malungkot
/maluŋˈkot/
The Tagalog word for sad is malungkot.
Malungkot is used to describe the feeling of sorrow, but it can also describe the state of being lonely or solitary.
Meaning: feeling sorrow (adj)
Which one should you use?
While malungkot describes the state of being sad, the aspectual form nalulungkot is used to describe the process of becoming sad or the ongoing state of feeling sadness.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective malungkot does not change its form based on the person or number of the subject.
How do you pronounce it?
/maluŋˈkot/
Did you know?
- Tagalog often expresses sadness through the physical sensation of 'heaviness' in the chest, using words like mabigat ang loob, which literally means 'the inside is heavy'.
- The word malungkot is derived from the root lungkot and the prefix ma-, which originates from the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian language family.
- The word malungkot is often paired with specific physical cues in Filipino culture, such as a 'bagsak' or drooping posture, to communicate the depth of the feeling.
Examples in context
- Alam kong malungkot ka.I know you feel sad.The first sentence shows how to use malungkot to describe how someone feels.Tatoeba #11680607 by qwertzu, translation #2376548 by CK
- Sa tingin mo ba ay malungkot si Tom?Do you think Tom is sad?The second sentence demonstrates a question about whether someone is malungkot.Tatoeba #7487666 by jenardcabilao, translation #6838877 by CK
- Malungkot at maganda ang kanta na ito.This song is both sad and beautiful.The third sentence illustrates using malungkot to describe the quality of a song.Tatoeba #9773192 by canonselphycp400, translation #5210620 by Hybrid
- Malungkot siya dahil nawala ang kanyang alagang aso.He/She is sad because his/her pet dog is missing.
- Naramdaman niya ang malalim na kalungkutan matapos mawala ang kanyang kaibigan.He/She felt profound sadness after losing his/her friend.
- Ang kapanglawan ay sumalubong sa kanya nang mamatay ang kanyang pinakamamahal na lola.Sadness overwhelmed him/her when his/her beloved grandmother passed away.
- Nakakapanghinayang na hindi niya natupad ang kanyang mga pangarap.It's sad/regretful that he/she didn't fulfill his/her dreams.
- Sa lungkot ng kanyang puso, umupo siya sa tabi ng ilog.Out of sadness in her heart, she sat beside the river.
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maria and Mark are talking about a movie they just watched.
- MariaBakit ka malungkot, Mark?Why are you sad, Mark?
- MarkMalungkot kasi ako para sa bida.Because I feel sad for the lead character.
- MariaMasyado bang malungkot ang ending?Was the ending too sad?
- MarkOo, sobrang malungkot talaga.Yes, it was really very sad.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sad” translations and entries malungkot, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries malungkot, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
