From root: alam
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
nakaalam
na-ka-a-LAM
happened to know
Present (Incomplete)
nakakaalam
na-ka-ka-a-LAM
happens to know
Future (Contemplated)
makakaalam
ma-ka-ka-a-LAM
will happen to know
Usage Note
Makaalam is used when someone happens to find out or gain knowledge about something, often unintentionally or through a specific circumstance. It focuses on the act of acquiring information rather than the continuous state of knowing.
Examples
" Baka makaalam siya bukas. "
Natural Translation
Maybe he'll find out tomorrow.
Literal Translation
Maybe to-happen-to-know he/she tomorrow.
" Sana makaalam siya ng katotohanan. "
Natural Translation
I hope he happens to know the truth.
Literal Translation
Hope to happen to know he/she the truth.
" Natakot siyang baka makaalam ang kanyang mga magulang sa sikretong matagal na niyang itinatago. "
Natural Translation
She was afraid her parents might find out about the secret she had been hiding for a long time.
Literal Translation
Afraid she that-maybe to-happen-to-know the her parents of-the secret long already she hiding.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
alam has 8 related forms built from the same root.
Related Words
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