Public Transport

1. Ng ngar er ker a bus stop el kmeed?

   Ng ngar er ker a bus stop el kmeed?

   Where is the nearest bus stop?

   Usage

   Used when looking for the nearest bus stop

   Grammar Note

   The frame for asking a location is "Ng ngar er ker a X?" (expression ngar ker = "where is it"). English loanwords like "bus stop" are used directly.

2. Ng tela a cost el bus?

   Ng te-la a cost el bus?

   How much is the bus fare?

   Usage

   Used before boarding a bus to ask about the fare

   Grammar Note

   "Ng tela" is the Palauan expression for asking about cost or price.

3. Ngera a bus el mong er a airport?

   Nge-ra a bus el mong er a air-port?

   Which bus goes to the airport?

   Usage

   Used to find the bus that goes to the airport

   Grammar Note

   "Mong er" is a Palauan verb phrase indicating movement toward a destination.

4. Ke sebechem el omekedong a taxi er ngak?

   Ke se-be-chem el o-me-ke-dong a tax-i er ngak?

   Can you call a taxi for me?

   Usage

   Used to ask someone to call a taxi on your behalf

   Grammar Note

   Requests use "Ke sebechem el ...?" ("can you ...?"); omekedong is the verb "to call (someone) up".

5. Ng soak el mo er tiang. Ke sebechem el mei?

   Ng so-ak el mo er ti-ang. Ke se-be-chem el mei?

   I want to go here. Can you come here?

   Usage

   Used while pointing to show a destination, calling a taxi or vehicle

   Grammar Note

   A wish is "Ng soak el ..." and an ability question is "Ke sebechem el ...?" (kirel means obligation, "must"). "Tiang" is the Palauan demonstrative meaning "here" or "this place".

6. Ngera a schedule er a bus?

   Nge-ra a sched-ule er a bus?

   What is the bus schedule?

   Usage

   Used to ask about or find the bus timetable

   Grammar Note

   "Ngera" is the question word "what" (tela means "how many"). The English word "schedule" is borrowed directly into Palauan usage.

7. Ak mla mo tiang er a bus.

   Ak mla mo ti-ang er a bus.

   I came here by bus.

   Usage

   Used to explain the transportation method used to arrive somewhere

   Grammar Note

   "Mla" is a Palauan auxiliary verb indicating a completed past action.

8. Ng ngar er ker a taxi stand?

   Ng ngar er ker a tax-i stand?

   Where should I go for the taxi stand?

   Usage

   Used to ask for directions to the nearest taxi stand

   Grammar Note

   The fixed frame for asking where something is: "Ng ngar er ker a ...?". "taxi stand" is borrowed from English.

9. Ng mla mei a bus?

   Ng mla mei a bus?

   Is the bus here now?

   Usage

   Used to check whether the bus has arrived yet

   Grammar Note

   "mla" marks completion and "mei" means "to come": "Ng mla mei a ..." = "... has already come" (a noun subject comes at the end of the clause).

10. Ak kirel el mei er a van / minibus.

    Ak ki-rel el mei er a van / min-i-bus.

    I need to take the van / minibus.

    Usage

    Used when needing to take a van or minibus, common transport in Palau

    Grammar Note

    "Kirel el mei er a" expresses the need to board or take a vehicle.

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