tisa
tísa with stress marks
tile; brick; chalk
Usage Note
Tisa comes from Spanish tiza and has broadened in Filipino usage to cover chalk sticks, ceramic tiles, and fired bricks. In school settings it almost always means chalk; in construction it shifts to tiles or bricks — context is essential for knowing which material is intended.
Examples
" Wala nang tisa ang guro. "
Natural Translation
The teacher has no more chalk.
Literal Translation
None already chalk the teacher.
" Gumamit ang guro ng tisa sa pisara. "
Natural Translation
The teacher used chalk on the blackboard.
Literal Translation
Used the teacher of chalk on blackboard.
" Bago pa dumating ang mga modernong pisara, ang puting tisa ang ginagamit ng mga guro para magsulat ng aralin. "
Natural Translation
Even before modern whiteboards arrived, white chalk was what teachers used to write lessons.
Literal Translation
Before yet arrived the modern boards, the white chalk the used of the teachers to write of lesson.
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