kalatas
kalátas with stress marks
message
Usage Note
Kalatas is a literary and somewhat archaic Tagalog word for a written message or letter. It is encountered most often in historical fiction, classical literature, and poetry. In everyday modern Tagalog, mensahe (from Spanish mensaje) is far more common for any kind of message.
Examples
" Dumating ang kalatas kahapon. "
Natural Translation
The letter arrived yesterday.
Literal Translation
Arrived the message yesterday.
" Ipinadala niya ang kalatas sa kanyang minamahal. "
Natural Translation
He/She sent a message to his/her beloved.
Literal Translation
Sent he/she the message to-the his/her beloved.
" Sa lumang nobela, ipinadala ng bayani ang isang kalatas na nagtataglay ng kanyang huling habilin sa pamilya. "
Natural Translation
In the old novel, the hero sent a letter that carried his final wishes to his family.
Literal Translation
In old novel, sent the hero the one message that bears of-the his last instruction to-the family.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
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