From root: aswang
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
nag-aswang
nag-as-WANG
acted as a ghoul
Present (Incomplete)
nag-a-aswang
nag-a-as-WANG
acting as a ghoul
Future (Contemplated)
mag-a-aswang
mag-a-as-WANG
will act as a ghoul
Usage Note
Mag-aswang is used to describe the act of transforming into or behaving like a mythical ghoul, particularly within the context of Filipino folklore and horror stories. It can also be used figuratively to refer to someone who stays awake or wanders around suspiciously late at night.
Examples
" Mahilig siyang mag-aswang sa gabi. "
Natural Translation
He likes to act like a ghoul at night.
Literal Translation
Fond he act-as-ghoul at night.
" Sinubukan niyang mag-aswang sa palabas. "
Natural Translation
He tried to act as a ghoul in the show.
Literal Translation
Tried he act-as-a-ghoul in show.
" Tuwing kabilugan ng buwan, sinasabi ng mga matatanda na may mga taong nag-aaswang at gumagala sa madilim na bukid. "
Natural Translation
Whenever there is a full moon, the elders say there are people who turn into ghouls and roam the dark fields.
Literal Translation
Every roundness of moon, say the elders that there-are people acting-as-ghouls and roaming at dark field.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
aswang has 5 related forms built from the same root.
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