singkamas
singkámas with stress marks
yam bean; local turnip
Usage Note
Singkamas (jicama) is a crunchy, sweet root vegetable popular as a street snack in the Philippines, typically eaten raw with bagoong (fermented shrimp paste) or vinegar and salt. It is refreshing and widely available at markets and from street vendors.
Examples
" Masarap ang singkamas. "
Natural Translation
The yam bean is delicious.
Literal Translation
Delicious the yam-bean.
" Matamis ang singkamas na ito. "
Natural Translation
This yam bean is sweet.
Literal Translation
Sweet the yam bean this.
" Tuwing tag-init, gusto kong kumain ng sariwang singkamas na may konting asin dahil malamig ito at nakakawala ng uhaw. "
Natural Translation
Every summer, I like to eat fresh yam bean with a little salt because it is cool and quenches thirst.
Literal Translation
Every summer, like I to-eat of fresh yam-bean that with little salt because cool this and removing of thirst.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workRelated Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.

Is Tagalog Hard to Learn? An Honest Answer
Tagalog takes around 1,100 hours to reach professional proficiency. Here is what is easy, what is hard, and what to expect at 3, 6, and 12 months.

Tagalog Question Words: Ano, Sino, Saan & More
Tagalog question words like ano, sino, and saan need the right frame to work. Learn the ang-vs-pronoun rule, confusable pairs, and the ba particle with audio.

Tagalog Affixes Explained: A Beginner's Guide to Word Building
Tagalog affixes turn one root word into dozens of meanings. Learn prefixes, infixes, suffixes, and circumfixes with clear examples for beginners.

Tagalog Root Words: Learn a Few Hundred, Understand Thousands
Tagalog root words unlock vocabulary fast: learn a few hundred and recognize thousands. Real word families, examples, and a practical study strategy.