usal
usál with stress marks
whispered repeated prayer or saying
Usage Note
Usal refers to the act of whispering a prayer, incantation, or mantra repeatedly — often in a religious or folk-healing context. Albularyos (folk healers) are said to usal prayers over patients, connecting the word to traditional Filipino spiritual practices.
Examples
" Marahan ang usal ng lola. "
Natural Translation
Grandmother's whispered prayer is soft.
Literal Translation
Soft the whispered-prayer of grandmother.
" Rinig ko ang usal niya bago matulog. "
Natural Translation
I heard their whispered prayer before sleeping.
Literal Translation
Heard I the whispered prayer of them before to sleep.
" Habang nakapikit ang albularyo, mahina ang usal niya ng mga dasal sa may sakit. "
Natural Translation
While the folk healer's eyes were closed, his whispered praying over the sick one was faint.
Literal Translation
While closed-eyes the folk-healer, faint the whispered-prayer of-him of plural prayer to has sickness.
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