Usage Note
Kanya is a contracted, informal form of kaniya functioning as a third-person singular possessive or object pronoun. Because Tagalog does not grammatically distinguish gender, kanya can refer to a person of any gender — it is one of the most frequently used pronouns in spoken Tagalog.
Examples
" Ibigay mo ito sa kanya. "
Natural Translation
Give this to him/her.
Literal Translation
Give you this to him/her.
" Ibalik mo ang libro sa kanya. "
Natural Translation
Return the book to him/her.
Literal Translation
Return you the book to him/her.
" Hindi ko alam kung saan siya nakatira, kaya hindi ko maipadala sa kanya ang sulat. "
Natural Translation
I don't know where he/she lives, so I can't send the letter to him/her.
Literal Translation
Not I know if where he/she resides, so not I can-send to him/her the letter.
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