Tagalog Verb Roots Pertaining to the Eyes: Tagalog Language Lesson
Learn common Tagalog verb roots related to eyesight, including kita, tingin, nood, and more. This Tagalog language tutorial includes vocabulary practice, Filipino trivia, and cultural insights. Download the free worksheet and join our Saturday classes!
Before we jump into today’s Tagalog lesson, I just want to share a quick life update…
Currently, I still don’t have a decent pair of eyeglasses. My eyesight is not at its best, and I’ve been referred to an eye specialist — but the earliest appointment I could get is three months away! 😵💫
While I wait for that day to come, I’ve decided to take my health more seriously:
- Get more rest 💤
- Let go of stress ☁️
- Prioritize self-care 🛁
- Practice daily somatic nervous system therapy 😌
- And yes — do simple eye exercises daily 👀
This little health detour actually inspired today’s topic! Let’s talk about eyes, and more specifically, how we express eye-related actions in Tagalog.
Tagalog Lessons About the Eyes
In English, we often use the words “see,” “look,” “stare,” “glance,” and “watch.” In Tagalog, we express those ideas using different root words, and it is important to recognize how these roots transform depending on the focus and verb tense.
Let us have a list of common root words related to eyes and vision:
- tingín (look)
- kita (see)
- titig (stare)
- sulyáp (glance)
- kuráp (blink)
- kisáp (blink)
- noód (watch)
- tanáw (noun: view; verb: look over or look at)
- basa (read)
- masíd (observe, gaze, watch)
- sipat (see or check if things are aligned or in proper order)
- tutok (focus)
- kindát (wink)
- pikit (close the eyes)
- mulat (open the eyes)
- dilat (open the eyes)
Actor-Focused Verbs Pertaining to Eyes and Vision
Use actor-focused verbs if you need to express the idea in active voice. Affixes um, mag, ma, or maka help conjugate the verb roots and denote that they are actor-focused verbs.
Study the verbs below and try to find the sentence structure which will help you craft a sentence of your own:
| Infinitive | Tagalog Sentences | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| tumingín | Tumingín ka sa kaliwâ. (Look you SA left) |
Look to the left. |
| makakita | Mahirap makakita kung hindî akmâ ang salamín. (Hard to see if not fit the eyeglasses) |
It's hard to see if the eyeglasses don't fit. |
| tumitig | Magaán siyáng tumitig sa ilaw na dulot ng kandilà. (Lightly he/she stared at SA light that given NG candle) |
He/she lightly stared at the light coming from the candle. |
| sumulyáp | Sumulyáp akó sa mga batang nalalarô sa labás. (Glanced I SA kids playing SA outside) |
I glanced at the kinds playing outside. |
| kumuráp | Ang mga tao ay kumukuráp labínlimá hanggang dalawámpúng beses bawat minuto. (ANG humans AY blinking 15 to 20 times every minute) |
Humans blink 15 to 20 times per minute. |
| manoód | Manoód tayo ng pelikula. (Watch we NG movie) |
Let's watch movie. |
| tumanáw | Mulâ sa balkonahe, tumanáw akó hardin na maraming mga bulaklák. (From SA balcony, viewed I garden NA plenty flowers) |
From the balcony, I viewed the garden full of flowers. |
| bumasa | Bumasa ka sana ng mga email ko. (Read you I hope NG emails my) |
I hope you read my emails. |
| magmasíd | Nagmamasíd ang guwardiyá sa mga tao sa loób ng bangko. (Watching ANG guard SA people SA inside NG bank) |
The guard is watching the people inside the bank. |
| tumutok | Tumutok ang mga mata niyá sa ginagawâ ko. (Focused ANG eyes his/her SA doing my) |
His/her eyes are focused on what I'm doing. |
| kumindát | Kumindát ang estrangherong mamimili sa isáng magándang tindera. (Winked ANG strange buyer SA a pretty seller) |
The strange buyer winked at the pretty seller. |
| pumikít | May mga gabíng kahit pagód na akó'y ayaw pumikít ng mga matá ko. (There are nights even tired NA I can't close NG eyes my) |
There are nights when my eyes won't shut even if I'm tired. |
| dumilat | Dumilat ang mga matá ko nang narinig ko ang boses niyá. (Opened ANG eyes my when heard I ANG voice his/her) |
My eyes opened when I heard his/her voice. |
As shown in the sentences above, it is apparent that:
Root word kita has at least two meanings: "see" and "earn". Kumita, as part of UM family means "to earn", and therefore it does not fit in our today's theme which is all about the eyes.
When prefix mag is applied though, magkita means "to meet up with", and whether it belongs to today's eyes-themed verbs, I leave it to you because it may mean something like "to be seen" or "to see one another".
Related Lesson
Follow the link below if you need in-depth tutorials on Tagalog sentence construction with Actor-Focused Verbs:
Albine Bodo
Object-Focused Verbs Involving Eyesight and Actions of the Eyes
Object-focused verbs is the contrast against actor-focused verbs. If actor-focused verbs are expressed in active voice, object-focused verbs, therefore, indicate passive voice.
