gatong
gatóng with stress marks
firewood; fuel
Usage Note
Gatong refers to firewood or any combustible fuel used for cooking fires. In rural Philippines, gathering gatong is a daily chore, and wood-fired cooking remains common. By extension, gatong is used figuratively — 'nagbibigay ng gatong' means adding fuel to a situation, similar to the English expression 'adding fuel to the fire'.
Examples
" Wala na kaming gatong. "
Natural Translation
We have no more firewood.
Literal Translation
None already our firewood.
" Pumunta si Lolo sa gubat para mangahoy ng gatong. "
Natural Translation
Grandpa went to the forest to gather firewood.
Literal Translation
Went Grandpa to-the forest to gather-wood firewood.
" Tuwing tag-ulan, mahirap maghanap ng tuyong gatong kaya nag-iimbak kami nito bago pa dumating ang malakas na ulan. "
Natural Translation
During the rainy season, it is hard to find dry firewood, so we stock up on it even before the heavy rains arrive.
Literal Translation
Every rainy-season, hard to-search of dry firewood so stock-up we of-this before yet arrives the strong rain.
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