sangla
sánglà with stress marks
mortgage; pawn
Usage Note
Sangla refers to pawning or mortgaging an item of value as collateral for a loan. It is a widespread practice in the Philippines, where pawnshops (palengkeng sanglaan) are common in even small towns. Families in financial difficulty often sangla jewelry or appliances to cover urgent expenses, making the word a marker of economic hardship and resourcefulness.
Examples
" Isasangla namin ang singsing. "
Natural Translation
We will pawn the ring.
Literal Translation
Will-pawn we the ring.
" Nasa sangla ang kanilang bahay. "
Natural Translation
Their house is in mortgage.
Literal Translation
In mortgage the their house.
" Napilitan silang isangla ang lupa upang may pambayad sa biglaang gastusin sa ospital. "
Natural Translation
They were forced to mortgage the land in order to have money for the sudden hospital expenses.
Literal Translation
Forced they to-mortgage the land in-order-to have payment for sudden expense in hospital.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
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