alagang

Alagang is a Filipino noun and adjective formed from the root alaga, meaning to care for, raise, or nurse. The form alagang describes someone or something that is being cared for or kept by another person. In everyday speech it is most often used to refer to a pet, a ward, or a dependent, highlighting the caregiving relationship rather than possession.

Etymology and usage: The base word alaga conveys care or fostering, and the suffix -an turns it into a designation of the thing or person under care. As an attributive modifier, alagang precedes or accompanies the noun it describes, as in alagang hayop (a pet) or alagang aso (one’s pet dog). When used with a possessor, it indicates ownership of the care relationship, for example ang alagang aso ni Maria (Maria’s pet dog) or ang alagang anak ni Dr. Reyes (Dr. Reyes’s ward or dependent child). The term thus covers both nonhuman dependents (pets) and human dependents (warded individuals) in Philippine usage.

Context and nuances: Alagang emphasizes the caregiving bond rather than mere ownership. In social contexts, it often conveys affection and responsibility for the care recipient. While commonly applied to pets, the term can also describe a person under someone’s guardianship or guardianship-like arrangement, depending on the discourse and cultural setting.

See also: Related words include alaga, alagaan, and alagaanin, which express various aspects of taking care of, raising, or safeguarding.