The Tagalog word lang is short for lámang. It means ‘only’ or ‘just’ and is used to express a limitation.
Kaibigan lang?
Just a friend?
Dalawang piso lang.
Only two pesos.
Kumanta lang?
Just sang?
(All she did was sing?)
There are uses in certain contexts that are harder to translate into English.
Mag-aral ka lang.
You just study.
(Focus. Maybe something will turn up.)
Mag-aral ka na lang.
All you can do is study.
(Just study for now….)
The Tagalog phrase na lang is very common. The word na is usually translated as ‘now’ or ‘already’ but its meaning is slightly different here.
Kumain na lang tayo.
Let’s just eat.
(No point in doing anything else.)
Umoo ka na lang.
Just say yes.
(It’s useless to protest.)
Manood ka na lang.
Why don’t you just watch?
(Don’t bother with anything else.)
iisa pa lang
only one as of yet
Nagsisimula pa lang.
Just starting. / Only beginning.
KAHULUGAN SA TAGALOG
lang: pinaikling anyo ng lámang
lng, palang, plang, plng, nlang, nlng
