Usage Note
Uha is the onomatopoeic term for the cry or wailing of a very young infant. It is used affectionately in Filipino households when describing or mimicking a baby's sounds. The word captures the particular pitch and helplessness of a newborn's cry and is distinct from older children's crying (iyak).
Examples
" Narinig ko ang uha ng sanggol. "
Natural Translation
I heard the baby's cry.
Literal Translation
Heard I the cry of-the baby.
" Narinig ko ang uha ng sanggol mula sa kabilang kwarto. "
Natural Translation
I heard the baby's cry from the other room.
Literal Translation
Heard I the cry of-the baby from the other room.
" Sa kalagitnaan ng gabi, ginising kami ng uha ng bagong silang na sanggol sa kabilang bahay. "
Natural Translation
In the middle of the night, we were awakened by the cry of the newborn baby in the house next door.
Literal Translation
In middle of night, awakened we by-the cry of newly born baby in next house.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
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