sobra

Excessively / Very

Level 3

Sobra is a versatile word used to express excess ('too much') or high degree ('very'). It is one of the most common intensifiers in Filipino.

How It Works

In Filipino, sobra is the go-to word for expressing that something is 'very' or 'excessive.' Unlike some other intensifiers, it is neutral and can be used for both positive and negative contexts.

1. As an Intensifier (Adverbial)
When sobra modifies a following word, it always takes the -ng linker because it ends in a vowel. It becomes sobrang regardless of whether the next word starts with a consonant or a vowel.

  • Sobra + -ng + pagod = Sobrang pagod (Very tired)
  • Sobra + -ng + ganda = Sobrang ganda (Very beautiful)

2. Pronoun Placement and the Linker
If a short pronoun like ako or ka is placed immediately after sobra, the linker moves. Instead of attaching to sobra, it attaches to the pronoun (if the pronoun ends in a vowel) or follows it as na. For example, compare Sobrang pagod ako with Sobra akong pagod (I am very tired).

3. As a Noun or Adjective of Quantity
It can also mean 'extra' or 'surplus.' In this case, it often appears after may or as a predicate.

  • May sobra ka ba? (Do you have an extra/surplus?)

4. Comparison with Masyado
While masyado often implies a negative excess (going beyond a limit), sobra is more flexible. You can say sobrang bait (exceedingly kind) as a compliment, whereas masyadong mabait might imply someone is 'too kind' to a fault.

5. Emphasis and Exclamation
To emphasize extreme excess, speakers use full reduplication: sobra-sobra (more than enough). Additionally, Sobra! can be used as a standalone exclamation to mean 'Too much!' or 'Unbelievable!' in response to an extreme situation.

Examples (5)

  1. Sobrang mahal ng bilihin ngayon.

    Prices of goods are very expensive nowadays.

    Word by Word: Excessive-linker expensive of goods now.

    Here, 'sobra' uses the linker '-ng' to modify the adjective 'mahal' (expensive).

  2. Sobra ang kinain ko kaya masakit ang tiyan ko.

    I ate too much, so my stomach hurts.

    Word by Word: Excessive the eaten my so painful the stomach my.

    In this sentence, 'sobra' acts as a predicate describing the amount eaten.

  3. May sobra ka bang pera para sa pamasahe?

    Do you have any extra money for the fare?

    Word by Word: There-is extra you [question] money for the fare?

    Here, 'sobra' is used as a noun meaning 'extra' or 'surplus.'

  4. Sobrang bait ng guro namin.

    Our teacher is very kind.

    Word by Word: Excessive-linker kind of teacher our.

    This demonstrates 'sobra' used in a positive context, which is very common in daily speech.

  5. Sobra-sobra ang pagkaing inihanda nila.

    The food they prepared was way too much.

    Word by Word: Excessive-excessive the food-linker prepared they.

    Reduplication (sobra-sobra) is used here to emphasize that the amount was far beyond what was needed.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the linker when modifying an adjective.

    Sobra init ngayon.
    Sobrang init ngayon.

    In Filipino, an intensifier must be connected to the adjective it modifies using the linker 'na' or '-ng'.

  • Stacking redundant intensifiers.

    Sobrang napakaganda niya.
    Sobrang ganda niya. / Napakaganda niya.

    Using 'sobra' and 'napaka-' together is redundant. Choose one to express the high degree.

How It Connects

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

sobraLevel 3Excessively / Very

Learn This First

To use 'sobra', you need to understand how to link modifiers to nouns or adjectives using the 'na/-ng' linker. You also need to be familiar with basic predicate-initial sentence structures where 'sobra' acts as the predicate, either as a standalone noun or a linked modifier, without a copula verb.

Words in This Pattern

sobrasobrasobra