suffixes; "belkul" = "its meaning" (n.poss.3s meaning) and "tekoi" = "word; speech; language"

5. Ak mesuub a tekoi er a Belau. Ak sebechek el mo obengkemiu er a omesuub?

   Ak me-suub a te-koi er a Be-lau. Ak se-be-chek el mo o-beng-ke-miu er a o-me-suub?

   I'm studying Palauan — can we practice together?

   Usage

   Use when looking for a Palauan conversation practice partner

   Grammar Note

   "Mesuub" means "to learn" and "tekoi er a Belau" is "the Palauan language". "Mo obengkemiu" means "to be together with you (pl.)"

6. Ng diak el ngarang a ungil el tebedel a llach a?

   Ng di-ak el nga-rang a un-gil el te-be-del a llach a?

   How do you pronounce this?

   Usage

   Use when asking about the pronunciation of a Palauan word

   Grammar Note

   Palauan is a distinct Austronesian language, somewhat isolated from others in the region

7. Ke kiei er kau el me ungil el blekeradel er a omeruul a llach?

   Ke ki-ei er kau el me un-gil el ble-ke-ra-del er a o-me-ruul a llach?

   Can you recommend a good language learning resource?

   Usage

   Use to find resources for learning Palauan

   Grammar Note

   Palauan is the main indigenous language of Palau; English is also an official language

8. Ngera a tekoi er tial beluu?

   Nge-ra a te-koi er ti-al be-luu?

   What is the local dialect like here?

   Usage

   Use to ask about regional speech patterns in Palau

   Grammar Note

   "beluu" means "place / village / country" — a key geographic concept in Palauan

9. Ng tela el ilumel er a llach er tial beluu?

   Ng te-la el i-lu-mel er a llach er ti-al be-luu?

   Is there a language exchange event here?

   Usage

   Use to find language exchange meetups in Koror or other parts of Palau

   Grammar Note

   "er" is a versatile preposition in Palauan covering location, direction, and time

10. Ak beches el mesuub a tekoi er a Belau — ng kmal di bo klou a rengum!

    Ak be-ches el me-suub a te-koi er a Be-lau — ng kmal di bo klou a re-ngum!

    I'm a beginner — please be patient with me!

    Usage

    Use to let someone know you are just beginning to learn Palauan

    Grammar Note

    "Klou a rengul" is the idiom for "patient/confident"; rengul is swapped for the 2nd-person rengum to address the listener.

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