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anito

anitó with stress marks

ancestral spirit

noun a-ni-TO Native origin Rare

Usage Note

Anito refers to the spirits of ancestors or nature deities honored in pre-colonial Filipino traditions. Today, it is mostly used when discussing history, indigenous folk beliefs, or cultural heritage in the Philippines.

Examples

Beginner

" Sinamba nila ang anito. "

Natural Translation

They worshipped the ancestral spirit.

Literal Translation

Worshipped they the ancestral-spirit.

Intermediate

" Sinasamba ito ng mga sinaunang tao bilang anito. "

Natural Translation

The ancient people worshipped this as an ancestral spirit.

Literal Translation

Worshipped this by the ancient people as ancestral spirit.

Advanced

" Bago dumating ang mga Espanyol, naniniwala ang mga ninuno natin sa mga anito na nagbabantay sa lupa at karagatan. "

Natural Translation

Before the Spaniards arrived, our ancestors believed in ancestral spirits that watched over the land and the sea.

Literal Translation

Before arrived the Spaniards, believed the ancestors our in the ancestral-spirits that watched-over the land and ocean.

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