Tagalog Noun Plurals

Noun plurals are formed by placing mga (“manga”) before the noun. Examples:

kapatid

sibling

mga kapatid

siblings

Below are other ways to indicate the plural number:

1. Using numbers or other words expressing quantity. See also: Expressing quantity or distribution (p. 236), Na/-ng (p. 28)

isang kapatid

one sibling

dalawang kapatid

two siblings

tatlong kapatid

three siblings

maraming kapatid

many siblings

2. Using plural adjectives. See also: Plural adjectives (p. 230), Na/-ng (p. 28)

masipag na kapatid

diligent sibling

masisipag na kapatid

diligent siblings

napakasipag na kapatid

very diligent sibling

napakasisipag na kapatid

very diligent siblings

3. Using affixes expressing or describing two or more persons or things. See also: noun affixes mag- (p. 72) and mag- +rep1 1 (p. 74), and adjective affixes magka- (p. 217) and magkaka- (p. 218)

kapatid

sibling

magkapatid

two persons who are siblings

magkakapatid

three or more persons who are siblings

Optionally, the plural number can be indicated by combining mga with a number, any other word expressing quantity, or a plural adjective.

maraming kapatid

many siblings

maraming mga kapatid

many siblings

masisipag na kapatid

diligent siblings

mga masisipag na kapatid

diligent siblings

Note:

1. If the News (p. 30) of the sentence is a number, mga cannot be used in the POD (p. 30). Example:

Lima ang anak niya.*

He/she has five children.

Lit. His/her children are five.

* Mga cannot be placed before anak.

2. Mga means about or around when used before a number or a time expression. Examples:

mga limang kilo

about 5 kilos

mga 1 o’clock

at around 1 o’clock

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