bahay-sanlaan
báhay-sanláan with stress marks
pawnshop
Usage Note
Bahay-sanlaan literally means 'house of pawning' and is the Tagalog term for a pawnshop. Pawnshops are ubiquitous in the Philippines and serve as an important source of short-term credit, particularly for lower-income households. Chains like Cebuana Lhuillier and MLhuillier are the most well-known operators.
Examples
" Pumunta ako sa bahay-sanlaan. "
Natural Translation
I went to the pawnshop.
Literal Translation
Went I to-the pawnshop.
" Bukas na ang bahay-sanlaan. "
Natural Translation
The pawnshop is already open.
Literal Translation
Open already the pawnshop.
" Isinangla niya ang kanyang relo sa bahay-sanlaan nang maubusan sila ng pera bago dumating ang sahod. "
Natural Translation
He/She pawned his/her watch at the pawnshop when they ran out of money before payday arrived.
Literal Translation
Pawned he/she the his/her watch at-the pawnshop when ran-out they of money before arrived the salary.
Take Tagalog with you
The full course, a 12,500-word dictionary, and flashcards that make every word stick — free to start on iOS and Android.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workRelated Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.
Ang, Ng, Sa: The 3 Tagalog Case Markers Explained
Ang, ng, sa are the three Tagalog case markers every noun takes. Learn what each does, the personal forms si/ni/kay, plurals with mga, and clear examples.
Tagalog Question Words: Ano, Sino, Saan & More
Tagalog question words like ano, sino, and saan need the right frame to work. Learn the ang-vs-pronoun rule, confusable pairs, and the ba particle with audio.
Tagalog Verb Focus System Explained (It's Not Active vs. Passive)
The Tagalog verb focus system isn't active vs. passive. Learn actor focus, object focus, and more with clear examples that finally make it click.
Seasons in the Philippines: A Tagalog Guide
The Philippines has two seasons, not four. Learn tag-araw, tag-ulan, and taglamig, the generative tag- prefix, and the weather vocabulary to match.