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matapobre

matapóbre with stress marks

snobbish (looks down on poor)

adjective ma-ta-PO-bre Compound origin Less Common

Usage Note

Matapobre is a compound of Tagalog mata and Spanish pobre (poor) and describes someone who treats people of lower economic status with contempt. It is a common social criticism in Filipino culture, where class awareness is prominent and this label carries real social weight.

Examples

Beginner

" Huwag kang maging matapobre. "

Natural Translation

Don't be snobbish.

Literal Translation

Don't you become snobbish.

Intermediate

" Ayaw ng mga tao sa kanya dahil siya ay matapobre. "

Natural Translation

People don't like him/her because he/she is snobbish.

Literal Translation

Dislike by-the people to him/her because he/she is snobbish.

Advanced

" Mababait naman sila sa mayayaman, pero nagiging matapobre sila kapag nakakaharap nila ang mga taong walang sapat na pera. "

Natural Translation

They are nice to the rich, but they become snobbish whenever they face people without enough money.

Literal Translation

Nice though they to the-rich, but becoming snobbish they when able-to-face they the people without enough [na] money.

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