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pagong

pagóng with stress marks

turtle

noun pa-GONG Native origin Less Common
Illustration of "pagong" (turtle)

Usage Note

Pagong refers to land or freshwater turtles, while sea turtles are specifically called pawikan. It is also used metaphorically for someone extremely slow, and appears as the famous slow-but-steady character in the traditional fable of the tortoise and the monkey.

Examples

Beginner

" Mabagal na lumakad ang pagong. "

Natural Translation

The turtle walked slowly.

Literal Translation

Slow [linker] walk the turtle.

Intermediate

" Ang pagong ay mabagal. "

Natural Translation

The turtle is slow.

Literal Translation

The turtle is slow.

Advanced

" Kahit mabagal ang pagong sa kuwento, natalo nito ang mayabang na unggoy dahil sa tiyaga at hindi pagsuko. "

Natural Translation

Even though the turtle in the story is slow, it defeated the boastful monkey because of its patience and refusal to give up.

Literal Translation

Even slow the turtle in story, defeated by-it the boastful monkey because of patience and not surrender.

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