Guide to Using Commonly Used Prefixes, Infixes and Suffixes in Tagalog
Precy enjoys helping others learn to speak and appreciate the Filipino language. She also speaks Ilocano.
Affixes play their part in the Filipino language as they help carry out meaning of words they are attached to. There are many affixes used in the Filipino language attached either at the beginning - a prefix or at the end of a word - a suffix. And of course an affix squeezing itself in the middle of the word is an infix.
Affixes in Filipino/Tagalog is called mga panlapi. They can make a noun into an adjective, indicate tenses of verbs, and help in indicating the focus of the sentence. There are also some affixes that shows relationship when used with nouns, and affixes indicating an action isn't intentional. It sounds somehow complicated so let's unveil some of the most used Filipino affixes or mga panlapi as I explain them the easy way with examples.
Tagalog affixes mostly used.
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Ma
When attached to a noun, it makes a noun into an adjective. It is also a prefix that is used in some verbs to create the infinitive and future tense form.
| Noun | Ma + noun | Adjective |
|---|---|---|
lakas (strength) | ma + lakas | malakas (strong) |
ganda (beauty) | ma + ganda | maganda (beautiful) |
ingay (noise) | ma + ingay | maingay (noisy) |
kulay (color) | ma + kulay | makulay (colorful) |
dumi (dirt) | ma + dumi | madumi (dirty) |
bango (fragrance) | ma + bango | mabango (fragrant) |
talino (wit/intelligence) | ma + talino | matalino (intelligent) |
Ma As Prefix Forming Infinitive & Imperative As Well As Future Tense
| Root Verb | Infinitive & Imperative Example | Future Tense With Ma- |
|---|---|---|
Tulog (Sleep) | Matulog/Matulog ka. (Go to sleep) | Matutulog siya. (She's going to sleep) |
Ligo (Bath) | Maligo/Maligo ka. (Take a bath) | Maliligo ako. (I'm going to take a bath) |
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Most adjectives have the prefix ma, but there are also those that don't have the prefix such as pogi (handsome) and singkit (having chinky eyes).
Pa
A prefix used in a way to ask a favor without being in a form of a question such as starting it with "Can you/I"? Let's say it allows you to ask a favor or request in a subtle way, not sounding bossy or being in an imperative form or command.
| Pa | Pa + Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
pa | pa + text = patext | letting someone know you want to borrow their phone to send a text message |
pa | pa + sakay = pasakay | when asking for a hitch |
pa | pa + kain = pakain | when visiting a home and you want to join in a meal or asking for food |
Pa when used as a prefix to some root verbs indicates that the action is about to be done, or the actor is just about to do the action. It also gives direction on how to specifically do a certain action - patagilid (sideways) and patayo (in a standing position) are just two examples.
| Root Verb | Pa + Root Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
Alis (leave) | Paalis | Just about to go or leave |
Sakay (Ride) | Pasakay | Just about to ride |
Punta (Go) | Papunta | Just about to go |
Pa is also used as a contraction of "paki" or please.
Paabot/Pakiabot
Kindly hand me over (whatever item).
Paabot ng baso. (Kindly hand me over the glass)
Pabasa/Pakibasa
Please read/Kindly read.
Pabasa ng mensahe. (Please read the message)
Pasabi/Pakisabi
Please tell/Kindly tell
Pasabi kay auntie kilala ko si Angel. (Kindly tell auntie I know Angel)
More About Using Pa
Pa
When not being used as a prefix, pa is used to indicate that the action is still "on going" or "currently happening" along with a verb in a present tense.
In addition, it is also the Tagalog equivalent of the English "yet." More about using pa as an untranslatable Tagalog word tackled on the video.
Na
Na can mean now or already, but it is also used as a prefix to state that an action is unintentional.
| Na + root verb | Meaning/Unintentional Action | Intentional |
|---|---|---|
na + tapon = natapon | (something) was thrown away and wasn't intentional | itinapon |
na + basa = nabasa | got wet (unintentional) | binasa |
na + basag = nabasag | broke (unintentional) | binasag |
na + salo = nasalo | when you (unexpectedly/unintentionally) caught something (a ball, a vase, a glass, a key etc.) | sinalo |
In and An
Suffixes attached to root verbs where -an indicates the purpose of the word created or what the word is for. While suffix -in when attached to root verbs forms imperative form or command pertaining to the verb it was attached to. But it isn't always the case. The meaning of the word also changes depending which suffix is used.
Also root verbs ending in letter o need to be changed to letter u before attaching the suffix. Same goes with nouns - letter o needs to be changed to letter u when the next and last letter is a consonant.
| Root Verb | Root Verb + An | Root Verb + In | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
Kain (Eat) | Kainan (a place specifically for eating) | Kainin (To eat) | Kainin mo 'yan. (Eat that) |
Luto (Cook) | Lutuan (a place or appliance specifically for cooking) | Lutuin (To cook) | Gusto kong lutuin mo ito. (I want you to cook this) |
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In is also used as an infix to form present tense of an IN verb.
Root verb: kain (eat)
Kinakain (eating)
Root verb: sabi (say)
Sinasabi (saying)
Root verb: gawa (do)
Ginagawa (doing)
Notice how infix in squeezes itself between the first consonant and the vowel. If the root verb starts in a vowel, infix in becomes a prefix.
