kawawa

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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

Adjective

kawawà (Baybayin spelling ᜃᜏᜏ)

  1. pitiable; poor; sad; miserable; pathetic; wretched
    Synonyms: kaawa-awa, kalunos-lunos, kahabag-habag
    kawawang batang babaepoor little girl
    • 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