From root: ako
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
inako
i-na-KO
took responsibility for
Present (Incomplete)
inaako
i-na-a-KO
taking responsibility for
Future (Contemplated)
aakuin
a-a-ku-IN
will take responsibility for
Usage Note
Akuin is used when someone voluntarily takes responsibility for a mistake, debt, or a person, often implying a sense of sacrifice or owning up to a difficult situation. It is commonly used in contexts of admitting fault or assuming a burden that might not solely be one's own.
Examples
" Aakuin ko ang utang. "
Natural Translation
I'll take responsibility for the debt.
Literal Translation
Will-take-responsibility I the debt.
" Kailangan kong akuin ang mali ko. "
Natural Translation
I need to take responsibility for my mistake.
Literal Translation
Need I take-responsibility-for the mistake my.
" Kahit hindi naman siya ang may kasalanan, inako pa rin niya ang lahat para hindi mapahiya ang kapatid niya sa harap ng mga magulang. "
Natural Translation
Even though he wasn't the one at fault, he still took responsibility for everything so his sibling wouldn't be embarrassed in front of their parents.
Literal Translation
Even-though not really he the one-with fault, took-responsibility still he the all so not be-embarrassed the sibling his in front of the parents.
Take Tagalog with you
The full course, a 12,500-word dictionary, and flashcards that make every word stick — free to start on iOS and Android.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
ako has 5 related forms built from the same root.
Related Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.
Spaced Repetition for Tagalog: How Flashcards Make Words Stick
Cramming Tagalog vocabulary fails. See how spaced repetition — the science behind smart flashcards — makes words stick for the long term.
Filipino Family Words and Honorifics: Ate, Kuya & Tita
Filipino family words like ate, kuya, tita, tito, lolo, and lola go far beyond family — learn how Filipinos use them with strangers, plus mano po etiquette.
Tagalog Root Words: Learn a Few Hundred, Understand Thousands
Tagalog root words unlock vocabulary fast: learn a few hundred and recognize thousands. Real word families, examples, and a practical study strategy.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Tagalog?
Survival Tagalog takes ~3-4 weeks and comfortable conversation 6-12 months. FSI's 1,100 hours is the professional bar, not the talking-to-family bar.