imik
imík with stress marks
break the silence; talk, answer, reply
Usage Note
Imik is most commonly used in the negative construction 'hindi kumimik', meaning someone refuses to speak or stays deliberately silent. It implies willful silence rather than inability to speak, often carrying a tone of stubbornness or shock.
Examples
" Wala siyang imik. "
Natural Translation
He/She said nothing.
Literal Translation
Nothing his/her reply.
" Isang mahinang imik lang ang narinig ko. "
Natural Translation
I only heard a faint reply.
Literal Translation
One weak that reply only the heard I.
" Kahit ilang beses ko siyang tanungin, hindi siya umimik at tinitigan lang ako nang may galit sa mga mata. "
Natural Translation
No matter how many times I asked her, she wouldn't say a word and just stared at me with anger in her eyes.
Literal Translation
Even how-many times I her ask, not she replied and stared only me with anger in the eyes.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
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