ningas-kugon
Tagalog
Alternative forms
- dingas-kugon
- lingas-kugon
- ningas kugon
Etymology
From ningas (“ignition”) + kugon (“cogon grass”), literally “burns like cogon”. Dried cogon grass is highly flammable & ignites easily, but likewise, burns out quickly or does not last long.
Pronunciation
- Hyphenation: ni‧ngas ku‧gon
- IPA(key): /ˌniŋas ˈkuɡon/, [ˌni.ŋɐs ˈku.ɣon]
- IPA(key): /ˌniŋas kuˈɡon/, [ˌni.ŋɐs kʊˈɣon]
Adjective
ningas-kugon or ningas-kugón (Baybayin spelling ᜈᜒᜅᜐ᜔ᜃᜓᜄᜓᜈ᜔)
- (idiomatic) fleetingly enthusiastic; hardworking, nice, or great at first, but eventually, no longer continues what was started.
Noun
ningas-kugon or ningas-kugón (Baybayin spelling ᜈᜒᜅᜐ᜔ᜃᜓᜄᜓᜈ᜔)
- ephemeral enthusiasm
- activity or project that doesn't last
Usage notes
This describes how an initially fiery excitement over a new endeavor loses steam very quickly.
Further reading
- “ningas-kugon”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila: Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, 2018