matigas
/matiˈɡas/
The Tagalog word for hard is matigas.
Matigas refers specifically to physical hardness or firmness of texture. It is a common and general word used to describe something hard or a person who is stubborn.
Meaning: requiring a lot of effort to do or understand (adj)
Which one should you use?
Use mahirap instead of matigas when referring to tasks or concepts that are difficult or challenging to do or understand.
How does it change in a sentence?
Matigas is an adjective and does not change its form based on the number of objects being described.
How do you pronounce it?
/matiˈɡas/
Did you know?
- The word matigas is related to the Malagasy word mateza, showing how the Tagalog language is linked to distant languages in Madagascar through its ancient ancestry.
- The word mahirap used for 'hard' tasks is also the primary word for 'poor', implying that being poor is the ultimate difficulty.
- The word matigas can be used to describe a person's heart, matigas ang puso, to indicate they are cold or lack empathy.
Examples in context
- Masyadong matigas ang yelo para mabiyak.The ice is too hard to crack.This sentence illustrates using matigas to describe the texture of ice.Tatoeba #1859939 by nonong, translation #44325 by CK
- Kung hindi ka nagagandahan sa akin, bakit matigas ang titi mo?If you don't think I'm hot, then why is your cock hard?This sentence uses matigas in a vulgar anatomical context.Tatoeba #11861668 by qwertzu, translation #8684830 by sabretou
- Hindi ito matigas.This isn't hard.This sentence shows a simple negation of the adjective matigas.Tatoeba #3033088 by mervert1, translation #2233753 by CK
- Ang bato ay matigas.The stone is hard.
- Siya ay matigas ang ulo.He/She is hard-headed.
- Mahirap talaga mabuhay pag matigas ang puso.It's really difficult to live when your heart is tough.
Example conversation
Juan and Maria are discussing a difficult homework assignment.
- JuanMaria, matigas ba ang assignment sa Math?Maria, is the Math assignment hard?
- MariaOo, matigas talaga ang mga tanong dito.Yes, the questions here are really hard.
- JuanKailangan ba natin ng tulong ng guro?Do we need the teacher's help?
- MariaSiguro, kasi matigas intindihin ang lesson.Maybe, because the lesson is hard to understand.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry matigas, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries matigas, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
