ENGLISH
REFERENCE

manila

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //məˈnɪɫə// mani·la

n. the capital city of the Philippines, located on the island of Luzon. It is a busy, historic city known for its mix of modern buildings and old Spanish architecture.

n. the capital and second-largest city of the Philippines, situated on the eastern shore of Manila Bay. It serves as the nation's economic, political, and cultural hub.


SIMPLE

Manila is a very crowded and lively city.

CONTEXTUAL

The historic district of Intramuros in Manila contains many buildings from the Spanish colonial period.

COMPLEX

As a primary gateway to the archipelago, Manila represents a complex urban landscape where high-rise financial districts stand in stark contrast to densely populated residential areas.

Synonyms
Origin

From Spanish Manila, from Tagalog Maynila, from may (“there is”) + nila (“indigo”), Tagalog nila from Sanskrit नील (nīla).

Usage

Proper noun; typically used without an article unless referring to the metropolitan area as 'the Manila region'.

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