kolehiyala
kolehiyála with stress marks
female college student
Usage Note
Kolehiyala refers to a female college or university student, derived from Spanish colegio. Beyond the literal meaning, the word carries connotations of youth, education, and an urban middle-class lifestyle, and appears frequently in pop culture and advertising targeting young women; kolehiyalo is the corresponding term for men.
Examples
" Kolehiyala ang ate ko. "
Natural Translation
My older sister is a college girl.
Literal Translation
College-girl the older-sister my.
" Maraming kolehiyala ang namimili sa mallang iyon tuwing Sabado. "
Natural Translation
Many college girls shop at that mall every Saturday.
Literal Translation
Many college-girls the shopping at-the mall that every Saturday.
" Bagaman kolehiyala pa lang siya, nagtatrabaho na siya tuwing gabi para may pambayad sa kanyang matrikula. "
Natural Translation
Although she's still just a college student, she already works every night so she can pay her tuition.
Literal Translation
Although college-girl still only she, working already she every night so has money-to-pay for her tuition.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
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