kawawa

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word kawawa. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word kawawa, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say kawawa in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word kawawa you have here. The definition of the word kawawa will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofkawawa, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

Old Javanese

Etymology

Affixed ka- +‎ wawa.

Verb

kawawa

  1. to be carried (in)to
  2. to reach unintentionally, to get into
  3. to be carried away, to be carried along together with
  4. to be influenced (infected) by
  5. to be overpowered, to be seduced
  6. to have sexual intercourse (woman)
  7. to be brought within reach
  8. to have in one's power,
  9. to be able to (equal to, up to)

Tagalog

Alternative forms

Etymology

Contraction of kaawa-awa.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kaˈwawaʔ/,
  • Hyphenation: ka‧wa‧wa

Adjective

kawawà (Baybayin spelling ᜃᜏᜏ)

  1. sad; miserable; pathetic; wretched
    Synonyms: kaawa-awa, kalunos-lunos, kahabag-habag
    • 2009, Simulain: dulambayan ng manggagawa sa konteksto ng militanteng kilusang unyonismo (1980-1994), UP Press, →ISBN:
      Kuapao: Kawawa ka naman pala, Mare. Voice-over ni Siomai: “Mga Mare, mga Mare.” Kuapao: Ah, si Osang. 'Yung mahilig kumain ng siomai. Siopao: Ay, naku, nandiyan na naman si Osang. Kuapao: Sino pa nga ba? (Biglang papasok si ...
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
    • 1965, Philippine Center for Language Study, Jean Donald Bowen, Beginning Tagalog: A Course for Speakers of English, Univ of California Press, →ISBN, page 261:
      Lita: Kawawa ka naman. Rosa: Nagngitngit (6) ang Tatay! Pero wala siyang nagawa. Lita: Nagngitngit ba siyang talaga? Rosa: Ay oo, nagngitngit din ako, bakit (7)? Lita: Loko mo (8), tatay mo iyon (9)! Rosa: Ba (10), aso ko rin si Tagpe!
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
    • 2015, Marshall E Gass, Maririlag na mga Hagod ng Brotsa, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN:
      'Kawawa ka naman, halika, ilapag mo na muna ang bagahe mo at pumasok ka para makapagtsaa! Ako nga pala si Marge. Maligayang pagdating sa kabisera ng Cambridge.' Ang magiliw na pagpapakilala ay masayang nagpangiti sa bisita.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
    • 2001, Philippine Journal of Education:
      Kawawa ka naman. Sino namang walang puso ang nagtapon sa iyo? Kay ganda -ganda mo pa naman! Pambihira naman ang mga magulang mo. Mag-aanak, pagkatapos, itatapon lang ang anak. Wala akong anak e. Namayapa na ang ...
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
    • 2014, Taga Imus, Ang Mga Lihim ng Pulang Diary: Tagalog Gay Stories, Taga Imus M2M Books - TGIMS Publishing Services, →ISBN, page 69:
      Lahat pinaiikot nga ng pera at kung wala ka nito ay kawawa ka. Sa pagsakay ko ng kotse ay isang mabagsik na tingin lang ang kayang iganti sa akin ng taong iyon. Ordinaryong taong bukas o ilang oras lang mula sa mga sandaling iyon ay  ...
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Usage notes

Kawawa may have a positive or negative connotation depending on tone and context. It is usually positive in contexts or tones where it means "sad" or "miserable", but it may have a derogatory and pejorative meaning where it meant "pathetic" or "wretched".

Derived terms

Further reading

  • “kawawa”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018
Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia