1 Part of speech, core meaning, and example sentences (bullet format)
- Part of speech
- Core meaning
- Describes moving through water by using the limbs; also used figuratively for “getting through” tough tasks (molangoy sa problema).
- Example sentences
- Mo-langoy ko sa pool kada buntag. → I swim in the pool every morning.
- Nag-langoy sila sa dagat bisan kusog ang balod. → They are swimming in the sea even though the waves are strong.
- Gi-langoyan sa atleta ang 200-meter freestyle sa duha ka minutos. → The athlete swam the 200-meter freestyle in two minutes.
2 Verb derivations of langoy
| Form | Voice & aspect | English gloss | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| mag-langoy | Actor-focus, habitual / future | will usually swim | Mag-langoy siya kada Sabado sa baybayon. |
| mo-langoy | Actor-focus, non-past / imperative | will swim; swim! | Mo-langoy ta karon, ha. |
| nag-langoy | Actor-focus, progressive | is / was swimming | Nag-langoy ko pag-text nimo. |
| ni-langoy / mi-langoy | Actor-focus, completed past | swam | Ni-langoy sila sa suba kagahapon. |
| gi-langoyan | Patient- / locative-focus, completed past | was swum across / through by … | Gi-langoyan sa bayani ang bahaon nga kanal. |
| langoy-on (-on) | Patient-focus, future / imp. | to be swum / swim it | Langoy-on nato ang laptas nga linya unya. |
| langoy-an / langoy-i (-an / -i) | Locative / beneficiary | to swim at / for | Langoyi ko palihog sa dungan nga lane. |
3 Where you would use this word in the sentence
- Actor-focus predicate: Mo-langoy ko ug lima ka lap sa pool.
- Patient / locative focus: Gi-langoyan ang sapa sa mga bata.
- Beneficiary / locative: Langoyi siya sa shallow end kay bag-o pa siya.
4 Common collocations
- langoy sa dagat — swim in the sea
- mag-langoy og laps — swim laps
- walay langoy — cannot swim / no swimming allowed
- gi-langoyan sa baha — swum through floodwater
- langoy-on nga distansiya — distance to be swum
5 Detailed usage notes
- Physical action – Covers leisure, sport, survival swimming.
- Figurative sense – Means “get through” difficult situations: molangoy sa utang (“swim through debt”).
- Markers – Use ug/og for an indefinite body of water (mo-langoy ko ug gamay nga lagsaw). Use sa for a definite location (nag-langoy siya sa Bohol Beach).
- Suffix use – -an / -i mark the place or beneficiary: langoyi ako sa kilid (“swim for me by the side”).
- Safety phrases – dili kamao molangoy (“can’t swim”) often used when cautioning.
6 Common mistakes and things to watch out for
| Mistake | Issue | Correct form |
|---|---|---|
| Mo-langoy ako sa lake. | Clitic ko must follow the verb. | Mo-langoy ko sa lake. |
| Gi-langoy ko ang channel. | gi- form needs genitive actor (ni / sa). | Gi-langoyan ni ko ang channel. |
| Langoy-on ta siya! | Beneficiary imperative should be langoyi. | Langoyi siya! |
| Nag-langoy sa lagoon | Missing subject. | Nag-langoy ang grupo sa lagoon. |
7 Conversational phrases
- “Kamao ka molangoy?” — “Do you know how to swim?”
- “Langoy ta, init kaayo ang panahon.” — “Let’s swim; the weather’s really hot.”
- “Ni-langoy ko hangtod sa boya.” — “I swam up to the buoy.”
- “Ayaw langog layo, lawom na.” — “Don’t swim far; it’s already deep.”
- “Mag-langoy sa Atlit run?” — “Swimming for exercise today?”
8 Short everyday conversations
- A: Mo-langoy ka ba sa open water race? — Will you swim in the open-water race?
B: Oo, pero mag-practice sa ko ug breathing. — Yes, but I’ll practice my breathing first. - A: Nag-langoy pa ang bata? — Is the child still swimming?
B: Dili na, gikapoy na siya. — No, he’s tired already. - A: Langoyi ko palihog sa shallow para makato-on ko. — Swim with me in the shallow so I can learn.
B: Sige, tag-aan tika’g kickboard. — Sure, I’ll give you a kickboard. - A: Ni-langoy ka gyud sa ulan? — You really swam in the rain?
B: Oo, lami man ang tubig bugnaw. — Yes, the water felt nice and cool. - A: Mag-langoy ta ug duha ka laps pa? — Shall we swim two more laps?
B: Sakto, para ma-stretch pa ang muscles. — Right, so the muscles get more stretch.
« Back to Glossary Index
