Usage Note
Oto is a colloquial shortening of otomobil, borrowed via Spanish, meaning car or automobile. Kotse is the more common colloquial term in Metro Manila Tagalog, while oto is particularly common in older speech and some provincial varieties.
Examples
" Bago ang oto nila. "
Natural Translation
Their car is new.
Literal Translation
New the car their.
" Bumili siya ng bagong oto para sa kanyang pamilya. "
Natural Translation
He/she bought a new car for his/her family.
Literal Translation
Bought he/she of new car for his/her family.
" Matagal nang sira ang lumang oto, kaya naglalakad na lang sila papuntang palengke tuwing umaga. "
Natural Translation
The old car has been broken for a long time, so they just walk to the market every morning.
Literal Translation
Long-already broken the old car, so walking just they going-to market every morning.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
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