Root verb: isip (think)
Iniisip (thinking)
Related Read - Filipino Verbs
- Filipino Verbs - Types of Filipino Verbs and How to Form Filipino Tenses of Verbs
Types of Filipino verbs in their different tenses categorized as MAG verbs, UM verbs, I verbs and MA verbs with explanations on how to conjugate these types of Filipino/Tagalog verbs.
When -an is used as a noun suffix, it creates a word with a new meaning - often denotes that an area or place is specifically for that noun it is attached to.
| Noun | Noun + An | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
palay (rice) | palayan | rice field |
mais (corn) | maisan | corn field |
saging (banana) | sagingan | banana farm |
gulay (vegetable) | gulayan | vegetable garden/farm |
manok (chicken) | manukan | chicken/poultry farm |
niyog (coconut) | niyugan | coconut farm |
damit (clothes) | damitan | closet/a spot or place at home where the clothes are |
Mag and Nag
Mag is used in some Tagalog verbs in forming the infinitive form, its future tense and the imperative form (giving an order) as well while nag is used in forming the present tense.
| Root Verb | Infinitive & Imperative Form | Future Tense Example | Present Tense Example |
|---|---|---|---|
Luto (cook) | Magluto/Magluto ka. (You cook) | Magluluto ako. (I'm going to cook) | Nagluluto ako. (I'm cooking) |
Linis (clean) | Maglinis/Maglinis ka. (You clean) | Maglilinis ako. (I'm going to clean) | Naglilinis ako. (I'm cleaning) |
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There are verbs where either prefix in or infix um can be used depending on the focus of the sentence. There are verbs as well which can only use one of the prefixes such as the infix in but never the prefix mag or um. And there are verbs where mag and um can be used but not in infix.
How to use the prefix mag on verb conjugation? More on Tagalog verb formation explained on the video lesson.
Prefix Mag + Nouns
Affix mag is also used as a prefix with nouns to show relationship.
| Noun | Meaning | Mag + Noun | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
kapitbahay | neighbor | magkapitbahay | neighbors |
pinsan | cousin | magpinsan | cousins |
kaibigan | friend | magkaibigan | friends |
ina | mother | mag-ina | mother and daughter/son |
For nouns starting in a vowel such as ina, a hyphen is used between the affix and the noun. (See last example above on the table) More about the affix mag on the video lesson.
Using Tagalog Affix Mag
Um
Another infix used in forming present and past tenses of Tagalog verbs. Like mag, the infinitive form and imperative form is the same.
| Root Verb | Infinitive & Imperative | Present Tense | Past Tense |
|---|---|---|---|
Kain (Eat) | Kumain/Kumain ka. (You eat) | Kumakain ako. (I'm eating) | Kumain ako. (I ate) |
Tawa (Laugh) | Tumawa/Tumawa ka. (You laugh) | Tumatawa siya. (He's laughing) | Tumawa siya. (He laughed) |
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Pala
A prefix that when attached to a noun, implies that the word pala is attached to is frequently done or habitual, also creating an adjective this way.
| Pala + Noun | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
Pala + ihi (urine) | Palaihi | A person who tends to always use the restroom (urinate). |
Pala + ngiti (smile) | Palangiti | A person who always smile |
Pala + tawa (laugh) | Palatawa | A person who always laugh |
Pala + kaibigan (friend) | Palakaibigan | Friendly |
Pala + biro (joke) | Palabiro | A joker, a person who always have a joke to say |
Pala + utang (debt) | Palautang | A person who has the habit of asking to be lent money |
Using the word just by itself and not being used as an affix can mean pala - shovel. Intonation matters as it can mean something else as well.
Pala is also used to express being surprise of a found information different than what the speaker is expecting.
Mala
A prefix that is used with nouns to make a description. Whatever is being describe has the characteristic, likeness or resemblance of the noun where the prefix is attached to.
| Noun | Mala + Noun | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
Anghel (Angel) | Malaanghel | Angelic-like |
Palasyo (Palace) | Malapalasyo | A home big enough like a palace/has similarity to a palace |
Hayop (Animal) | Malahayop | Animal-like |
Ibon (Bird) | Malaibon | Bird-like |
Pang
A prefix used with items. Pang indicates that the use of a specific item is specifically for the noun pang is attached to.
| Item | Pang + Noun | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
sabon (soap) | pangkamay | Soap for the hand/Hand soap. |
sabon (soap) | pangligo | Soap for taking a bath/Bath soap. |
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Of course there are some more affixes to tackle but let's save them for later shall we? As to how to know what affixes to use with Tagalog verbs, there's no clear rule on that. Best thing is to familiarize the verbs starting with the most commonly used ones.
Comments
Kweli Nzito on June 30, 2020:
The most comprehensive and clear treatment of Tagalog affixes. Ms. Anza seems to enjoy every lesson with the same enthusiasm. By the way, does the word pang-uri meaning adjective fall in the same category for the other examples using the affix pang? Maraming salamat po.
DHanz888 on July 13, 2019:
Great question by Morty.
I have used a site at called seasite which gives a good list of verbs with the tenses, but still not complete, but very helpful.
Precy, do you have a more complete list of verbs and the different affixes and when to use which affix as Morty mentioned.
From what I understand, we need to decide first what is the subject, is it, a noun or an object or a person receiving an action (correct me Precy if I got it wrong..
Thanks again Precy for this and do hope we can see more of your work soon.
All the best, Dee
morty on July 10, 2019:
Can we use any affix on any root word?
How can we know what type of affix to use for a root word?
