birhen
bírhen with stress marks
virgin
Usage Note
Birhen is borrowed from Spanish virgen and is used both in religious contexts — referring to the Virgin Mary as Mahal na Birhen — and in everyday speech to mean a chaste or sexually inexperienced person. The religious usage is deeply embedded in Filipino Catholic culture.
Examples
" May rebulto ng Birhen sa simbahan. "
Natural Translation
There is a statue of the Virgin in the church.
Literal Translation
Has statue of-the Virgin in church.
" Dinadasal nila ang Mahal na Birhen tuwing Mahal na Araw. "
Natural Translation
They pray to the Blessed Virgin every Holy Week.
Literal Translation
Prayed-to by-them the Blessed Virgin every Holy Week.
" Tuwing umaga, dumadaan ang aking lola sa kapilya upang magdasal sa harap ng Mahal na Birhen bago pumasok sa palengke. "
Natural Translation
Every morning, my grandmother stops by the chapel to pray before the Blessed Virgin before going into the market.
Literal Translation
Every morning, passes the my grandmother at chapel in-order-to pray in-front of-the Blessed Virgin before enter at market.
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