From root: tawa
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
itinawa
i-ti-NA-wa
laughed off
Present (Incomplete)
itinitawa
i-ti-ni-TA-wa
laughing off
Future (Contemplated)
itatawa
i-ta-TA-wa
will laugh off
Usage Note
Itawa is used when expressing the act of laughing something off, such as a mistake, embarrassment, or a minor problem, to lessen the tension or stress. It is frequently heard in the phrase 'Itawa mo na lang,' which reflects the Filipino cultural tendency to use humor as a coping mechanism for life's challenges.
Examples
" Itawa mo na lang iyon. "
Natural Translation
Just laugh it off.
Literal Translation
Laugh-off you just that.
" Gusto kong itawa na lang iyon. "
Natural Translation
I want to just laugh that off.
Literal Translation
Want I laugh-off already that.
" Sa halip na ikahiya ang pagkakamali, mas mabuting itawa na lang ito at magpatuloy. "
Natural Translation
Instead of being embarrassed by the mistake, it's better to just laugh it off and move on.
Literal Translation
In place of be-embarrassed the mistake, more good laugh-off just this and continue.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
tawa has 10 related forms built from the same root.
Related Words
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