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buto

butó with stress marks

bone

noun bu-TO Native origin Less Common
Body & Health Body Parts
Illustration of "buto" (bone)

Also means

Buto can also mean seed.

Usage Note

Buto refers to the bones of humans or animals and is frequently used when discussing meat cuts in Filipino cuisine. It also appears in the common idiom "buto't balat" (bone and skin) to describe someone who is extremely thin.

Examples

Beginner

" May buto ang isda. "

Natural Translation

The fish has bones.

Literal Translation

Has bone the fish.

Intermediate

" Matigas ang buto. "

Natural Translation

The bone is hard.

Literal Translation

Hard the bone.

Advanced

" Dahil sa matinding sakit, halos buto't balat na lang siya nang makalabas sa ospital noong isang buwan. "

Natural Translation

Because of the severe illness, she was almost skin and bones by the time she left the hospital last month.

Literal Translation

Because of severe illness, almost bone-and skin only just she when left at hospital last one month.

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How Tagalog words work

Derived Words

butuhan DERIVED

bony or full of seeds

mabuto DERIVED

bony or seedy

buto-buto DERIVED

meat on the bone

Actor Focus Verbs

magbuto AF VERB

to remove seeds or bones

Object Focus Verbs

butuhan OF VERB

to remove seeds or bones from

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