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salaginto

salagínto with stress marks

golden tortoise beetle

noun sa-la-GIN-to Native origin Rare

Usage Note

Salaginto is the Tagalog name for the golden tortoise beetle (Charidotella sexpunctata or related species), known for its striking metallic gold appearance. It is familiar to children in rural areas and is sometimes kept briefly as a novelty. The name literally evokes gold (ginto).

Examples

Beginner

" Ang ganda ng salaginto! "

Natural Translation

The golden tortoise beetle is so beautiful!

Literal Translation

The beauty of golden-tortoise-beetle!

Intermediate

" Nakakita ako ng salaginto. "

Natural Translation

I saw a golden tortoise beetle.

Literal Translation

Saw I of golden-tortoise-beetle.

Advanced

" Noong bata kami sa probinsya, hinuhuli namin ang salaginto sa dahon ng kamote dahil parang gintong hiyas ang kinang nito. "

Natural Translation

When we were kids in the province, we used to catch golden tortoise beetles on sweet potato leaves because their shine was like a golden jewel.

Literal Translation

When children we in province, catch we the golden-tortoise-beetle on leaf of sweet-potato because like golden jewel the shine its.

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