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alkansiya

alkansíya with stress marks

penny bank, piggy bank

noun al-kan-SI-ya Spanish origin Less Common

Usage Note

Alkansiya comes from Spanish alcancía and is the Filipino piggy bank, a staple of childhood — often made from bamboo, clay, or repurposed containers. Saving coins in an alkansiya is an early financial habit encouraged by parents and grandparents, and the word is used warmly and nostalgically by adults.

Examples

Beginner

" Naglalagay siya ng barya sa alkansiya. "

Natural Translation

She puts coins in the piggy bank.

Literal Translation

Puts she of coin in piggy-bank.

Intermediate

" Puno na ang aking alkansiya. "

Natural Translation

My piggy bank is already full.

Literal Translation

Full already the my piggy-bank.

Advanced

" Mula pagkabata ay tinuruan ako ng aking lola na mag-ipon sa alkansiya para matutong magtipid sa pera. "

Natural Translation

Ever since childhood, my grandmother taught me to save in a piggy bank so I'd learn to be thrifty with money.

Literal Translation

From childhood taught me by my grandmother to save in piggy-bank so will-learn be-thrifty with money.

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