Sustainability & Eco

8 phrases · Palauan with romanization, English and audio

  1. Ng ngar er ker a sebechek el lmuut el ousbech er tia?

    ng ngar er KER a se-be-CHEK el lmu-UT el ous-BECH er ti-A

    Where can I recycle this?

    Usage

    Used when asking where to recycle waste or unwanted items

    Grammar Note

    Palauan has no word for "recycle", so it is expressed with "lmuut" (again, return) and "ousbech" (use) — literally "use it again". The frame for asking a location is "Ng ngar er ker a X?".

  2. Ng ngar er ngii a bek el sebechel el lmuut el ousbech?

    ng ngar er ngii a BEK el se-be-CHEL el lmu-UT el ous-BECH

    Do you have reusable bags?

    Usage

    Used in markets or shops to ask if reusable bags are available

    Grammar Note

    "Bek" is borrowed from English "sack". The existential frame is "Ng ngar er ngii a X?". "Reusable" is expressed as "sebechel" (it can) + "lmuut el ousbech" (be used again).

  3. Ng ngar er ngii a hoter el melekau er a beluu?

    ng ngar er ngii a HO-ter el me-le-KAU er a be-LU-u

    Is there eco-friendly accommodation?

    Usage

    Used when looking for eco-lodges near Palau's nature reserves

    Grammar Note

    Palauan has no word for "environment". The word "beluu" (land, village) is used as the object of "melekau" (to guard, protect) — "a hotel that protects the land". "Hoter" is borrowed via Japanese.

  4. Ng soak el mecherur a butiliang er ngak er a ralm.

    ng so-AK el me-che-RUR a bu-ti-LI-ang er NGAK er a RALM

    I'd like to refill my water bottle.

    Usage

    Used to avoid buying plastic bottles and reduce waste

    Grammar Note

    "Fill" is mecherur: the container is the object and the contents follow with er (mecherur a ollumel er a ralm = fill the cup with water). omechar means "buy", not "fill". "Butiliang" is a Spanish loan.

  5. Ng ngar er ngii a kall el diak a odoim er ngii?

    ng ngar er ngii a KALL el di-AK a o-DOIM er ngii

    Are there vegetarian or vegan options?

    Usage

    Used at restaurants or food stalls to communicate dietary restrictions

    Grammar Note

    A Palauan meal is built from the pair "odoim" (the fish or meat dish) and "ongraol" (the starch — taro, rice, etc.). Vegetarian food is therefore naturally described as "kall" with no "odoim" in it. "Diak" is the negator.

  6. Ng ua ngara a rolel a mo er a ... el oba a bas?

    ng u-A nga-RA a ro-LEL a mo er a ... el o-BA a BAS

    How can I take public transport to...?

    Usage

    Used in Palau when asking how to travel without renting a car

    Grammar Note

    The same frame as "Ng ua ngara a teletelel a iedel?" (How is the mango?). The possessive form "rolel" of "rael" (road, way) gives "the route to ...". "Bas" is an English loan and is what public transport means in Palau.

  7. Ng ngar er ker a makit er a beluu?

    ng ngar er KER a MA-kit er a be-LU-u

    Where is the local/organic market?

    Usage

    Used when wanting to buy fresh local produce

    Grammar Note

    "Makit" is borrowed from English (cf. "Aki mlo omechar a ngikel er a makit." = We went to buy fish at the market). Adding "er a beluu" gives "local".

  8. Adang, bo mousbech a kekere el bail.

    a-DANG, bo mou-SBECH a ke-ke-RE el BA-il

    Please use minimal packaging.

    Usage

    Used when shopping to decline excessive packaging

    Grammar Note

    "Bail" means an article of clothing but also "wrapping material", which is how packaging is expressed. "Adang" is a polite "please". "Bo m-" is the second-person imperative prefix.

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