langgam
langgám with stress marks
ant
Usage Note
Langgam refers to ants, but in some Visayan languages, it actually means "bird," which can lead to funny misunderstandings between Tagalog and Bisaya speakers. Filipinos often use the presence of ants to jokingly suggest that something is very sweet or "malambing."
Examples
" May langgam sa mesa. "
Natural Translation
There are ants on the table.
Literal Translation
Has ant on table.
" Maraming langgam sa lupa. "
Natural Translation
There are many ants on the ground.
Literal Translation
Many ants on the ground.
" Pinupuntahan ng mga langgam ang anumang matamis na natitira sa mesa kapag hindi natin nalilinis. "
Natural Translation
Ants come to anything sweet left on the table when we don't clean it.
Literal Translation
Go-to of [plural] ant the whatever sweet that left on table when not we clean.
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