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sangkawan

sangkáwan with stress marks

a flock; numerous

noun adjective sang-KA-wan Native origin Rare

Usage Note

Sangkawan primarily means a group or flock — most naturally applied to birds or animals moving together. As an adjective it means numerous or in great numbers, with a collective visual quality: a sangkawan of birds filling the sky, or a sangkawan of people filling a plaza. It carries a somewhat poetic or literary register.

Examples

Beginner

" Lumipad ang sangkawan ng ibon. "

Natural Translation

The flock of birds flew away.

Literal Translation

Flew the flock of bird.

Intermediate

" Nakita ko ang sangkawan ng ibon. "

Natural Translation

I saw the flock of birds.

Literal Translation

Saw I the flock of bird.

Advanced

" Habang papalubog ang araw, isang sangkawan ng mga tagak ang dahan-dahang dumaan sa langit patungo sa kanilang pugad. "

Natural Translation

As the sun was setting, a flock of egrets slowly passed across the sky toward their nests.

Literal Translation

While setting the sun, one flock of the egrets the slowly passed in sky heading to their nest.

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