maglayag
maglayág with stress marks
to set sail
From root: layag
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
naglayag
nag-la-YAG
set sail
Present (Incomplete)
naglalayag
nag-la-la-YAG
is sailing
Future (Contemplated)
maglalayag
mag-la-la-YAG
will sail
Usage Note
Maglayag is the actor-focus infinitive of layag, deeply tied to the Philippines' maritime heritage and its tradition of seafaring communities. The object-focus form layagan foregrounds the destination or route, while maglayag keeps the sailor or vessel as the subject; the verb also extends naturally into figurative registers describing navigating life's challenges.
Examples
" Maglayag tayo bukas. "
Natural Translation
Let's set sail tomorrow.
Literal Translation
Set-sail we tomorrow.
" Nakatakda na maglayag ang malaking barko bukas ng umaga. "
Natural Translation
The big ship is set to set sail tomorrow morning.
Literal Translation
Set to set sail the big ship tomorrow of morning.
" Kahit malakas ang hangin, nagpasya pa rin ang mga mangingisda na maglayag dahil wala silang ibang paraan para may makain ang kanilang pamilya. "
Natural Translation
Even though the wind was strong, the fishermen still decided to set sail because they had no other way to feed their family.
Literal Translation
Even-though strong the wind, decided still the fishermen that set-sail because none they other way so have eat the their family.
Take Tagalog with you
The full course, a 12,500-word dictionary, and flashcards that make every word stick — free to start on iOS and Android.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workRelated Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.
How to Say Sorry in Tagalog: Patawad vs Pasensya
How to say sorry in Tagalog: patawad, pasensya na, and paumanhin compared on a simple severity-and-formality ladder so you pick the right word every time.
Po and Opo in Tagalog: Where to Put Them Right
Po and opo confuse learners — but placement follows one rule. Where po goes in a sentence, why it's opo not 'oo po', and the pronoun shift to learn.
Tagalog Word Order: Sentence Structure Made Simple
Why Tagalog puts the verb first, and how ang, ng, and sa markers work. A clear guide to VSO word order, forming questions, and negation.
Tagalog Root Words: Learn a Few Hundred, Understand Thousands
Tagalog root words unlock vocabulary fast: learn a few hundred and recognize thousands. Real word families, examples, and a practical study strategy.