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muta

mutâ with stress marks

eye goop; gummy secretion

noun mu-TA Native origin Common

Usage Note

Muta is the dried or wet mucus that collects in the corner of the eye, especially after sleep — the Tagalog equivalent of 'eye boogers' in English. It is a very common everyday word used across all generations, and children are routinely told to clean their muta before going out.

Examples

Beginner

" May muta ka sa mata. "

Natural Translation

You have eye goop in your eye.

Literal Translation

Have eye-goop you in eye.

Intermediate

" Maghilamos ka muna dahil may muta ka pa sa iyong mga mata. "

Natural Translation

Wash your face first because you still have eye goop in your eyes.

Literal Translation

Wash-face you first because have eye-goop you still in your plural eye.

Advanced

" Punasan mo muna ang muta ng bata bago natin siya isama sa simbahan. "

Natural Translation

Wipe the child's eye goop first before we take him along to church.

Literal Translation

Wipe you first the eye-goop of child before we him take to church.

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