Ever noticed how the English word right wears so many hats? It can mean “correct,” point you “to the right,” signal your “rights,” or even urge you to do something right away. Tagalog, with its knack for pinpoint precision, splits these shades of meaning into different words and expressions—no one-size-fits-all here. By the end of this deep dive, you’ll not only know which Tagalog term to pick, you’ll wield them like a pro—hit the nail on the head every single time.
1. Directional “Right” — Kanan
When you’re behind the wheel or hunting for the restroom, you need to know how to say “turn right.” In Tagalog, the word is kanan.
- Lumiko sa kanan — “Turn to the right.”
- Kumanan — “Make a right turn.”
Imagine you’re lost on a winding street in Intramuros. You’d call out, “Diretso tayo na lang, tapos lumiko ka sa kanan bago ang simbahan.” — and voilà, you’re on track again.
Pro tip: When you really want to drive the point home—pun intended—slip in a long dash for dramatic flair:
Lumiko ka sa kanan — don’t miss it!
2. Correct “Right” — Tama vs. Wasto vs. Tumpak
If you’ve ever told someone, “You’re right,” you’re saying they’ve gotten it tama. But hold up—Tagalog has nuances here:
- Tama is the go-to for “correct” or “proper.”
- Wasto leans formal or academic—think legal documents and textbooks.
- Tumpak carries a sense of spot-on accuracy, like a bullseye in darts.
Examples:
- “Tama ka.” — “You’re right.”
- “Wasto ang sagot mo.” — “Your answer is correct.” (classroom tone)
- “Tumpak ang hula mo!” — “Your guess is spot on!”
At the end of the day, mixing these up is a common pitfall—so tama is your safe bet in casual chat, while wasto and tumpak let you flex that extra layer of mastery.
3. “Right” as Entitlement — Karapatan & Karapat-dapat
When you talk about human rights, a ticket to vote, or the right to remain silent, you switch gears to karapatan.
- Karapatan — “right” (noun: entitlement, privilege)
- Karapat-dapat — “rightful” or “deserving”
Examples:
- “Lahat ng mamamayan ay may karapatang bumoto.” — “Every citizen has the right to vote.”
- “Karapat-dapat siya sa parangal.” — “He/she is deserving of the award.”
Here’s a fixed phrase you’ll hear in news reports:
“Iba-iba ang karapatan ng bawat tao — mula sa buhay, kalayaan, hanggang sa edukasyon.”
It’s no walk in the park to fully appreciate one’s rights until you hear them straight from the horse’s mouth—so dive into people’s stories and see how karapatan plays out in real life.
4. Urgency & Emphasis — “Right” as Agad, Mismô & Sa Sandaling ‘Ito
When you want something done right away, or “right this instant,” Tagalog gives you a handful of options:
- agad — “immediately”
- mismô — “exactly,” “right” (as in “right here”: dito mismô)
- sa sandaling ito — “at this very moment”
Examples:
- “Gawin mo ito agad.” — “Do this right away.”
- “Nandito mismô ang susi.” — “The key is right here.”
- “Sa sandaling ito, huminto ka.” — “At this very moment, stop.”
Add that dash for drama — “Gawin mo ito agad — wala nang paligoyligoy!”
5. Idioms & Fixed Expressions (Expressions Figées)
Nothing spices up your Tagalog like weaving in idioms—both English and Tagalog fixed phrases—to make your speech pop.
Tagalog idioms:
- “Sa madaling salita” — “in a nutshell”
- “Saglit lang” — “just a moment”
- “Tama na” — “that’s enough”
- “Doon na ang dulo” — “that’s the bottom line”
English idioms you can blend in:
- “a piece of cake”
- “right off the bat”
- “right under your nose”
- “get one’s rights”
Example mash-up:
Sa madaling salita, ang pagsubok na ito ay a piece of cake para sa’yo — you’ve got this!
6. Putting It All Together: Sample Scenarios
Scenario A: Asking for Directions
You: “Paano ba ako makakarating sa simbahan?” Vendor: “Maglakad ka nang diretso, kumanan sa ikalawang kanto, at doon mo makikita ang pinto — right under your nose talaga.”
Scenario B: Classroom Victory
Teacher: “Sino ang nakakuha ng tamang sagot?” Student: “Ako po, tama kaagad — hit the nail on the head ako!”
Scenario C: Knowing Your Rights
Lawyer: “Alamin mo ang iyong mga karapatan — you have the right to remain silent.” Client: “Salamat po, ang galing ng paliwanag ninyo.”
7. Quick Reference: Which “Right” Is Which?
| English Sense | Tagalog Word(s) | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|
| Directional “right” | kanan | Lumiko ka sa kanan. |
| Correct/“you’re right” | tama, wasto, tumpak | Tama ka, wasto ang sagot mo, tumpak! |
| Entitlement/Privilege | karapatan, karapat-dapat | May karapatan kang bumoto; karapat-dapat siya. |
| Immediately/“right now” | agad, mismô, sandaling ito | Gawin mo ito agad; nandito mismô. |
| “That’s enough/Stop”—fixed | tama na | Tama na, huwag nang dagdag pa. |
8. Practice Makes Perfect
- Fill in the blank with the correct kanan phrase: “______ sa unang kanto.”
- Choose the right tama/wasto/tumpak: “______ ka; ______ ang sagot mo sa tanong.”
- Use karapatan in a sentence about education.
- Tell someone to do something right away with “agad.”
Answers:
- Lumiko sa unang kanto.
- Tama ka; wasto ang sagot mo sa tanong.
- Lahat ay may karapatang makapag-aral.
- Gawin mo ito agad.
9. Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, mastering “right” in Tagalog comes down to recognizing that each shade of meaning has its own Tagalog counterpart. Once you nail kanan, tama, karapatan, and agad, you won’t be left scratching your head—you’ll be on the spot, speaking like a local.
So, practice these words, tuck those idioms into your back pocket, and let your tongue do the talking—in the blink of an eye, you’ll see how fluid your Tagalog becomes. Keep at it, and before you know it, you’ll deliver every “right” meaning with pinpoint accuracy—that’s right, you’ve got this!
— Happy learning! s p a c e i t o u t a n d e n j o y every twist and turn in your Tagalog journey.
