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asawa

asáwa with stress marks

spouse (husband or wife)

noun verb a-SA-wa Native origin Common
People & Society Relationships
Illustration of "asawa" (spouse (husband or wife))

Usage Note

Asawa is a gender-neutral term for both a husband and a wife used in casual and formal settings. When referring to someone else's spouse, it is often considered more polite to use titles like 'mister' or 'misis' to show respect.

Examples

Beginner

" Mabait ang asawa ko. "

Natural Translation

My spouse is kind.

Literal Translation

Kind the spouse my.

Intermediate

" Ang asawa ko ay mabait. "

Natural Translation

My spouse is kind.

Literal Translation

The spouse my is kind.

Advanced

" Mahigit tatlumpung taon na silang mag-asawa, ngunit parang bago pa rin ang pagmamahalan nila sa isa't isa. "

Natural Translation

They have been married for over thirty years, yet their love for each other still feels new.

Literal Translation

More-than thirty years already they spouses, but like new still also the loving they to each-other.

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Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.

How Tagalog words work

Actor Focus Verbs

mag-asawa AF VERB

to get married

Object Focus Verbs

asawahin OF VERB

to marry

iasawa OF VERB

to marry off

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