Quite often I hear adjectives which begin with naka or nakaka. They are easy to spot, and easy to speak, making it an effective source to enhance overall communication capacity.
naka- expresses a “state”
| nakadikit | pasted, attached |
| nakasapatos | wearing shoes |
| nakatupi | folded (as clothes, etc.) |
| nakasalamin | wearing glasses |
| nakatira | live, reside (mostly to specify the place) |
| nakahiwa | already cut/sliced |
| nakaupo | seated |
These adjectives expeess a state of people or things. It is safer to see them as adjectives, and not maka- verbs. For example, nakadikit cannot be conjugated into nakakadikit as present tense, according to a native spesker. Let’s see some examples.
Saan ka nakatira?
Where do you live?
Previously I used to say “saan ka nakakatira?,” wrongly assuming it would be a verb makatira in its present tense. A filipino corrected me. It should be nakatira because it is talking about a state of residing which is already settled.
Sya! Yung nakasalamin!
Him! The guy with glasses!
This is what I heard when someone pointed to a person who cut in line for jeepney in the Mall of Asia.
May nakaupo ba dito?
Is this seat taken?
“Nakaupo” describes a person being in a seated state. In expressions like ‘May nakaupo ba dito?’, the question is literally “Is there someone seated (here)?”, but it is pragmatically understood as “Is this seat taken?” even if the person is temporarily away.
Nakahiwa na po ito.
This is already sliced.
This phrase is what I spoke to pass a box of pizza that had been already sliced, not knowing nakahiwa was actually a correct word. Just like this, naka- adjectives are quite versatile and practical in making conversations.
Let’s move on to nakaka- adjectives.
nakaka- expresses characteristics
| nakakainis | annoying |
| nakakabusog | filling (as foods) |
| nakakatakot | scary |
| nakakagigil | emotionally trembling (due to cuteness or annoyance) |
While naka- adjectives express a state that is already settled, nakaka- adjectives express characteristics that can potentially be shown or already being shown.
“nakakainis!” explicitly shows the person is annoyed or irritated. This word is quite often observed in casual conversations.
“nakakabusog” incidcates the food like a big burger being mentioned is quite filling.
Nakakagigil ka!
Aww! You so cute!
This line I heard was directed to a cat. Gigil is something that makes you tremble in heart likely by extreme cuteness. Maybe the pronunciation itself describes the emotional significance it conveys.
In summary, naka- adjectives express a state like “attached: nakadikit,” while nakaka- adjectives express characteristics like “scary: nakakatakot.”
These are frequently used in daily conversations. So knowing them will mean a lot in both speaking and comprehension capacity.
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