Skip to content

makausap

to be able to talk to

verb ma-ka-u-SAP AF VERB Less Common

From root: usap

Conjugations

Past (Completed)

nakausap

na-ka-u-SAP

was able to talk to

Present (Incomplete)

nakakausap

na-ka-ka-u-SAP

is able to talk to

Future (Contemplated)

makakausap

ma-ka-ka-u-SAP

will be able to talk to

Usage Note

Makausap is used to express the ability or opportunity to speak with someone, often appearing in polite requests or situations where making contact is the goal. It carries a nuance of 'getting the chance' to talk, rather than simply performing the act of speaking.

Examples

Beginner

" Gusto kitang makausap. "

Natural Translation

I want to talk to you.

Literal Translation

Want I-you to-be-able-to-talk-to.

Intermediate

" Hindi ko siya makausap ngayon. "

Natural Translation

I am not able to talk to him/her today.

Literal Translation

Not I him/her able-to-talk today.

Advanced

" Kailangan ko siyang makausap bago siya umalis, dahil may mahalagang bagay akong sasabihin. "

Natural Translation

I need to be able to talk to him before he leaves, because I have something important to say.

Literal Translation

Need I him to-be-able-to-talk-to before he leave, because have important thing I will-say.

Free · iOS & Android

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 work

Word family

usap has 11 related forms built from the same root.

See all

Explore Tagalog by topic

Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.