mag-

Tagalog

Etymology

From Proto-Austronesian *maR-.

Verb prefix

mag-

1. actor trigger: to do something

   Magluluto ako.

   I will cook. (I is focused.)

2. actor trigger: to take up an occupation

   Nagdoktor si Mary noong 1987.

   Mary became a doctor in 1987. (Mary is focused.)

3. actor trigger: to use or wear something

   Hindi siya marunong mag-Ingles.

   He doesn't know how to speak (use) English. (He is focused.)

   Mag-amerikana ka at malamig sa labas.

   (You) wear a coat because it's cold outside. (You is focused.)

4. actor trigger: to do a reciprocal action; each other

   Mag-usap muna tayo.

   Let's talk to each other first. (Us is focused.)

5. no trigger: to be

   Magpa-Pasko na bukas!

   It will be Christmas tomorrow! (There is no focus.)

6. actor trigger (with CV reduplication): to do something repeatedly, continually, or intensely

   Nagsisisigaw ang mga bata.

   The children are screaming so much. (The children is focused.)

7. actor trigger (with root word reduplication): to do a reciprocal action involving three or more doers; one another

   Magkikita-kita tayo sa susunod na linggo.

   We will see one another next week. (We is focused.)

8. actor trigger (with root word reduplication): to do something occasionally, at random, a little, a bit, now and then, or here and there

   Naglakad-lakad si Pedro sa mall.

   Pedro walked a bit in the mall. (Pedro is focused.)

Usage notes

If the root word begins with a vowel or is a proper noun, insert a hyphen after the prefix.

• mag- + ‎aral → ‎mag-aral

  mag- + ‎Pasko → ‎mag-Pasko

In cases where mag- is used with nouns that begin in "ka-", it denotes reciprocal action of the verb.

1. mag-+kausap (“person the speaker is talking to”)=magkausap (“to be talking to each other”)
2. mag-+kaaway (“enemy”)=magkaaway (“to be enemies”)
3. mag-+kaibigan (“friend”)=magkaibigan (“to be friends”)
4. mag-+kamukha (“look alike”)=magkamukha (“to be looking alike”)

See also

• um-

► Tagalog words prefixed with mag-

Noun suffix

mag-

1. Used to create nouns indicating relationship

   mag- + ‎ama (“father”) → ‎mag-ama (“father and son”)