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sandangkal

sandángkal with stress marks

length from thumb tip to little finger tip

noun san-DANG-kal Native origin Rare

Usage Note

Sandangkal is a traditional body measurement equivalent to a full hand span — the distance from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully extended. Like sandamak, it belongs to an indigenous system of informal measurement still referenced in craft, folk practices, and colloquial speech.

Examples

Beginner

" Isang sandangkal ang haba nito. "

Natural Translation

Its length is one hand-span.

Literal Translation

One hand-span the length its.

Intermediate

" Ang sukat ng tela ay isang sandangkal. "

Natural Translation

The measurement of the cloth is one thumb-to-pinky length.

Literal Translation

The measurement of cloth is one thumb-to-pinky-length.

Advanced

" Ipinakita ng lola kung paano sukatin ang tela sa pamamagitan ng sandangkal, isang lumang paraan na ginagamit pa rin niya. "

Natural Translation

Grandmother showed how to measure cloth using the hand-span, an old method that she still uses.

Literal Translation

Showed by grandmother how to-measure the cloth through of hand-span, one old method that uses still she.

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