LANG

pinaikling anyo ng lámang

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.

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NGA

totoo ba, tunay ba; siya ba; sana; talaga

nga
really, indeed, please

The Tagalog word nga is an adverb that adds emphasis. It is very tricky to translate. You will have to hear it used and look at the speaker’s facial expressions to get the nuance. The meaning changes according to the tone used when saying it as well as the context.

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INGKLITIK

This is a transliteration into Tagalog of the English word “enclitic.”

MGA KAHULUGAN SA TAGALOG

katagang pang-abay

salitâng binibigkas nang walang gaanong diin kayâ nagiging bahagi ng sinundang salita

HALIMBAWA NG MGA INGKLITIK

naman, po, daw, lang/lamang, nga, din, man, pala, oo, hindi, wala, may/mayroon

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