sunggab
sunggáb with stress marks
to grab or seize
Usage Note
Sunggab conveys a quick, forceful snatching motion — often used when describing a sudden lunge for food, an object, or even a person. It is common in vivid storytelling and colloquial speech, evoking urgency or greed in the action.
Examples
" Sinunggaban niya ang pagkain. "
Natural Translation
He/she grabbed the food.
Literal Translation
Grabbed he/she the food.
" Mabilis ang kanyang sunggab. "
Natural Translation
His/her grab is fast.
Literal Translation
Fast the his/her grab.
" Bago pa man matumba ang bata, mabilis siyang sinunggaban ng kanyang ama at iniligtas sa pagkahulog. "
Natural Translation
Before the child could even fall over, his/her father quickly seized him/her and saved him/her from falling.
Literal Translation
Before even fall-over the child, fast he/she was-grabbed by the his/her father and saved from falling.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workActor Focus Verbs
Object Focus Verbs
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.

Ng vs Nang in Tagalog: The Spelling Rule
Ng vs nang sound identical but spell differently. Use ng to mark nouns (of, the object), and nang for how, when, repetition, and counting time.

Filipino Family Words and Honorifics: Ate, Kuya & Tita
Filipino family words like ate, kuya, tita, tito, lolo, and lola go far beyond family — learn how Filipinos use them with strangers, plus mano po etiquette.

Magkano: How to Ask "How Much" in Tagalog
Magkano means how much in Tagalog. Learn to ask a price, tell it apart from ilan and gaano, sound polite with po, and haggle at the palengke.