Skip to content

lukayo

lukáyo with stress marks

clown; jester

noun lu-KA-yo Native origin Rare

Usage Note

Lukayo is the traditional term for a jester or comedic performer in Filipino folk theatre and komedya. The figure entertains through physical comedy and wit. The word is now somewhat archaic in everyday speech but survives in literature and discussions of traditional Philippine performing arts.

Examples

Beginner

" Mahusay ang lukayo sa palabas. "

Natural Translation

The clown is great in the show.

Literal Translation

Skilled the clown in show.

Intermediate

" Nakakatawa ang lukayo. "

Natural Translation

The clown is funny.

Literal Translation

Funny the clown.

Advanced

" Tuwing pista, ang lukayo ang nagpapasaya sa mga bata sa pamamagitan ng kanyang nakakatawang galaw at biro. "

Natural Translation

Every fiesta, the jester is the one who delights the children through his funny movements and jokes.

Literal Translation

Every fiesta, the jester the makes-happy to plural child through of his funny movement and joke.

Free · iOS & Android

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 work

Explore Tagalog by topic

Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.