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aba

abá with stress marks

woah!

interjection a-BA Native origin Common
Illustration of "aba" (woah!)

Also means

Aba can also mean humble, miserable, or lowly when pronounced as abâ.

Usage Note

Abá is commonly used at the start of a sentence to express surprise, disbelief, or to emphasize a correction or objection. It signals a spontaneous reaction to something unexpected, making it a key part of natural, expressive Filipino conversation.

Examples

Beginner

" Aba, nandito ka pala! "

Natural Translation

Oh, you're here!

Literal Translation

Woah, here you it-turns-out!

Intermediate

" Aba, ang ganda mo! "

Natural Translation

Wow, you look beautiful!

Literal Translation

Woah, the beautiful you!

Advanced

" Aba, akala ko ba ay tapos mo na ang proyekto, bakit ngayon mo pa lang sinisimulan? "

Natural Translation

Hey, I thought you had already finished the project, so why are you only starting it now?

Literal Translation

Woah, thought I question is finished you already the project, why now you still only starting?

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