siwang
síwang with stress marks
slit; crevice; crack
Usage Note
Siwang is a native Tagalog word for a narrow gap, crack, or opening — the space between a door and its frame, a crack in a wall, or a slit in a fence. It also carries a figurative sense, implying a narrow opportunity or opening, which makes it useful in both descriptive and metaphorical writing.
Examples
" May siwang ang dingding. "
Natural Translation
The wall has a crack.
Literal Translation
Has crack the wall.
" May siwang ang pintuan. "
Natural Translation
The door has a slit.
Literal Translation
Has slit the door.
" Sa pinakamaliit na siwang ng pinto, nakasilip ang bata habang naghihintay na bumalik ang kanyang ina. "
Natural Translation
Through the tiniest crack of the door, the child peeked while waiting for his mother to return.
Literal Translation
At smallest crack of door, peeked the child while waiting that return the his mother.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
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