Anong nangyari
The English phrase "what happened" is translated into Tagalog as Anong nangyari.
This phrase is used to ask for an explanation of an event or a situation.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a contraction of Ano ang nangyari, where ano means "what", ang is a marker for the subject and nangyari means "happened".
Which one should you use?
You may also see the variation Ano'ng nangyare?, which is an informal version that drops the final syllable of the verb.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal or grammatically complete way to ask the question, use the uncontracted form Ano ang nangyari? The contraction Anong nangyari? is more colloquial, and Ano'ng nangyari? or Ano'ng nangyare? are used in informal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase Anong nangyari, the word anong is a contraction of ano (what) and the linker -ng used to connect the question word to the following verb.
Did you know?
- While Anong nangyari is the standard, in casual street slang, you might hear people ask Anong ganap? which literally translates to 'what is the happening?'
- The root of the verb nangyari is yari, which in other Tagalog contexts can mean 'finished' or 'done', implying the event has reached its conclusion.
- If you want to ask 'what happened' specifically to a person in a respectful way, you must add the word po to the end of the phrase, making it Anong nangyari po?
Examples in context
- Anong nangyari kay Yanni?What happened to Yanni?This example shows how to use Anong nangyari when asking about a person.Tatoeba #11270202 by qwertzu, translation #10023087 by Amastan
- Hindi ko naaalala kung anong nangyari kagabi.I don't remember what happened last night.This example demonstrates using Anong nangyari within a larger sentence regarding a past event.Tatoeba #13649542 by kangkong, translation #6658966 by CK
- Anong nangyari?What happened?This example shows the standalone question Anong nangyari?Tatoeba #8634998 by artemio, translation #375822 by megamanenm
- Ano ang nangyari sa kotse mo?What happened to your car?
- Ano'ng nangyari sa party kagabi?What happened at the party last night?
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Christina is looking distressed in the middle of the room.
- RicardoAnong nangyari?What happened?
- ChristinaNabasag ko ang paboritong baso ko.I broke my favorite glass.
- RicardoHuwag kang mag-alala, Christina.Don't worry, Christina.
- ChristinaSalamat, Ricardo.Thank you, Ricardo.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
