From root: hawak
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
humawak
hu-MA-wak
held
Present (Incomplete)
humahawak
hu-ma-HA-wak
is holding
Future (Contemplated)
hahawak
ha-HA-wak
will hold
Usage Note
Humawak is used when someone physically holds or grasps an object or another person's hand, emphasizing the intentional action of holding. It is frequently used in daily instructions or when describing physical contact, such as holding a handrail for safety.
Examples
" Humawak ka sa kamay ko. "
Natural Translation
Hold my hand.
Literal Translation
Hold you on hand my.
" Humawak ka sa riles. "
Natural Translation
Hold onto the railing.
Literal Translation
Hold you on rail.
" Kapag matarik na ang daan paakyat, humawak ka sa gabay na bakal nang hindi ka madulas at matumba. "
Natural Translation
When the path going up gets steep, hold onto the metal railing so you don't slip and fall.
Literal Translation
When steep already the path going-up, hold you on guide that metal so not you slip and fall.
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
hawak 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.
Filipino Food: 12 Essential Dishes (With Tagalog Names)
Filipino food, from adobo to halo-halo: learn the Tagalog names, pronunciations, and ingredients behind 12 dishes you'll want to try on your first trip.
Tagalog Slang Guide: 20 Words You'll Hear on TikTok
Tagalog slang explained: lodi, petmalu, werpa, astig, chika and more. Decode Filipino TikTok comments, group chats, and pop culture with this practical guide.
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.
Is Tagalog Hard to Learn? An Honest Answer
Tagalog takes around 1,100 hours to reach professional proficiency. Here is what is easy, what is hard, and what to expect at 3, 6, and 12 months.