Word repetition is a distinctive character of the Tagalog language. I can't explain exactly
how this state of affairs had come to be. The examples listed here are but a small sample
of the many repetitive words in Tagalog. For each word, I will be giving its meaning in
English and use the word in a simple sentence. OK here we go.
paru-paro - butterfly. Ang paru-paro ay lumilipad sa hardin.
The butterfly is flying in the garden.
maya-maya - in a little while. Maya-maya ay dumating na ang mga bata.
In a little while the children came.
liku-liko - crooked. Ang daan patungo sa paaralan ay liku-liko.
The road going to the school is crooked.
anting-anting - amulet. Ang aking lolo ay mayroong anting-anting.
My grandfather has an amulet.
isa-isa - one by one. Isa-isang nagalisan ang mga bisita.
One by one the guests left.
unti-unti - very slowly. Unti-unti lang ang paghatak sa kable.
Pull the cable very slowly.
paulit-ulit - repetitive. Paulit ulit lang ang kanyang sinasabi.
He goes on repeating what he had just said.
kaakit-akit - attractive. Ang prinsesa ng gabi ay lubhang kaakit-akit.
The princess of the night is way too attractive.
karumal-dumal - dastardly. Ang panggagahasa ay karumal-dumal na krimen.
Rape is a dastardly crime.
basang-basa - totally wet. Ang kanyang damit ay basang-basa.
His clothes are totally wet.
aliw na aliw - totally entertained. Siya ay aliw na aliw sa kanyang apo.
He is totally entertained by his grandchild.
pasang-pasa - very much swollen. Pasang-pasa ang kanyang buong katawan.
His whole body is very much swollen.
tamang-tama - exactly right. Tamang-tama ang timpla ng kape.
The coffee tastes exactly right.
bahay-bahayan - play house. Ang mga bata ay naglalaro ng bahay-bahayan.
The children are playing playhouse.
kataas-taasan - the most high. Ang katipunan ang kataas-taasang organisasyon noong
panahon ng himagsikan.
The katipunan was the highest organization during the time of the revolution.
kamahal-mahalan - the most beloved. Salubungin natin ang kamahal-mahalang reyna
ng pagdiriwang.
Let's welcome the most beloved queen of the celebrations.
pagkaganda-ganda - very, very beautiful. Pagkaganda-ganda talaga ng anak ko.
My daughther is really beautiful.
iyak nang iyak - repeatedly cries. Ang bata ay iyak nang iyak.
The child cries and cries.
kain nang kain - repeatedly eats. Siya ay kain nang kain.
He eats and eats.
So there they are, just a small sample of the many repetitive words in Tagalog, with their
meaning and example usage in a sentence. I hope you were able to get yourself used
to this repetition phenomenon in the Tagalog language. You will be encountering a lot
of repetitive words as you engage more deeply in conversation with a native Tagalog speaker.
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