sawi
sawî with stress marks
unfortunate; ill-fated; casualty
Usage Note
Sawi carries a weight of tragic misfortune, often implying that bad outcomes were inevitable for the person. It is used both as a descriptor ('isang sawing buhay' — a tragic life) and as a noun referring to someone who was harmed or lost in an incident.
Examples
" Sawi ang kanyang buhay. "
Natural Translation
His life is ill-fated.
Literal Translation
Ill-fated the his life.
" Maraming sawi sa aksidente. "
Natural Translation
There are many casualties in the accident.
Literal Translation
Many casualty in accident.
" Kahit ilang beses na siyang nabigo sa pag-ibig, ayaw niyang isipin na siya ay isang sawi sa buhay. "
Natural Translation
Even though he has failed in love several times, he refuses to think of himself as someone ill-fated in life.
Literal Translation
Even several times already he failed in love, refuses he to-think that he is an ill-fated in life.
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.
Philippine Christmas Traditions: World's Longest Holiday
Philippine Christmas traditions run four months — from Ber-month carols to Simbang Gabi dawn masses, Noche Buena feasts, and parol lanterns lighting every street.
Tagalog Pronouns Explained: Complete Chart with Examples
Every Tagalog pronoun explained with clear charts: ang/ng/sa forms, tayo vs kami, ikaw vs ka, politeness markers, and the mistakes beginners make.
How to Say "I Love You" in Tagalog: Phrases & Meaning
Learn how to say I love you in Tagalog. Mahal kita, Iniibig kita, and Filipino terms of endearment for partners, family, and friends — with cultural notes.
Days of the Week and Months in Tagalog
The days of the week and months in Tagalog are Spanish loanwords. Learn all 7 days and 12 months with pronunciation, plus how to say dates and 'every Monday.'