sikmat
síkmat with stress marks
a sudden bite or snap
Usage Note
Sikmat describes the quick, snapping bite of an animal — typically a dog, snake, or fish — implying speed and surprise. It is used in cautionary tales about animals and in fishing contexts when describing a fish striking at bait.
Examples
" Iniwasan ko ang sikmat ng isda. "
Natural Translation
I avoided the snap of the fish.
Literal Translation
Avoided I the snap of fish.
" Iniwasan niya ang sikmat ng aso. "
Natural Translation
He/she avoided the sudden bite of the dog.
Literal Translation
Avoided he/she the sudden bite of dog.
" Mabilis na umatras ang bata nang makita niya ang biglang sikmat ng ahas na nagtatago sa damuhan. "
Natural Translation
The child quickly backed away when he/she saw the sudden snap of the snake hiding in the grass.
Literal Translation
Quick backed-away the child when saw he/she the sudden snap of snake that hiding in grass.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workActor Focus Verbs
Object Focus Verbs
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