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sona

sóna with stress marks

zone; area search

noun verb SO-na Spanish origin Less Common

Also means

Also used as a shortened form of 'State of the Nation Address' (SONA), the annual presidential address in the Philippines.

Usage Note

Sona comes from Spanish 'zona' and is used both for a defined geographic area or zone and for the police or military practice of cordoning off and searching a neighborhood. The acronym SONA — State of the Nation Address — is also extremely common in Philippine political discourse, making the word highly familiar.

Examples

Beginner

" Bawal pumasok sa sona. "

Natural Translation

Entering the zone is prohibited.

Literal Translation

Prohibited to-enter at zone.

Intermediate

" Ligtas ang sona na ito. "

Natural Translation

This zone is safe.

Literal Translation

Safe the zone this.

Advanced

" Maraming naabala sa daan nang isagawa ng mga pulis ang sona sa buong kapitbahayan. "

Natural Translation

Many people on the road were inconvenienced when the police conducted a search of the entire neighborhood.

Literal Translation

Many were-inconvenienced on road when carried-out by the police the area-search in whole neighborhood.

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