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balila

balíla with stress marks

hairtail fish

noun ba-LI-la Native origin Rare

Usage Note

Balila refers to the ribbonfish or hairtail (family Trichiuridae), a long silvery fish commonly caught in Philippine coastal waters and sold in local markets. It is eaten fried or dried and is especially popular in coastal communities.

Examples

Beginner

" Pinirito namin ang balila. "

Natural Translation

We fried the hairtail fish.

Literal Translation

Fried we the hairtail-fish.

Intermediate

" Malapad ang isdang balila. "

Natural Translation

The hairtail fish is wide.

Literal Translation

Wide the fish-that hairtail-fish.

Advanced

" Maaga kaming pumunta sa palengke para makabili ng sariwang balila bago pa maubos ng ibang mamimili sa umaga. "

Natural Translation

We went to the market early so we could buy fresh hairtail fish before the other shoppers ran out of it in the morning.

Literal Translation

Early we went to-the market so can-buy of fresh hairtail-fish before yet runs-out by other shoppers in-the morning.

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