maramot
/maˈɾamot/
The English word 'selfish' is translated into Tagalog as maramot.
maramot specifically carries a connotation of being stingy or unwilling to share material possessions with others.
Meaning: having regard for one's own well-being above that of others (adj)
Which one should you use?
The word makasarili is a common synonym for maramot that focuses more on the concept of 'self-centeredness' rather than 'stinginess'. Additionally, the formal way to say selfish is mapag-imbot.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective maramot can be transformed into the adjective mapagmaramot to describe a person's habitual tendency or character trait of being stingy.
How do you pronounce it?
/maˈɾamot/
Did you know?
- Because maramot is so closely tied to material things, using it to describe someone who is 'selfish' with their time or emotions might cause slight confusion in a conversation.
- Calling someone maramot in a social setting can sound much more accusatory and harsh than the English word 'selfish' might imply.
- The formal word mapag-imbot carries a much heavier, almost poetic or literary weight, often used in older texts to describe greed or deep-seated avarice.
Examples in context
- Siya ay mapag-imbot sa kanyang mga ari-arian.He/she is selfish with his/her possessions.
- Ang taong madamot ay hindi popular sa kanilang komunidad.A person who is selfish is not popular in their community.
- Huwag kang maging maramot sa iyong pagkain.Don't be selfish with your food.
Example conversation
Mark and Jasmine are discussing a person at their party.
- MarkMaramot ba ang bisitang iyon?Is that guest selfish?
- JasmineOo, maramot siya sa mga gamit.Yes, she is selfish with her things.
- MarkNakakainis ang ugali niya.Her behavior is annoying.
- JasmineKaya nga, huwag mo na siyang pansinin.Exactly, just ignore her.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry maramot, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
