semento
seménto with stress marks
cement
Usage Note
Semento is the everyday Tagalog word for cement, used in construction and home improvement contexts. As a verb, it means to apply cement or to cement something in place. The aspiration to replace a bamboo or wood home with a 'bahay na semento' (concrete house) is a common symbol of upward mobility in Filipino society.
Examples
" Bumili kami ng semento. "
Natural Translation
We bought cement.
Literal Translation
Bought we of cement.
" Matigas ang semento sa labas ng aming bahay. "
Natural Translation
The cement outside our house is hard.
Literal Translation
Hard the cement at outside of our house.
" Matagal naming inipon ang pera para mapalitan ng semento ang lumang dingding na yari sa kawayan. "
Natural Translation
We saved up money for a long time so we could replace the old bamboo wall with cement.
Literal Translation
Long-time we saved the money to be-replaced with cement the old wall that made of bamboo.
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