Usage Note
Karol is a borrowing from English 'carol' for a Christmas song. The Filipino tradition of caroling — called karoling — begins as early as September, a hallmark of the notoriously long Christmas season Filipinos are famous for celebrating.
Examples
" Marunong akong kumanta ng karol. "
Natural Translation
I know how to sing a carol.
Literal Translation
Know-how I to-sing of carol.
" Umawit sila ng karol sa harap ng aming bahay. "
Natural Translation
They sang a carol in front of our house.
Literal Translation
Sang they a carol in front of our house.
" Simula pa noong Setyembre ay naririnig na namin ang mga karol sa radyo, kaya alam naming malapit na ang Pasko. "
Natural Translation
We have been hearing carols on the radio since September, so we know that Christmas is near.
Literal Translation
Since yet last September [particle] hearing already we the carols on-the radio, so know we near already the Christmas.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
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