Nature & Outdoors

1. A daob

   a da-OB

   The sea / ocean

   Usage

   Referring to the Pacific Ocean surrounding Palau

   Grammar Note

   daob is the fundamental Palauan word for ocean/sea

2. A Rock Islands

   a Rock IS-lands

   Rock Islands (Palau's UNESCO World Heritage Site)

   Usage

   Talking about Palau's most famous natural heritage

   Grammar Note

   Rock Islands are also called Chelbacheb in Palauan

3. A bidabd

   a bi-DABD

   Jellyfish

   Usage

   Talking about jellyfish, famous in Palau's Jellyfish Lake

   Grammar Note

   Palau's Jellyfish Lake is a famous tourist attraction

4. A chelmoll

   a chel-MOLL

   Coral reef

   Usage

   Talking about Palau's rich coral reef ecosystem

   Grammar Note

   chelmoll is the noun "reef (general area)"; its Palauan gloss reads chelmoll a chei; omedeklel a daob. Palau's reefs are coral reefs, so this single word carries the sense; the coral itself is merangd.

5. A ngikel

   a ngik-EL

   Fish

   Usage

   Referring to Palau's abundant marine fish

   Grammar Note

   ngikel is the basic Palauan word for fish

6. Ng kmal ungil el tutau

   ng kmal u-NGIL el tu-TAU

   The morning is very nice

   Usage

   Admiring a pleasant morning in Palau

   Grammar Note

   kmal ungil means "very good / very beautiful"

7. A daob

   a da-OB

   Saltwater / Sea water

   Usage

   Referring to Palau's saltwater environment

   Grammar Note

   daob means "sea; ocean; salt water"

8. A besebasech

   a be-se-BA-sech

   Lightning

   Usage

   Referring to lightning during tropical storms

   Grammar Note

   besebasech is n.redup. "(bolt of) lightning (striking the earth); crackling/rumbling sound of thunder", covering both the strike and the thunderclap (Ng rirebet a besebasech er tiang. = "A bolt of lightning struck here."). For the flash in the sky alone the word is bisebusech (A ngalek a medakt a bisebusech. = "The child is afraid of lightning.").

9. A chelechol

   a che-le-CHOL

   Beach / Sandy shore

   Usage

   Talking about Palau's beautiful sandy beaches

   Grammar Note

   chelechol is the Palauan word for beach or sand

10. Ng ungil el cheremrum er a chelsel a daob

    ng u-NGIL el che-rem-RUM er a chel-SEL a da-OB

    Swimming in the ocean feels wonderful

    Usage

    Expressing the joy of snorkeling or diving in Palau's waters

    Grammar Note

    er a chelsel a means "inside / within" a place

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