Skip to content

malaking tao

powerful person

noun ma-LA-king TA-o Compound origin Less Common

Also means

Can literally mean 'big person' referring to an adult or someone of large physical stature.

Usage Note

Malaking tao is used figuratively to refer to someone with social influence, political power, or high status. Invoking a malaking tao in a dispute signals deference to authority and is a common way to resolve conflicts informally in Filipino society.

Examples

Beginner

" Malaking tao ang ama niya. "

Natural Translation

His/Her father is an influential person.

Literal Translation

Powerful person the father his/her.

Intermediate

" Siya ay malaking tao. "

Natural Translation

He/She is a powerful person.

Literal Translation

He/She is powerful person.

Advanced

" Dahil malaking tao ang kanyang ninong, madali siyang nakapasok sa malaking kompanya. "

Natural Translation

Because his godfather is an influential person, he easily got into a big company.

Literal Translation

Because powerful person the his godfather, easily he got-in to big company.

Free · iOS & Android

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 work

Explore Tagalog by topic

Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.