mataas

Mataas is a Filipino adjective that denotes height or elevation and is used to describe physical stature, objects, or spaces, as well as abstract levels, degrees, or status. It conveys a sense of being higher or greater in position, size, or intensity.

The word derives from the root taas, meaning height, with the prefix ma- to form a descriptive term indicating a state or quality. In everyday speech it can modify nouns or function as a predicate, as in Ang tore ay mataas (The tower is tall) or Mataas ang presyo (The price is high). It can describe both concrete things, like buildings and mountains, and more abstract concepts, such as education, income, or expectations, e.g., mataas ang antas ng edukasyon, mataas ang inaasahan.

Comparative and superlative forms are used to indicate relative degrees: mas mataas expresses a higher height or degree, while pinakamataas denotes the highest or most elevated. For instance, Mas mataas ang bundok na ito kaysa dati, and Pinakamataas na gusali sa lungsod is a phrase describing the city’s tallest building.

In figurative usage, mataas can describe non-physical conditions such as mood or esteem, as in mataas ang loob (to be in high spirits) or mataas ang paggalang (high respect). The term is versatile across contexts, from describing tangible measurements to expressing qualitative judgments.