nagtawa

Nagtawa is a Tagalog verb form meaning “laughed” or “was laughing.” It is formed by adding the prefix nag- to the root tawa, which conveys the action of laughing. In many contexts, nag- marks a past or completed action and places the event in the actor-focused voice, indicating that the subject performed the laughter.

Usage and examples

Nagtawa siya nang marinig ang biro. (She laughed when she heard the joke.)

Nagtawa ako sa kanilang kwento. (I laughed at their story.)

Nagtawa sila nang sabay. (They laughed together.)

Notes on form and variation

Nagtawa is commonly used in everyday speech and narrative to describe a moment of amusement or a brief act of laughter performed by the subject. Tagalog also has other related forms for the root tawa, such as tumawa, which uses a different voice or aspect and can carry a slightly different nuance in describing who is laughing and when the action occurs. The choice between nag- and tum- forms can depend on speaker preference, register, or the desired focus in the sentence.

See also

tawa, tumawa, Tagalog grammar, Philippine languages.