Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Tagalog Word: sibuyas

Tagalog Word of the Day: sibuyas

pangngalan
noun

pangngalang pambalana
common noun

sibuyas
onion

The word derives from the plural form of the Spanish word cebolla, meaning onion. Many Spanish loanwords in Tagalog are in plural form, even when referring to a singular noun. For example, mansanas (from manzana) means "an apple." Also, the pronunciation is Latin American, not Castilian, because of the galleon trade between Mexico and the Philippines during Spanish colonial rule (16th - 19th C).

Tagalog sentence: Ayaw ko ng sibuyas.
English translation: I don't like onions.

sibuyas
onion

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