mailiwak kenka
The English phrase "I miss you" is translated into Ilocano as mailiwak kenka.
mailiwak kenka is used to express that you long for or miss someone.
Meaning: I miss you (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The word mailiwak is formed from the root liw, which means to miss or long for, combined with the first-person singular actor suffix -ak, meaning "I".
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "I miss you too", you can add the particle met after the verb to create the phrase mailiwak met kenka.
Did you know?
- The Ilocano word for 'miss' shares a distant linguistic ancestor with many other languages in the Austronesian family, including Tagalog and Malay, through the Proto-Malayo-Polynesian root.
- The particle met used to say 'I miss you too' is a versatile tool in Ilocano that can express agreement, addition, or even sarcasm depending on the tone used.
- The word mailiwak describes a feeling of longing that can apply not just to people but also to places or past memories.
Examples in context
- Mailiwak kenka.I miss you.This sentence is useful for stating "I miss you" using the form mailiwak kenka.Tatoeba #4632744 by saluyot, translation #1308 by brauliobezerra
- Mailiwak kenka unay.I miss you very much.
Example conversation
Antonio and Cristina are talking on a video call.
- AntonioMailiwak kenka, Cristina.I miss you, Cristina.
- CristinaMailiwak kenka met, Antonio.I miss you too, Antonio.
- AntonioAgkita ta kadi idiay sumaruno a bulan?Shall we see each other next month?
- CristinaWen, sige met.Yes, that sounds good.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kenka, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
