tanga ka
/taˈŋa ka/word by word
In Tagalog, "you're stupid" is said as tanga ka.
This phrase is an insulting statement used to tell someone that they lack intelligence or common sense. While it can refer to a lack of intellect, the word tanga is also frequently used to describe someone being clumsy or making a careless mistake.
What does it mean word for word?
tanga means stupid or foolish, and ka is the second-person singular pronoun for "you".
How do you pronounce it?
/taˈŋa ka/
Did you know?
- The word tanga may have been borrowed from the Hokkien word thâng-á, which refers to a 'little vermin' or 'insect'.
- Adding the particle naman to tanga ka can shift the tone from a direct insult to a sigh of frustration or disbelief.
- The word tanga is often paired with the word bobo, though bobo usually refers to a lack of education while tanga refers to a lack of common sense.
Examples in context
- Ang bobo mo!You're dumb!
- Walang utak!You have no brain!
- Ang tanga mo!You are so stupid!
- Tanga ka talaga.You are really stupid.
Example conversation
Jasmine and Ricardo are arguing over a mistake he made.
- JasmineTanga ka ba?Are you stupid?
- RicardoHindi ah!No, I'm not!
- JasmineTanga ka talaga, Ricardo.You are really stupid, Ricardo.
- RicardoPasensya na.I'm sorry.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (tanga, ka) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ka, tanga, CC BY-SA 4.0.
