The name for the islands in the Palauan language, ''Belau'', derives from the Palauan word for "village", ''beluu'', or from ''aibebelau'' ("indirect replies"), relating to a creation myth. The name "Palau" entered the English language from the Spanish ''Los Palaos'', via the German ''Palau''. An archaic name for the islands in English was the "Pelew Islands". ''Palau'' is unrelated to ''Pulau'', which is a Malay word meaning "island" found in a number of place names in the region.