From root: saka
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
nagsaka
nag-sa-KA
farmed
Present (Incomplete)
nagsasaka
nag-sa-sa-KA
farming
Future (Contemplated)
magsasaka
mag-sa-sa-KA
will farm
Usage Note
Magsaka is used when referring to the professional or livelihood activity of tilling the land, particularly in a rural or agricultural setting. It specifically evokes the image of rice farming, which is a cornerstone of Filipino culture and economy.
Examples
" Marunong magsaka si Tatay. "
Natural Translation
Dad knows how to farm.
Literal Translation
Knows-how to-farm Dad.
" Mahirap ang magsaka tuwing tag-ulan. "
Natural Translation
It is difficult to farm during the rainy season.
Literal Translation
Difficult to-farm every rainy-season.
" Mula pagkabata ay natutuhan kong magsaka, kaya alam ko kung gaano kahirap ang buhay sa bukid. "
Natural Translation
Since childhood I learned how to farm, so I know how hard life is in the countryside.
Literal Translation
From childhood learned I to-farm, so know I how hard the life in field.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
saka has 4 related forms built from the same root.
Related Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.

Tagalog Pronouns Explained: Complete Chart with Examples
Every Tagalog pronoun explained with clear charts: ang/ng/sa forms, tayo vs kami, ikaw vs ka, politeness markers, and the mistakes beginners make.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Tagalog?
Survival Tagalog takes ~3-4 weeks and comfortable conversation 6-12 months. FSI's 1,100 hours is the professional bar, not the talking-to-family bar.

Tagalog vs Filipino: What's the Difference & Which to Learn
Tagalog and Filipino aren't the same language — but they overlap almost completely. Here's the real difference and which one you should actually learn.

Tagalog Greetings: How to Say Hello, Goodbye & Po/Opo
Master Tagalog greetings with pronunciation: kumusta, magandang umaga, po and opo polite forms, time-of-day phrases, and the mano po tradition.