How to Say "Tall" in Filipino

matangkad

/mataŋˈkad/

The Filipino word for tall is matangkad.

The term matangkad is the most common and straightforward way to say tall in Filipino when describing a person.

Meaning: of a person (adj)

What does it mean word for word?

The word is formed from the root tangkad (height) with the prefix ma-, which denotes an adjective of quality.

While matangkad refers to the height of people or living things, mataas is used for the height of inanimate objects like buildings or mountains.

The adjective matangkad is invariant in gender and number, meaning it does not change whether describing one person or many people.

/mataŋˈkad/

While matangkad describes a person's height, the word mataas is used for things like 'high' ceilings or 'tall' mountains. Using matangkad for a building would sound like you are attributing human biology to the architecture.
If you want to describe someone as 'very tall', you would say matangkad na matangkad or use the intensive prefix napaka- to create napakatangkad.
In Filipino, the concept of 'tall' is often paired with the word payat meaning 'thin'. A person described as matangkad at payat is essentially called 'lanky'.

Hindi matangkad si Tom.
Tom isn't tall.
This sentence is useful for saying that Tom isn't tall using matangkad.
Tatoeba #11606539 by qwertzu, translation #1024675 by CK
Matangkad siya at payat.
He is tall and lean.
This sentence is useful for describing someone who is tall and lean using matangkad.
Tatoeba #11474032 by qwertzu, translation #302408 by CM
Matangkad siya at guwapo.
He is tall and handsome.
This sentence is useful for describing someone who is tall and handsome using matangkad.
Tatoeba #1604696 by nonong, translation #388095 by Mouseneb
Siya ay matangkad.
He/She is tall.
Ang lalaking iyon ay napakatangkad.
That man is very tall.
Ang boyfriend niya ay matangos ang ilong at matangkad.
Her boyfriend has a tall figure and a sharp nose.
Sila ay matatagpuan sa pinakamataas na bahagi ng gusali.
They can be found on the tallest part of the building.
13 more sentences on Tatoeba

Christina and Antonio are talking about a new classmate.

Sources

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