Change:

Omtechéi

Move, Movement:

Olengmóngm;
Olechelóchel

--canoe moves along with waves
--move towards something without stopping

History:

Reksi

Borrowed Japanese word for history.

Travel:

Omerael

General word for travel

Tourism, Sightseeing:

Kangkodang

Borrowed Japanese word for tourist

Visitors

Klechedaol

General term for invited visitors or group of travelers

Horse:

Uós

Cattle:

Kerebóu

Carabao

To work with cattle:

Chad er a charm

Cattle-raiser

Earthquake:

Desíu

Tsunami:

Iéleb

War:

Klaumekemád

Survive, Survival:

Suóbel

Money:

Udóud

Originally and still used for Palauan money beads

Monument:

Ngesechel a cherechar

Term use for historical monument, memorial, or artifact from the past. It is now use for Museum.

Govern:

Mengederéder

Compact:

Telbiil

Term use for Agreement between Palau and United States.

Council:

Klobák

Council of a village's ten chiefs

Olbíil er a Kelulau

Palau National Congress

Japan:

Siábal

Bridge:

Did

Airport:

Skózio

Air-raid:

Bakudáng

Vote:

Séngkio

Notes on Pronunciation:

This is a brief outline of some of the spelling and pronunciation issues for Palauan orthography. It should help readers to better pronounce the many Palauan words used in this website. But for a complete discussion, see Josephs (1990: xxxiv-xlv).

• The letters used to spell the consonants are b, t, d, k, ch, s, m, ng, r, and l.

• B is pronounced as b at the beginnings of words and when between two vowels, or before l. Otherwise, it is pronounced as p.

• D is in pronounced like th when between vowels or at the end of a word.

• K, when between vowels, is pronounced more like g.

• Ch is *not* pronounced as "ch," ever. It represents a glottal stop, as in "uh oh." The glottal stop is a letter of equal value to other consonants, as its presence or absence changes the meaning of a word.

• When vowels are doubled, it indicates that the sound is held longer.