kayod
kayód with stress marks
scrape, grate; work hard
Usage Note
Kayod literally means to grate or scrape (as with a coconut grater), but it is widely used figuratively to mean working hard or grinding away at something. 'Mag-kayod' is a common expression for putting in sustained, laborious effort to earn a living.
Examples
" Kayod ka ng niyog. "
Natural Translation
Grate the coconut.
Literal Translation
Grate you of coconut.
" Nasaan ang gamit para sa kayod ng niyog? "
Natural Translation
Where is the tool for scraping coconut?
Literal Translation
Where the tool for to-the scrape of coconut?
" Araw-araw siyang nagkakayod sa trabaho para may maipadala sa kaniyang pamilya sa probinsiya. "
Natural Translation
Every day he works his fingers to the bone at work so he can send something to his family in the province.
Literal Translation
Day-day he grinding at work for there's to-send to his family in province.
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