Choosing Respectful Reference

Level 4

Dakayo, kayo and yo allow respectful singular address. Manang, manong and apo suit the relationships illustrated in the lessons.

How It Works

In polite or formal speech, dakayo, kayo, yo can address one person respectfully. Dakayo is independent, kayo a short subject form, and yo a possessor or unfocused actor. Modern spelling attaches short forms: addakayo, kayatyo. Compare balaymo “your house” with respectful balayyo. The latter can also refer to several addressees.

The lessons describe manang for an older girl or woman of the speaker’s generation and manong for an older male of that generation. In family reference they mean older sister and older brother; respectful address need not imply siblinghood. Apo addresses older people or strangers respectfully in the greeting lesson. These choices do not establish an exhaustive hierarchy of titles.

Direct address omits ni; familiar family reference normally uses personal marking, as in ni Nanang. Manang and manong distinguish female and male referents lexically. Respectful pronouns and predicates have no corresponding gender endings.

Examples (3)

  1. Manang, ania ti kayatyo?

    What would you like, ma’am?

    Addressing an older woman of the speaker’s generation. Manang is a vocative without ni; attached yo marks the actor of kayat. The English title is a contextual rendering.

  2. Manong, addakayo ditoy?

    Are you here, sir?

    Addressing an older male of the speaker’s generation respectfully. Kayo attaches to adda and identifies the person whose presence is questioned.

  3. Apo, kumustakayo?

    How are you, sir or ma’am?

    A respectful greeting to an older person or stranger. Apo does not specify male or female reference; attached kayo addresses one person respectfully here.

How It Connects

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

Choosing Respectful ReferenceLevel 4

Learn This First

Choose an address form for the relationship and setting, then use the pronoun required by its grammatical role.

Words in This Pattern

-yo