bawat

Bawat is a Filipino determiner meaning "each" or "every." It marks a distributive reference, indicating that something applies to every member of a group or to each instance individually. It is placed before a noun and is typically followed by a singular form of the noun (for example, bawat tao, bawat araw).

In usage, bawat emphasizes individuality within a collective. For example, "Bawat tao ay may karapatan" means that every person has rights. "Bawat araw ay bagong simula" conveys that each day brings a new beginning. It is generally used with singular nouns, and the phrase "bawat isa" can stand in for "each one." Avoid saying "bawat mga tao"; instead use "bawat tao" or "lahat ng mga tao."

Grammatically, bawat is relatively formal and is often preferred in written Filipino and formal speech. It does not require verb conjugation to reflect plurality; the accompanying verb remains in standard form. In everyday speech, some speakers use synonyms like kada, which is more informal and casual, but bawat carries a more precise distributive nuance.

Etymology and related forms: modern Filipino standard uses "bawat" as the common form; older texts may show a contraction such as "bawa't" from "bawa't isa." Related expressions include "lahat ng" to mean "all" or "every" in a collective sense, and "kada" as a more casual counterpart.

See also: Lahat ng; Kada; Kategoryang gast-pangwika.