dagat
/ˈdaɡat/
The Bisaya word for ocean is dagat.
It is the standard word used to describe the sea or the ocean in general.
Meaning: one of the large bodies of water (noun)
Which one should you use?
While dagat is the standard term for both 'sea' and 'ocean', the form kadagatan is used specifically to describe vast, expansive oceans or a large expanse of seas.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word kadagatan is the collective or plural form used to describe vast, expansive oceans or a large expanse of seas.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdaɡat/
Did you know?
- Because the Philippines is an archipelago, dagat is often used in phrases to describe the 'road' or path between islands, treating the ocean as a connector rather than a barrier.
- The word dagat is a cognate with words in other Austronesian languages, showing that the concept of the 'littoral sea' was shared across ancient seafaring cultures from Taiwan to Madagascar.
- In many coastal Bisaya communities, people might distinguish between dagat and lawod, where lawod refers specifically to the deep, open ocean far from land.
Examples in context
- Ang dagat sa Pilipinas maayo kaayo para sa palangga namong kinaiyahan.The ocean in the Philippines is very good for our beloved nature.
- Nakakita ko og isda sa dagat kaninang buntag.I saw a fish in the ocean this morning.
- Moadto kita sa lawod karong Domingo.Let's go to the ocean this Sunday.
- Nindot ang dagat karon.The ocean is beautiful today.
- Dako kaayo ang dagat.The ocean is very big.
- Naligo mi sa dagat.We bathed in the ocean.
Example conversation
Jun and Joy are standing on a beach looking at the horizon.
- JunTan-awa ang dagat, Joy.Look at the ocean, Joy.
- JoyNindot kaayo ang dagat.The ocean is so beautiful.
- JunGusto ka molangoy?Do you want to swim?
- JoyOo, Jun, gusto ko.Yes, Jun, I want to.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry dagat, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
