Appendix B - Roots and Affixes
Roots and affixes are elements used to form nouns, verbs, and adjectives in Tagalog.
A root is normally discussed without stress or glottal stops.
Examples:
ganda root related to beauty
punta root related to going
kain root related to food or eating
buti root related to being fine
It can stand alone as a noun and sometimes an adjective, but stress and glottal stops must be included.
Examples:
galit root related to being angry
galit anger (noun)
galit angry (adjective)
An affix is a prefix, infix or suffix
Examples:
the ma in maganda (beautiful)
the um in pumunta (to go)
the in in kainin (to eat something)
the pa and in in paalisin (to be made to leave)
Noun examples
pag(affix) + kain(root: eating) = pagkain = food
aklat(root: book) + an(affix) = aklatan = library
araw(root: day) + araw(root) = araw-araw = every day
Verb examples
mag(affix) + luto(root: cooking) = maglutó = to cook
kain(root: eating) + um(affix) = kumain = to eat
sabi(root: saying) + hin(affix) = sabihin = to say
Adjective examples
ma(affix) + bait(root: being nice) = mabait = nice
lagnat(root: fever) + in(affix) = lagnatin = prone to fevers
ka(affix) + mukha(root: face) = kamukhá = looking alike