helehan
helehán with stress marks
to lull [a baby] to sleep
From root: hele
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
hinelehan
hi-ne-le-HAN
lulled
Present (Incomplete)
hinehelehan
hi-ne-he-le-HAN
is being lulled
Future (Contemplated)
hehelehan
he-he-le-HAN
will be lulled
Usage Note
Helehan is the object-focus benefactive infinitive of hele, and because lulling is inherently directed at a baby, this form is the standard verbal choice — an actor-focus counterpart is rare in practice. It is closely associated with the tradition of Tagalog lullabies and the tender physical motion of rocking a child to sleep.
Examples
" Helehan mo ang sanggol. "
Natural Translation
Lull the baby to sleep.
Literal Translation
Lull to sleep you the baby.
" Tungkulin ng ina na helehan ang sanggol tuwing gabi. "
Natural Translation
It is the mother's duty to lull the baby to sleep every night.
Literal Translation
Duty of mother to lull to sleep the baby every night.
" Tuwing gabi, nakaugalian na ng aking ina na helehan ako sa pamamagitan ng isang lumang awiting bayan. "
Natural Translation
Every night, it became my mother's habit to lull me to sleep with an old folk song.
Literal Translation
Every night, became habit of my mother to lull me through of one old song folk.
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