santa
sánta with stress marks
female saint
Usage Note
Santa is the Spanish-derived title placed before the name of a canonized female saint, deeply embedded in Philippine Catholic culture. Countless Filipino towns, streets, and fiestas carry santa names, and the term is used with reverence in both everyday speech and religious contexts. The masculine counterpart is santo.
Examples
" Mabait ang santa. "
Natural Translation
The female saint is kind.
Literal Translation
Kind the female-saint.
" Siya ay isang mabait na santa. "
Natural Translation
She is a kind female saint.
Literal Translation
She is a kind that female-saint.
" Ipinangalan sa isang santa ang aming bayan, kaya tuwing piyesta ay dinadala namin ang kanyang imahen sa prusisyon. "
Natural Translation
Our town was named after a female saint, so during the fiesta we carry her image in the procession.
Literal Translation
Named after a female-saint the our town, so every fiesta carry we the her image in procession.
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