Usage Note
Silya comes from Spanish silla and is the everyday Tagalog word for a chair, used across nearly all registers. It appears in common phrases such as silyang de ruedas for wheelchair, and the children's game agawan ng silya is the Filipino equivalent of musical chairs.
Examples
" Umupo ka sa silya. "
Natural Translation
Sit on the chair.
Literal Translation
Sit you on chair.
" Umupo siya sa bakanteng silya. "
Natural Translation
He/she sat on the vacant chair.
Literal Translation
Sat he/she on vacant chair.
" Kapag dumami ang bisita, kulang ang silya kaya kailangan naming humiram sa kapitbahay. "
Natural Translation
When the guests increase, the chairs run short so we need to borrow from the neighbor.
Literal Translation
When increase the visitor, lacking the chair so need we borrow from neighbor.
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