ika nga

As the Saying Goes

Level 6

'Ika nga is the Filipino equivalent of "as the saying goes" or "as they say." It is a contraction of wika nga and is used to signal that you are quoting a well-known adage or common sentiment rather than claiming the thought as your own.

How It Works

In Filipino discourse, 'ika nga serves several sophisticated functions:

  • Attribution to Tradition: It introduces proverbs (salawikain) or idioms (sawikain), grounding the speaker's argument in shared cultural values.
  • Social Lubricant: It can make a blunt or harsh truth feel less personal by framing it as a universal reality.
  • Irony and Distancing: At advanced levels, speakers use it to acknowledge they are using a cliché, sometimes with a hint of irony to show they know the phrase is overused.

Placement:
The phrase is highly mobile. It can appear at the beginning of a quote, at the end, or even as an interruption in the middle of a sentence. Unlike sabi ni, which requires a specific person, 'ika nga refers to a general 'they' or 'the saying.'

Phonology:
Note the glottal stop at the end of both words (/ʔiˌkaʔ ˈŋaʔ/). In fast, natural speech, these may soften, but the distinction remains important for clear pronunciation.

Examples (4)

  1. Nasa huli ang pagsisisi, 'ika nga.

    As the saying goes, regret always comes at the end.

    Word by Word: At end the regret, said indeed.

    Here, 'ika nga is placed at the end of a common Filipino proverb about regret.

  2. 'Ika nga nila, 'Kung may tiyaga, may nilaga.'

    As they say, 'If there is perseverance, there is a reward.'

    Word by Word: Said indeed by-them, 'If have perseverance, have stew.'

    Adding 'nila' (them) after 'ika nga' emphasizes that this is a sentiment shared by people in general.

  3. Pilit na pilit, 'ika nga, ang kanyang mga dahilan.

    His excuses were, as they say, very forced.

    Word by Word: Forced [linker] forced, said indeed, the his [plural] reason.

    This shows 'ika nga' embedded in the middle of a sentence to characterize a description as a common way of putting things.

  4. 'Ika nga sa Bibliya, 'Ang katotohanan ang magpapalaya sa inyo.'

    As it is said in the Bible, 'The truth shall set you free.'

    Word by Word: Said indeed in Bible, 'The truth the will-set-free to you-all.'

    The phrase can be used to attribute quotes to well-known texts using the sa marker.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'ika nga' to attribute a quote to a specific person.

    Ika nga ni Maria, gutom na siya.
    Ika ni Maria, gutom na siya.

    When naming a specific person, use 'ika ni' or 'wika ni'. 'Ika nga' is reserved for general sayings or collective wisdom.

  • Confusing the root 'ika' with the pronoun 'ikaw'.

    Ikaw nga, walang matigas na tinapay sa mainit na kape.
    Ika nga, walang matigas na tinapay sa mainit na kape.

    Beginners often hear 'ika' and assume it is the pronoun 'ikaw' (you). Remember that 'ika' is a shortened form of 'wika' (speech).

How It Connects

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ika ngaLevel 6As the Saying Goes

Learn This First

The phrase 'ika nga' is a fixed expression used to introduce idioms, proverbs, or common sayings. To understand it, a learner needs to be familiar with the emphatic particle 'nga' and the general concept of reported speech and evidentiality in Filipino, which marks information as being attributed to others rather than the speaker.

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Words in This Pattern

ika nga'ika ngaika