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garalgal

garálgal with stress marks

inaudible/grating sound

noun adjective ga-RAL-gal Native origin Rare

Usage Note

Garalgal is an expressive, onomatopoeic word describing a rough, grating, or garbled sound — such as a hoarse voice, static noise, or the rumble of gravel. The reduplication in its form reinforces the sense of repeated or sustained noise, and it is used colloquially to describe unclear, raspy, or irritating sounds.

Examples

Beginner

" May garalgal ang radyo. "

Natural Translation

The radio has a grating noise.

Literal Translation

Has grating-sound the radio.

Intermediate

" Bakit may garalgal ang makina? "

Natural Translation

Why does the machine have a grating sound?

Literal Translation

Why there-is grating-sound the machine?

Advanced

" Hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi niya dahil garalgal ang boses sa telepono. "

Natural Translation

I couldn't understand what he was saying because his voice was garbled on the phone.

Literal Translation

Not I can-understand the being-said his because grating the voice on telephone.

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