alipin
alipín with stress marks
servant or slave
Usage Note
Alipin historically referred to a class of indentured servants in pre-colonial Philippine society, distinct from chattel slavery in the Western sense. In modern usage it is applied figuratively to describe someone trapped by circumstances, an employer, or a habit, and the word carries strong moral weight.
Examples
" Hindi siya alipin ninuman. "
Natural Translation
He is no one's slave.
Literal Translation
Not he servant of-anyone.
" Hindi siya alipin ng kahit sino. "
Natural Translation
He/She is not a slave to anyone.
Literal Translation
Not he/she servant of anyone.
" Pakiramdam niya ay naging alipin siya ng kanyang trabaho dahil wala na siyang oras para sa pamilya. "
Natural Translation
He feels he has become a slave to his job because he no longer has time for his family.
Literal Translation
Feeling his is became servant he of his job because none already he time for the family.
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