What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of gusto (want), ko (I/my) and umuwi (to go home).
Which one should you use?
While gusto kong umuwi means "I want to go home", the colloquial variation gusto ko na umuwi (or gusto ko nang umuwi) adds a sense of immediacy, meaning "I want to go home now".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Gusto kong umuwi is an informal way to express this desire. For a more formal tone used in literature or very polite speech, you can use nais ko nang umuwi, substituting gusto with the formal synonym nais.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase gusto kong umuwi, the ng attached to ko is a linker used to connect the pronoun to the following verb. In the colloquial version gusto ko nang umuwi, the word nang is a contraction of na and ng, which changes the meaning to "I want to go home now".
Did you know?
- In the Philippines, saying gusto kong umuwi during a social gathering can sometimes be a polite social cue that the guest feels tired or the event has gone on too long, rather than a literal demand to leave.
- The word gusto in Tagalog shares the same roots as the English word 'gustatory' and the Spanish 'gusto', even though it now means 'want' rather than 'taste'.
- While gusto is used for wanting an object or a desire, it is borrowed from Spanish, whereas the formal nais is a native Austronesian root.
Examples in context
- Gusto kong umuwi nang maaga.I want to go home early.
- Gusto kong umuwi dahil pagod na ako.I want to go home because I am tired.
- Gusto kong umuwi na sa wakas.I want to go home at last.
Example conversation
Maria and Jose are at a late-night party.
- MariaGusto kong umuwi na, Jose.I want to go home now, Jose.
- JoseBakit, Maria? Masaya pa naman dito.Why, Maria? It is still fun here.
- MariaGusto kong umuwi dahil inaantok na ako.I want to go home because I am sleepy.
- JoseSige, ihatid na kita.Okay, I will take you home.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gusto, umuwi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
