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kuliglig

cricket; motorized pedicab

noun ku-LIG-lig Native origin Less Common

Also means

Kuliglig also refers to a motorized hand-tractor converted into a passenger vehicle common in rural Philippine communities.

Usage Note

Kuliglig is the chirping cricket whose sound is iconic of Philippine evenings, but the same word was adopted for a noisy, rattling motorized pedicab or converted farm vehicle used for short-haul transport in the provinces — likely because of its similarly persistent buzzing sound.

Examples

Beginner

" May kuliglig sa labas. "

Natural Translation

There's a cricket outside.

Literal Translation

Has cricket at outside.

Intermediate

" Maririnig mo ang kuliglig sa gabi sa probinsya. "

Natural Translation

You can hear the crickets at night in the province.

Literal Translation

Can-hear you the crickets at-night in-the province.

Advanced

" Sumakay kami sa kuliglig papuntang palengke dahil walang dumaang traysikel sa kalsada namin. "

Natural Translation

We rode a motorized pedicab to the market because no tricycle passed by our street.

Literal Translation

Rode we on kuliglig going-to market because none passing tricycle on street our.

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