See the verbs below and study how they are used in a sentence:
| Infinitive | Tagalog Sentences | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| tingnán | Tingnán mo ang mga ilaw trapiko. (Look you the lights traffic) |
Look at the traffic lights. |
| titigan | Malamyâ kong tititigan ang ilaw ng kandila. (Softly I will stare ANG light NG candle) |
I will softly stare at the candle light. |
| sulyapán | Hindi ko sinadyáng sulyapán ang PIN code mo. (Not my intention to glace ANG PIN code your) |
It was not my intention to glance at your PIN code. |
| panoorin | Panoorin mo ang mga video tutorial ko. (Watch you ANG video tutorials my) |
Watch my video tutorials. |
| basahin | Basahin ang mga panuntunan. (Read ANG instructions) |
Read the instructions. |
| masdán | Masdán mo ang mga ginagawâ ng mga batà. (Observe you doings NG kids) |
Observe the things kids do. |
| sipatin | Maraming beses niyáng sinipat ang mga bola ng bilyar bago siyá tumira. (Many times he/she assessed ANG balls NG billiard before he/she strike) |
He/she assessed the billiard balls several times before he/she strikes. |
| tutukan | Tinutukan ko ng paningin ang pagsasayáw niyá para magaya ko. (Many times he/she assessed ANG balls NG billiard before he/she strike) |
I focused my eyes on his/her dance so I can copy it. |
| kindatán | Kumindát sa babae ang binatá para makuha ang pansín nitó. (Winked SA girl ANG lad so can get ANG attention her) |
The lad winked at the girl so he can get her attention. |
Notice that when the suffix an is used, the action of the eyes is unidirectional. Tingnán, titigan, and sulyapán are various actions that flow only from the eyes towards the object to be seen, to be stared at, or to be glanced at. There is no explicit action involved from the object back to the eyes.
On the other hand, verbs that are conjugated with the suffix in, like panoorin, basahin, and sipatin have bi-directional flows. These types of actions flow from the eyes to the object and then the object gives information back to the eyes. Bi-directional here means the action flows from the eyes to the object, and then from the object back to the eyes.
Object-focused verbs are apparent in these verb sub-groups:
- An Verbs (a suffix an is applied to a root word)
- In Verbs (a suffix in is applied to a root word)
- I Verbs (a prefix i is applied to a root word)
If you wish to express that a thing is used as a tool, or if you mean that there is an external entity (or accessory) to receive the action, the prefix i followed by the verb root is the way to go.
Here is a list of eyes actions that are part of the "i verb" group:
| Infinitive | Tagalog Sentences | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| itingin | Hindî ko kayang itingín ang mga matá ko sa matinding sa liwanag. (Not I can look ANG eyes my SA intense light) |
I can't directly look at an intense (bright) light. |
| ititig | Ititig mo ang mga matá mo sa ilalim ng tubig. (Stare you ANG eyes your SA under NG water) |
Let your eyes stare under water. |
| ikisáp, ikuráp | Madalás niyáng ikinikisáp ang mga matá niyá. (Stare you ANG eyes your SA under NG water) |
Let your eyes stare under water. |
| ibasa | Subukan mong ibasa ang isang mata lang. (Try you to read ANG one eye only) |
Try to read with one eye only. |
| itutok | Itinutok niyá ang kanyáng paningín sa galáw ng bola. (Focused he/she ANG his/her vision SA movement NG bola) |
He/she focused his/her eyes on the movement of the ball. |
| ikindát | Ikindát mo ang kaliwâ mong matá. (Wink you ANG left your eye) |
Blink with your left eye. |
| ipikít | Ipikít mo ang mga matá mo. (Close you ANG eyes mo) |
Close your eyes. |
| imulat, idilat | Imulat mo ang mga matá mo. (Close you ANG eyes mo) |
Open your eyes. |
Related Lesson
Check my other tutorials on Object-Focused Verbs. Click the link below. 👇
Albine Bodo
Keep Practicing Tagalog
Download the worksheets prepared for you! Practice writing your own Tagalog sentences using verb roots, particularly those actions where your eyes are involved like basa, pikit, or masíd. 👇
This is the best way towards your confidence in Tagalog!
Filipino Trivia: Eyes in Culture
Here are some fun trivia related to Filipino beliefs and sayings about the eyes:
- Some Filipino parents or caregivers use a red string bracelet or garlic charms to protect babies from “masamang mata” (evil eyes).
- "Malagkít ang tingín" means the action implies strong desire for affection, also known as flirting.
- "Putî na ang matá" or "namutî ang matá" means "having been waiting for a long time".
- Prolonged eye contact between male individuals means they are about to start a fight.
- The following could either be myths or a part of preventive measures against poor eyesight:
- After hours of eye strain from reading, sewing, or stitching, do not wash your face. Huwag kang maliligò. (Do not take a shower or bath).
- Huwag magbabasa kapag lumulubog ang araw. (Do not read during sunset.) Perhaps the folks mean that you are only allowed to read where there is a good lighting condition– back in the days when electricity was not yet available.
Learn with Us Live!
Every Saturday, I host a free Tagalog online class where you can practice live conversation and grammar with fellow learners.
📚 Beginners are welcome! Send me a message and reserve your spot — it is fun, relaxed, and community-centered.
Conclusion
Learning Tagalog through personal stories and everyday experiences makes the language come alive. Whether it’s a trip to the eye doctor or noticing how your eyes respond to the world around you, there’s always a way to connect what you’re living with what you’re learning.
Thank you for being here with me. 🌱
If this lesson helped you, reply to this email (or message me!) — and tell me:
What topic do you want to learn about next?
Let’s keep learning, growing, and seeing the world through the lens of our shared heritage.
Hanggáng sa muli!
Albine
Your Tagalog Tutor | Aralin World
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