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maykaya

maykayâ with stress marks

wealthy; rich

adjective may-ka-YA Compound origin Less Common

Usage Note

Maykaya is a compound of may (has) and kaya (capability/means) and describes someone who has financial means, but it is notably softer and more polite than mayaman (rich). Filipinos often use maykaya to avoid directly labeling someone as wealthy.

Examples

Beginner

" Maykaya ang pamilya nila. "

Natural Translation

Their family is well-off.

Literal Translation

Well-off the family their.

Intermediate

" Galing siya sa isang maykaya na pamilya sa aming probinsya. "

Natural Translation

He/She comes from a wealthy family in our province.

Literal Translation

Coming he/she from one [ng] wealthy [na] family in-the our province.

Advanced

" Bagaman maykaya na sila ngayon, hindi nila kailanman kinalimutan kung gaano sila kahirap noong bata pa sila. "

Natural Translation

Although they are well-off now, they never forgot how poor they were when they were still young.

Literal Translation

Although well-off already they now, not they ever forgot how they very-poor when child still they.

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