The Palei languages constitute a branch of the Torricelli language family according to Laycock (1975) (quoted from Foley 2018). They are spoken in mountainous regions of eastern Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea.

Palei
Geographic distribution	eastern Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea
Linguistic classification	Torricelli Palei
Glottolog	nucl1722  (Nuclear Palai) west2788  (West Palai)
The Torricelli languages as classified by Foley (2018). Palei and Wapei languages are yellow.

Languages

Languages are:^{[citation needed]}

• Nuclear Palai
  • Braget, Amol (Aru), Aruop (Srenge)
  • Aiku (Yangum), Ambrak
• West Palai
  • Agi, Yeri (Yapunda) [perhaps a Wapei language]
  • ? Walman [perhaps a Wapei language]
• ? Kayik (Wanap)

Nambi (Nabi) = Metan may also belong here, or may be one of the Maimai languages, or separate within the Torricelli languages.

Pronouns

Pronouns in Palei languages are:[1]

Palei pronouns

	Kayik	Aru	Aruop	Aiku	Nambi
1s	kəmex	au	am	wup	ai
2s	kiyox	i	yi	yit	yi
3s	təno		din	tuwun
1p	kupox	amən	mendi	miyan	ep
2p	kinox	yi	yimi	yip	yip
3p	təmo	may	dim	ti	rəm

Vocabulary comparison

The following basic vocabulary words are from Laycock (1968),[2] as cited in the Trans-New Guinea database.[3] Nabi words are from Laycock (1968) and Voorhoeve (1971, 1975).[4][5]

gloss	Aruop	Agi	Amol	Nabi	Wanap	Yangum Mon
head	wantu	paikwa		wotuf	peləf	wah
ear	yaŋkole	muᶇkwalnta	taŋkən	kik	nuŋkul	yiŋkuːl
eye	yolta	juwol	nəmalal	nampəkat	yilp	yilkŋum
nose	mup	tuwarka	mipan	minif	təlom	yimwar
tooth	na	nai	owayen	naf	nef	awak
tongue	aləta	naliya	akaŋ	wulaf	kəːləp	yalip
leg	ala	safiel	aŋ	tip	kelfek	rak
louse	yimunə	watokəl	yimukun	kakyerk	yiməl	yimul
dog	yimpa	nəmpo	yimpan	pat	yimpa	yimpak
pig				bene
bird	ali	nol	alin	napet	kal	al
egg	yoltə	nəŋkoi	yinalən	ponorire; yufəlip	yiplop	yulp
blood	səna	xaməŋka	səneimpən	amk	komkok	yuwanip
bone	pəniŋki	kamənaŋkil	lapən	lə	lekəl	yiklia
skin	wiye	jiwota	yakən	wiyírk	saf	yikisiw
breast	yimá	nəmai	yimawoŋ	nəmap	yimaŋkəf	yimán
tree	nəmpə	numwol	nimpən	nip	nimp	nim
man	makenti	kamwol	maikən	məsəmiyen	nyiŋkilpən	almias
woman	simi	wukora	asək	ri	kekəntə	wasi
sun	wa	wota	wan	waf	kentief	təkŋan
moon	anyə	uni	ayen	wunɨ	keːnyif	mərəŋkil
water	suku	wul	səpən	sup; wer	kuː	sulp
fire	yimpu	ni	niŋ	nɨ; wetai	nif	niw
stone	atauka		səmpeiken	et; rubukia	kipru	pikiyap
one				eso
two	piya	piyami	nantiyou	mantio; ru	poyomp	piyak

References

• Foley, William A. (2018). "The Languages of the Sepik-Ramu Basin and Environs". In Palmer, Bill (ed.). The Languages and Linguistics of the New Guinea Area: A Comprehensive Guide. The World of Linguistics. Vol. 4. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. pp. 197–432. ISBN 978-3-11-028642-7.