sakmal
sakmál with stress marks
to snap or grab with a big open mouth
Usage Note
Sakmal describes a wide-mouthed lunging bite — a shark clamping down, a dog snapping aggressively. It implies a larger and more powerful mouth action than sagpang, emphasizing the size and force of the jaw movement.
Examples
" Sinakmal ng aso ang buto. "
Natural Translation
The dog grabbed the bone in its mouth.
Literal Translation
Grabbed of dog the bone.
" Malakas ang sakmal ng aso. "
Natural Translation
The grab of the dog is strong.
Literal Translation
Strong the grab of dog.
" Bigla na lang sinakmal ng pating ang pamingwit, kaya napilitan kaming putulin ang lubid. "
Natural Translation
The shark suddenly clamped down on the fishing line, so we were forced to cut the rope.
Literal Translation
Suddenly just clamped of shark the fishing-line, so forced we cut the rope.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workActor Focus Verbs
Object Focus Verbs
Related 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.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Tagalog?
Survival Tagalog takes ~3-4 weeks and comfortable conversation 6-12 months. FSI's 1,100 hours is the professional bar, not the talking-to-family bar.

Tagalog Word Order: Sentence Structure Made Simple
Why Tagalog puts the verb first, and how ang, ng, and sa markers work. A clear guide to VSO word order, forming questions, and negation.

Filipino Family Words and Honorifics: Ate, Kuya & Tita
Filipino family words like ate, kuya, tita, tito, lolo, and lola go far beyond family — learn how Filipinos use them with strangers, plus mano po etiquette.