bukod sa

Besides / Apart from

Level 3

Bukod sa is used to add a new point to a statement. It is additive (A + B), meaning both the item introduced and the main point are true.

How It Works

The pattern bukod sa is a versatile tool in Filipino for expanding on a topic. For extra emphasis, the variant bukod pa sa is frequently used.

1. Usage with Different Word Classes:

  • Nouns: Followed by sa for common nouns (e.g., bukod sa kape).
  • Personal Names: Uses kay (singular) or kina (plural) instead of sa.
  • Pronouns: Uses the sa-form (oblique) pronouns (e.g., bukod sa akin).
  • Demonstrative Pronouns: These use the dito, diyan, or doon forms directly after bukod (e.g., bukod dito), dropping the sa because these words are already in the oblique case. When adding pa for emphasis, the d traditionally changes to r because pa ends in a vowel, creating the highly frequent transitional phrase bukod pa rito (besides this / furthermore). However, bukod pa dito is also highly frequent and perfectly acceptable in casual speech.
  • Verbs: Can use the pag- form to turn the action into a noun (e.g., bukod sa pagtakbo), the standard infinitive form directly (e.g., bukod sa tumakbo), or conjugated verbs in different aspects depending on the context (e.g., bukod sa tumatakbo or bukod sa tatakbo).
  • Adjectives: Can follow the marker directly to describe a quality (e.g., bukod sa mura).

2. Sentence Structure and Additive Markers:
When a sentence starts with bukod sa, the main clause typically uses additive markers to complete the logic of 'besides X, also Y.' While not strictly required (e.g., Bukod sa kape, gusto ko ng tsaa is perfectly valid), they make the sentence sound more natural. Note the placement differences:

  • The enclitic rin/din (also) generally follows the first word of a phrase, but Tagalog enclitics follow a strict hierarchy. It must come after monosyllabic enclitic pronouns (like ko, mo, ka) and certain particles (like na, pa) following the Particle And Pronoun Order rules. For example, Gusto ko rin ng tsaa (not Gusto rin ko...).
  • The marker pati (including/even) precedes the noun it modifies.

Additionally, the bukod sa phrase can easily be placed at the end of the sentence without changing the meaning (e.g., Gusto ko rin ng tsaa bukod sa kape).

3. Negative Sentences:
When used with negative words like wala or hindi, bukod sa translates to 'other than' or 'except for' (e.g., Wala akong ginawa bukod sa kumain - I did nothing other than eat).

4. Register and Nuance:
This pattern is neutral and highly frequent. While formal Filipino strictly distinguishes bukod sa (inclusive: besides/in addition to) from maliban sa (exclusive: except), native speakers sometimes blur these in colloquial speech, using bukod sa to mean 'except'.

Examples (4)

  1. Bukod sa mura, masarap pa ang pagkain dito.

    Besides being cheap, the food here is also delicious.

    Word by Word: Besides at cheap, delicious still the food here.

    Here, 'bukod sa' adds the quality of being delicious to the quality of being cheap.

  2. Mayroon pa kaming ibang kailangang bayaran bukod sa upa.

    We have other things to pay for besides the rent.

    Word by Word: There-is still we-linker other-linker need-linker to-pay besides at rent.

    This shows 'bukod sa' used in the middle of a sentence to add to a list of obligations.

  3. Bukod kay Maria, sino pa ang darating?

    Besides Maria, who else is coming?

    Word by Word: Besides [personal marker] Maria, who still the will-come?

    Note the use of 'kay' instead of 'sa' because Maria is a personal name.

  4. Bukod sa pagluluto, mahilig din siyang kumanta.

    Apart from cooking, she also likes to sing.

    Word by Word: Besides at cooking, fond also she-linker to-sing.

    The verb 'luto' (cook) is nominalized using 'pag-' to follow 'bukod sa'.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing 'bukod sa' (inclusive) with 'maliban sa' (exclusive) in formal contexts.

    Different MeaningGusto ko ang lahat ng prutas maliban sa mangga.
    Gusto ko ang ibang prutas bukod sa mangga.

    In formal Filipino, use 'bukod sa' if you like mangoes AND other fruits. 'Maliban sa' implies you like everything EXCEPT the mango. Note that in casual speech, native speakers sometimes blur this distinction and use 'bukod sa' to mean 'except'.

  • Using the wrong pronoun case after 'sa'.

    Bukod sa siya, nandoon din ako.
    Bukod sa kaniya, nandoon din ako.

    Always use the sa-form (oblique) pronouns like 'kaniya', 'akin', or 'iyo' after 'bukod sa'.

  • Keeping 'sa' before demonstrative pronouns like 'dito', 'diyan', or 'doon'.

    Bukod sa dito, may bahay din sila sa probinsiya.
    Bukod dito, may bahay din sila sa probinsiya.

    Demonstrative pronouns like 'dito' are already in the oblique (sa) case. You should drop the 'sa' and say 'bukod dito' instead of 'bukod sa dito'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

bukod saLevel 3Besides / Apart from

Learn This First

To understand 'bukod sa', you need to be familiar with the oblique marker 'sa', which follows 'bukod' to introduce the noun or phrase being set apart. Additionally, knowing the enclitic 'pa' (still/more) is important because it often appears in the main clause to complete the 'besides X, also Y' structure.

Words in This Pattern

bukod