Usage Note
Kinig is the root for the common verb makinig, which focuses on the intentional act of listening rather than just hearing. Use it when telling someone to pay attention to music, a conversation, or instructions.
Examples
" Makinig kang mabuti. "
Natural Translation
Listen carefully.
Literal Translation
Listen you-linker well.
" Kung makikinig ka lamang nang buong puso sa payo ng iyong mga magulang, mas magiging madali ang iyong buhay. "
Natural Translation
If you would only listen wholeheartedly to your parents' advice, your life would become much easier.
Literal Translation
If will-listen you only with whole heart to advice of your plural parents, more will-become easy the your life.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workDerived Words
Actor Focus Verbs
Object Focus Verbs
Related Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.

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.

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.

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.

How to Say Sorry in Tagalog: Patawad vs Pasensya
How to say sorry in Tagalog: patawad, pasensya na, and paumanhin compared on a simple severity-and-formality ladder so you pick the right word every time.