semilya
semílya with stress marks
seed; germ
Usage Note
Semilya comes from the Spanish 'semilla' (seed) and is used in agricultural contexts for seeds or germplasm. In farming it refers to what is kept back for planting, and that is the sense used in everyday speech, especially in rural areas.
Examples
" Bumili siya ng semilya ng gulay. "
Natural Translation
He bought vegetable seeds.
Literal Translation
Bought he of seed of vegetable.
" Bumili siya ng semilya ng isda para sa palaisdaan. "
Natural Translation
He/She bought fish seeds for the fishpond.
Literal Translation
Bought he/she of seed of fish for fishpond.
" Tinuruan ng matandang magsasaka ang kanyang mga apo kung paano pumili ng matibay na semilya bago magtanim sa simula ng tag-ulan. "
Natural Translation
The old farmer taught his grandchildren how to choose sturdy seeds before planting at the start of the rainy season.
Literal Translation
Taught of old farmer the his plural grandchild how to-choose of sturdy seed before to-plant at start of rainy-season.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
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