tutubi
tutubî with stress marks
dragonfly
Usage Note
Tutubi is the common Tagalog word for dragonfly. These insects are a familiar sight near rice paddies, ponds, and streams throughout the Philippines. Children commonly catch tutubi for play, and the insect appears in folk songs and nature poetry as a symbol of rural childhood.
Examples
" May tutubi sa bulaklak. "
Natural Translation
There's a dragonfly on the flower.
Literal Translation
Has dragonfly on flower.
" May tutubi na lumilipad sa hardin. "
Natural Translation
There is a dragonfly flying in the garden.
Literal Translation
Has dragonfly that flying in garden.
" Tuwing tag-init sa probinsya, naghahabulan kami ng mga tutubi sa tabi ng palayan hanggang sa lumubog ang araw. "
Natural Translation
Every summer in the province, we used to chase dragonflies beside the rice field until the sun went down.
Literal Translation
Every summer in province, chasing-each-other we of the dragonflies at side of rice-field until set the sun.
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