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bughaw

búghaw with stress marks

blue

adjective BUG-haw Native origin Less Common

Usage Note

Bughaw is the native Tagalog word for the color blue, particularly a clear sky-blue or azure. It is often used in poetry and literary prose to evoke the sky or the sea. In everyday speech, 'asul' (from Spanish azul) is more commonly heard, while bughaw carries a more lyrical or formal register.

Examples

Beginner

" Bughaw ang langit. "

Natural Translation

The sky is blue.

Literal Translation

Blue the sky.

Intermediate

" Bughaw ang langit ngayong umaga — maganda ang panahon. "

Natural Translation

The sky is blue this morning — the weather is beautiful.

Literal Translation

Blue the sky this morning — beautiful the weather.

Advanced

" Habang nakaupo kami sa dalampasigan, pinagmasdan namin ang bughaw na karagatang unti-unting nagiging ginto sa paglubog ng araw. "

Natural Translation

While we sat on the shore, we watched the blue sea slowly turning to gold as the sun set.

Literal Translation

While seated we at-the shore, watched we the blue sea little-by-little becoming gold at sinking of sun.

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