Balaan nga Pitlaw

Cebuano

Etymology

From balaan (“holy”) +‎ nga (“ligature”) +‎ pitlaw (“week”). The term pitlaw is a neologism formed by blending pito (seven) and adlaw (day) to replace the Spanish-derived semana.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /baˌlaan ŋa ˈpitlaw/ [baˌl̪aː.an̪ ŋa ˈpit̪.l̪au̯]

Proper noun

Balaan nga Pitlaw (Badlit spelling ᜊᜎᜀᜈ᜔ ᜅ ᜉᜒᜆ᜔ᜎᜏ᜔)

1. (neologism) Holy Week; the week preceding Easter Sunday.
   • 2023 March 26, Jes B. Tirol, “Gitinsa Pagtumbok ang Balaan Nga Pitlaw (How The Holy Week Is Determined)”, in The Bohol Tribune (Pagtukib)‎^[1], archived from the original on 1 April 2023:

     Ang mga adlaw sa Balaan Nga Pitlaw wala magkanunay. Matag tuig, magausab-usab kini. Ang pangutana mao ang, "Giunsa pagtumbok nga mao kini ang mga adlaw sa Balaan Nga Pitlaw?"

     The days of Holy Week are not fixed. Every year, it changes. The question is, "How is it determined that these are the days of Holy Week?"

Usage notes

• This term is highly uncommon in everyday speech. The vast majority of Cebuano speakers use the Spanish-derived Semana Santa.

Synonyms

• Semana Santa

See also

• Dominggo sa Lukay (“Palm Sunday”)
• Pasko sa Pagkabanhaw (“Easter Sunday”)
• Biyernes Santo (“Good Friday”)