ugaga
ugagâ with stress marks
ability to cope with responsibilities
Usage Note
Ugaga refers to a person's capacity to manage duties, obligations, or hardships without being overwhelmed. It often appears in questions about whether someone is capable of handling a role — 'May ugaga ka ba?' — implying both practical competence and emotional resilience. The concept resonates with Filipino expectations of personal responsibility within the family unit.
Examples
" Wala siyang ugaga sa trabaho. "
Natural Translation
He has no ability to cope with the work.
Literal Translation
None his ability-to-cope in work.
" Hindi siya maasahan dahil wala siyang ugaga sa mga responsibilidad. "
Natural Translation
He/She can't be relied on because he/she has no ability to handle his/her responsibilities.
Literal Translation
Not he/she reliable because none his/her ability-to-cope in-the responsibilities.
" Kahit bata pa siya, may ugaga na ang panganay na anak na mag-alaga sa kanyang mga kapatid. "
Natural Translation
Even though she is still young, the eldest child already has the capacity to look after her siblings.
Literal Translation
Even-though young still she, has ability-to-cope already the eldest child to care-for her siblings.
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 workRelated 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.
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.
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.
Na vs -ng in Tagalog: The Linker Rule Made Simple
When do you use na vs -ng in Tagalog? One simple rule, with clear examples, memory tips, and common mistakes explained for English-speaking beginners.