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ilang

ílang with stress marks

wilderness, desert

noun I-lang Native origin Common

Also means

Ilang also means restless or uncomfortable when used as an adjective describing a person's emotional state.

Usage Note

Ilang in its noun sense refers to a remote, uninhabited wilderness — forest, desert, or open wasteland. It appears frequently in folklore and religious texts, including Tagalog Bible translations where Jesus goes to the ilang, evoking isolation and spiritual testing.

Examples

Beginner

" Tahimik ang ilang sa gabi. "

Natural Translation

The wilderness is quiet at night.

Literal Translation

Quiet the wilderness in night.

Intermediate

" Naligaw siya sa malalim na ilang ng bundok. "

Natural Translation

He/She got lost in the deep wilderness of the mountain.

Literal Translation

Lost he/she in-the deep wilderness of-the mountain.

Advanced

" Maraming araw siyang naglakbay sa ilang bago niya narating ang malayong nayon. "

Natural Translation

He traveled through the wilderness for many days before he reached the distant village.

Literal Translation

Many days he traveled in wilderness before he reached the distant village.

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