atungal
atungál with stress marks
long wail of an animal or human
Usage Note
Atungal is an evocative word for a prolonged, mournful cry or wail — whether from an animal in distress or a human in deep grief. It appears more in literary Tagalog and poetry than in everyday casual speech, and its sound quality mimics the phenomenon it describes.
Examples
" Malakas ang atungal ng baka. "
Natural Translation
The cow's wail is loud.
Literal Translation
Loud the wail of-the cow.
" Narinig namin ang atungal ng aso sa gabi. "
Natural Translation
We heard the long wail of the dog at night.
Literal Translation
Heard we the wail of-the dog at-the night.
" Kahit malayo ang aming bahay sa kabukiran, naririnig pa rin namin ang atungal ng nawawalang aso tuwing gabi. "
Natural Translation
Even though our house is far from the fields, we still hear the wail of the lost dog every night.
Literal Translation
Even far the our house from countryside, hear still also we the wail of lost dog every night.
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