maaari
maaarì with stress marks
can; able to; may
Usage Note
Maaari expresses possibility or permission and is roughly equivalent to English 'can' or 'may'. It is more polite and formal than 'pwede' (which comes from Spanish 'puede') and is preferred in written Tagalog, official communication, and when addressing elders or superiors.
Examples
" Maaari ba akong umupo? "
Natural Translation
May I sit down?
Literal Translation
May question I sit?
" Maaari ba akong umalis? "
Natural Translation
May I leave?
Literal Translation
May question I leave?
" Maaari naman kayong magtanong sa akin kung may bahagi ng aralin na hindi ninyo lubos na naunawaan. "
Natural Translation
You may certainly ask me if there is a part of the lesson that you did not fully understand.
Literal Translation
May indeed you ask to me if has part of lesson that not you fully understood.
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