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bigla

biglâ with stress marks

suddenly

adverb adjective big-LA Native origin Less Common
Time Time Expressions
Illustration of "bigla" (suddenly)

Usage Note

Bigla is usually followed by the linker -ng (biglang) when modifying a verb to show that an action happened without warning. It is frequently used in daily storytelling to add surprise or immediacy, and it is also the root for 'mabigla,' meaning to be startled or caught off guard.

Examples

Beginner

" Bigla siyang umiyak. "

Natural Translation

She suddenly cried.

Literal Translation

Suddenly she cried.

Intermediate

" Bigla siyang umalis. "

Natural Translation

She left suddenly.

Literal Translation

Suddenly she left.

Advanced

" Habang naglalakad kami sa parke, bigla na lang umulan kaya napatakbo kaming lahat papuntang kubo. "

Natural Translation

While we were walking in the park, it suddenly rained, so we all ran toward the hut.

Literal Translation

While walking we in park, suddenly just rained so ran we all toward hut.

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How Tagalog words work

Derived Words

biglaan DERIVED

unplanned

kabiglaan DERIVED

suddenness

pabigla-bigla DERIVED

hasty

Actor Focus Verbs

mabigla AF VERB

to be surprised

Object Focus Verbs

biglain OF VERB

to surprise someone

ibigla OF VERB

to do something suddenly

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