MGA
The word mga makes the word after it become plural. mga tula poems mga tanga idiots mga sapatos shoes It is not always necessary to put mga before a word to make it plural. This is especially the...
View ArticleAWAY
away fight, quarrel, dispute mag-away to fight madalas mag-away frequently quarreling kaaway enemy kaaway ng babae woman’s enemy mabuting kaibigan, masamang kaaway good friend, bad enemy palaaway...
View ArticleDILAW
dilaw yellow madilaw yellowish marilaw yellow magdilaw to wear yellow dumilaw to turn yellow manilaw to turn yellow manilawnilaw / manilaw-nilaw having a yellowish tint * Visit us here at TAGALOG LANG.
View ArticleBALIKBAYAN
root words: balik + bayan balikbayan “returning to country” The term balikbayan refers to a Filipino returning to the Philippines, especially after having lived overseas for an extended period of...
View ArticleMAINIT
root word: init (heat) mainit hot magpainit to warm oneself mainit ang ulo hot-headed, quick to anger Mainit ang panahon. The weather’s hot. mainit na babae hot woman mainit na tubig hot water mainit...
View ArticleBAGOONG
bagoong fermented fish/shrimp paste Bagoóng is a generic term for Philippine condiments made from fish or tiny shrimps that are salted and fermented for several weeks. The color varies from light...
View ArticleLUGAW
lugaw gruel, rice porridge, congee The Tagalog word lugaw is Chinese in origin. Lugaw is a Filipino dish traditionally thought of a soft food for sick people. But lugaw is enjoyed for breakfast, as a...
View ArticleBINGI
bingi deaf bingi a deaf person bingihin to deafen magbingi-bingihan to pretend to be deaf bingi’t pipi deaf and mute Huwag kang magbingi-bingihan. Don’t pretend to be deaf. Bingi ka, ano? You’re deaf,...
View ArticleMAPAGBIGAY
root word: bigay, meaning ‘to give’ mapagbigay generous Mapagbigay na tao si Pedro. Peter is a giving person. pagbibigay-loob “giving one’s inside” = the act of generosity ang kanyang ginawang...
View ArticleLAPIDA
from the Spanish lápida, meaning a stone tablet lapida gravestone mga lapida sa sementeryo gravestones at the cemetery Gawa na ang lapida mo. Your tombstone is already made. = You’re a dead man. I...
View ArticleTAPOS
tapos (stress on first syllable) done, complete, finished Kumain kami…. tapos nagpahinga. We ate… and then rested. tapós (accent on second syllable) to have finished something Tapós na ako. I’m done....
View ArticleBALIMBING
balimbing star fruit The Filipino fruit balimbing has the scientific name Averrhoa carambola. It’s called a star fruit in English because when you cut it crosswise, the shape you see is is that of a...
View ArticleBAON
This word has at least two meanings, differentiated by the accent on the syllables. baon provisions baon packed lunch or snack Ma, nasaan ang baon ko? Mom, where’s my packed lunch? Baunin mo ito. Bring...
View ArticleANO
Ano? What? Ano ito? What is this? Ano iyan? What is that? – close to the one talking Ano iyon? What is that? – far away from the ones talking – also, “What did you say?” Anong oras na? What time is it?...
View ArticleBAYAN
There is a patriotic Filipino song entitled Bayan Ko (My Country). bayan town, country This word’s meaning extends to refer to the people, the populace, the population, or the nation. kababayan a...
View ArticlePINAKA-
The prefix pinaka- is used to form superlative adjectives. maganda pretty mas maganda prettier pinakamaganda prettiest pinakapangit ugliest pinakamatalino smartest pinakamatalik kong kaibigan my...
View ArticleMAS
from the Spanish más mas more mabuti good mas mabuti better mas maganda prettier, more beautiful mas matalino smarter, more intelligent mas payat thinner mas mataba fatter mas mahirap more difficult...
View ArticleHOPYA
More commonly spelled as hopia. The spelling hopyà is based on native Tagalog orthography. The word comes from the Chinese hò pià (好餅), meaning ‘good pastry.’ Hopia is an inexpensive Filipino pastry...
View ArticleTSITSIRYA
Chichirya? Yes! Spelled tsitsirya in Tagalog orthography, with Filipino language variations such as chichiria, tsitsiriya and sitsirya, among others. Tsitsirya are snacks that are munched or grazed on....
View ArticleFILIPINO
In the English language, the word Filipino often refers to something from or related to the Philippines. For examples: Filipino cuisine – food associated with the Philippines Filipino people – ethnic...
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