Tagalog Syllable Repetition
Syllable repetition is common in Tagalog. There are two types:
1. The first syllable is repeated (rep1).
If the syllable starts with a vowel, repeat the first vowel. Example:
|
alis departure |
aalis will leave |
If the syllable starts with a consonant, repeat the first consonant and the first vowel. Examples:
|
basa reading |
babasa will read |
|
prito fried |
magpiprito* will fry |
* mag- is an affix.
2. The first two syllables are repeated (rep2). A hyphen is generally added. Example:
|
dalawa two |
dala-dalawa in twos, in pairs |
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This grammar guide is part of the Learning Tagalog Course.
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From Essential Tagalog Grammar: A Reference for Learners of Tagalog, Second Edition
By Fiona De Vos
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