ampalaya
ampaláya with stress marks
bitter melon
Usage Note
Ampalaya is a staple vegetable in Filipino cooking, widely used in dishes like ginisang ampalaya (sautéed bitter melon) and ampalaya con carne. Its intense bitterness is an acquired taste, and Filipinos often joke that someone who endures hardship without complaint has a 'puso na ampalaya' (bitter melon heart). It is also regarded as a folk remedy for diabetes.
Examples
" Mapait ang ampalaya. "
Natural Translation
Bitter melon is bitter.
Literal Translation
Bitter the bitter-melon.
" Masustansya ang ampalaya kahit mapait. "
Natural Translation
Bitter melon is nutritious even though it's bitter.
Literal Translation
Nutritious the bitter-melon even-though bitter.
" Kahit ayaw ng mga bata sa ampalaya, niluluto pa rin ito ng nanay dahil masustansya ito. "
Natural Translation
Even though the kids don't like bitter melon, mom still cooks it because it's nutritious.
Literal Translation
Even-though dislike of the children to bitter-melon, cooks still it the mom because nutritious it.
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