taka
wonder, surprise, or bewilderment
Usage Note
Taka is a common and expressive word covering surprise, amazement, or puzzlement — often a mixture of all three. The reduplicated form nataka-taka conveys a lingering, unresolved bewilderment and is one of the most frequently heard expressions of incredulity in everyday conversation.
Examples
" Taka ako sa sagot niya. "
Natural Translation
I'm puzzled by his/her answer.
Literal Translation
Puzzled I in answer his/her.
" Bakas ang taka sa kanyang mukha. "
Natural Translation
Wonder is visible on his/her face.
Literal Translation
Visible the wonder on his/her face.
" Nataka-taka ang mga guro kung paano nakapasa ang batang halos hindi pumapasok sa klase. "
Natural Translation
The teachers were bewildered as to how the child who barely attended class managed to pass.
Literal Translation
Bewildered the teachers as-to how passed the child that almost not attends in class.
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 workActor Focus Verbs
Related Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.
Tagalog Verb Conjugation: Aspects Made Simple
Tagalog verb conjugation uses aspects, not tenses. Learn the three aspects with -um- and mag- verbs, one reduplication rule, and clear example tables.
Seasons in the Philippines: A Tagalog Guide
The Philippines has two seasons, not four. Learn tag-araw, tag-ulan, and taglamig, the generative tag- prefix, and the weather vocabulary to match.
Languages of the Philippines: Tagalog, Cebuano, and More
Languages of the Philippines: one national language (Filipino) plus 180+ regional languages. Here's who speaks what, where, and why it matters to you.
Spaced Repetition for Tagalog: How Flashcards Make Words Stick
Cramming Tagalog vocabulary fails. See how spaced repetition — the science behind smart flashcards — makes words stick for the long term.