napakagaling
In Tagalog, napakagaling is the phrase for very good.
This phrase is used to describe someone who is highly skilled or talented at a particular activity.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the prefix napa-, which acts as an intensifier and the root galing, meaning skill or excellence.
Which one should you use?
While magaling means good or skilled, napakagaling is the intensified form meaning very good or extremely skilled.
How does it change in a sentence?
When napakagaling modifies a noun, it is often followed by the linker na or -ng to connect it to that noun.
When do people say it?
The informal expression astig is used by Filipino youth to say something is awesome or cool to express that it is very good.
Did you know?
- While napakagaling is used for talent, the word mabuti is used for 'good' in a moral or ethical sense. You would not call a virtuous person napakagaling to mean they are a good person.
- The root galing can also be used in a medical context to mean 'to heal' or 'to get well', making 'very good' and 'recovery' linguistically linked.
- While galing means skill, it can also mean 'to come from' in a different context, such as when talking about one's hometown.
Examples in context
- Lalaki siyang isang napakagaling na piyanista.She will grow up to be a very good pianist.This sentence shows how to use napakagaling to describe a person's future potential as a pianist.Tatoeba #11774330 by qwertzu, translation #315696 by CK
- Ang iyong pagsasalita ay napakagaling!Your speaking is very good!
- Ang iyong pagganap ay napakahusay!Your performance is very good!
- Napabilib mo ako, talagang magaling ang ginawa mo.You impressed me, the work you did was really good.
- Ang galing ng pagkakagawa mo!You did a great job!
- Astig 'yung ginawa mo!What you did was awesome!
- Sobrang husay nung kanta mo!Your singing was really good!
- Napakagaling niyang sumayaw.She is a very good dancer.
- Napakagaling mong magluto.You are very good at cooking.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jose and Jasmine are watching a drawing competition.
- JoseTingnan mo ang gawa niya, napakagaling niya.Look at his work, he is very good.
- JasmineOo, mukhang totoong tao ang drawing niya.Yes, his drawing looks like a real person.
- JoseSana ay manalo siya sa contest.I hope he wins the contest.
- JasmineSigurado ako na mananalo siya, Jasmine.I am sure he will win, Jasmine.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
