maghintay
/maɡhinˈtaj/
The Filipino verb for "wait" is maghintay.
maghintay is used to describe the act of delaying an action or staying in a place until a certain event occurs.
Meaning: delay until some event (verb)
Which one should you use?
The form maghintay is an actor-focus verb, where the subject is the person performing the act of waiting. In contrast, if you want to specify a person or object being waited for, you should use the object-focus form hintayin, which means "to wait for (something/someone)".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb maghintay changes based on aspect and focus. The form maghintay serves as both the infinitive and the imperative command. The completed aspect is naghintay (waited), the progressive aspect is naghihintay (waiting) and the contemplative aspect is maghihintay (will wait). Related to the verb is the noun paghihintay, which means "a delay".
How do you pronounce it?
/maɡhinˈtaj/
Did you know?
- In some contexts, the phrase maghintay ka lang can be used as a veiled threat, implying that a consequence or revenge is coming in the future.
- In the Philippines, the phrase sandali lang is often used instead of maghintay to mean 'just a moment'. It is frequently accompanied by a gesture of raising one finger to signal the other person to pause.
- The word paghihintay can refer to a delay, but in romantic poetry and songs, it often carries a deep emotional weight of longing or yearning for a lost love.
Examples in context
- Baka dapat maghintay ka.Maybe you should wait.This sentence shows how to use maghintay to suggest a course of action.Tatoeba #8638171 by artemio, translation #8596424 by CK
- Pinili ko ang maghintay.I chose to wait.This sentence demonstrates choosing the act of maghintay.Tatoeba #8652880 by England, translation #5850790 by CK
- Maghintay ka sa harapan.Wait out front.This sentence shows maghintay used as a command.Tatoeba #11273182 by qwertzu, translation #6706461 by Eccles17
- 31 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Antonio and Patricia are at a cafe waiting for their order.
- AntonioPatricia, kailangan pa nating maghintay.Patricia, we still need to wait.
- PatriciaGutom na ako, Antonio.I'm already hungry, Antonio.
- AntonioSandali lang, darating na ang pagkain.Just a moment, the food is coming.
- PatriciaSana ay hindi na matagal.I hope it won't be long.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wait” translations and entries maghintay, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
