From root: bangka
Usage Note
Mambabangka refers to the person who operates, rows, or steers a boat. Mambabangka ang nagdala sa amin sa kabilang isla.
Examples
" Mahusay ang mambabangka namin. "
Natural Translation
Our boatman is skilled.
Literal Translation
Skilled the boatman ours.
" Ang mambabangka ay naghihintay ng pasahero. "
Natural Translation
The boatman is waiting for a passenger.
Literal Translation
The boatman is waiting for passenger.
" Sa tuwing malakas ang alon, ang mambabangka lamang na sanay sa dagat ang nakakapaghatid nang ligtas sa mga isla. "
Natural Translation
Whenever the waves are strong, only a boatman who is used to the sea can ferry people safely to the islands.
Literal Translation
At every strong the wave, the boatman only that accustomed to sea the can-ferry safely to the islands.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
bangka has 9 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.

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.

May vs Mayroon vs Meron: Have & There Is
May vs mayroon in Tagalog finally made simple: one rule decides which to use, plus how meron and wala fit the same have and there-is family.

Po and Opo in Tagalog: Where to Put Them Right
Po and opo confuse learners — but placement follows one rule. Where po goes in a sentence, why it's opo not 'oo po', and the pronoun shift to learn.

Ang, Ng, Sa: The 3 Tagalog Case Markers Explained
Ang, ng, sa are the three Tagalog case markers every noun takes. Learn what each does, the personal forms si/ni/kay, plurals with mga, and clear examples.