Magkita tayo sa tanghali.

Let us meet at noon.

Breakdown of Magkita tayo sa tanghali.

• tayo: us
• magkita: to meet
• sa: at
• tanghali: noon

Questions & Answers about Magkita tayo sa tanghali.

What is the literal breakdown of the sentence?

• mag- + kita = magkita: a reciprocal/actor-focus verb meaning “to see each other” or “to meet.”
• tayo: “we/us (inclusive),” which in suggestions means “let’s.”
• sa: preposition “at/in.”
• tanghali: “noon/midday.” So Magkita tayo sa tanghali literally maps to “Let’s meet at noon.”

Why is it magkita and not makita?

• magkita is reciprocal: “to meet each other.”
• makita means “to see (something/someone)” and is not inherently mutual. Example: Makikita kita sa tanghali = “I will see you at noon” (one-way viewpoint). For proposing a meetup, Magkita tayo is the natural choice.

What exactly does tayo convey here?

Tayo is inclusive “we,” meaning it includes the listener: “you and I (and possibly others).” Contrast: kami is exclusive “we” (not including the listener). For example, Magkita kami sa tanghali = “We (not including you) will meet at noon.”

Can I say Kita tayo sa tanghali instead?

Yes. Kita tayo (sa tanghali) is a very common, casual shortening of Magkita tayo (sa tanghali). An even more casual goodbye is Kita-kits sa tanghali (“See you at noon”).

Does sa tanghali mean exactly 12:00?

Not necessarily. Tanghali is “midday/lunchtime,” roughly around noon. To say exactly noon, you can use sa tanghaling tapat or specify alas-dose ng tanghali (“12:00 noon”). For “around noon,” you can say bandang tanghali.

When do I use sa tanghali versus ng tanghali?

• Use sa to mean “at” a time: sa tanghali, sa hapon, sa gabi.
• Use ng when “noon” modifies another time/day or a numeral: alas-dose ng tanghali (12:00 noon), bukas ng tanghali (tomorrow at noon). You’ll also hear sa tanghali bukas; both are natural.

How can I make the suggestion more polite or softer?

Add politeness and softeners:

• Magkita po tayo sa tanghali.
• Puwede po ba tayong magkita sa tanghali? (Could we meet at noon?)
• Magkita na lang po tayo sa tanghali. (“Let’s just meet at noon.”)

How do I say it as a statement (future or past) instead of a suggestion?

• Future: Magkikita tayo sa tanghali. (We will meet at noon.)
• Past: Nagkita tayo sa tanghali. (We met at noon.)

Can I change the word order?

Yes, to shift emphasis:

• Sa tanghali tayo magkita. (Emphasizes the time.)
• Tayo’y magkita sa tanghali. (More formal/literary.) All mean the same thing in context.

How do I say “Let’s not meet at noon”?

Huwag tayong magkita sa tanghali. You can offer an alternative: Sa hapon na lang tayo magkita. (Let’s just meet in the afternoon.)

What do the particles na and na lang add?

• na suggests immediacy/sooner: Magkita na tayo sa tanghali. (Let’s go ahead and meet at noon.)
• na lang suggests settling on an option: Magkita na lang tayo sa tanghali. (Let’s just meet at noon [instead of another plan].)

Is the kita in magkita the same as the pronoun kita?

No, they’re different.

• In magkita, kita is the verb root “see.”
• As a pronoun, kita is an enclitic meaning “I [verb] you,” e.g., Nakikita kita = “I see you.” Don’t confuse the two.

Can I use makipagkita instead of magkita?

Yes, but the nuance shifts. Makipagkita means “to meet with someone” (engage in a meeting), often taking an object: Makikipagkita ako sa iyo sa tanghali (I will meet with you at noon). For “meet each other,” magkita is the default: Magkita tayo sa tanghali.

How do I include a place as well?

Just add another sa + place phrase:

• Magkita tayo sa tanghali sa Starbucks. You can also front the time or place for emphasis: Sa Starbucks tayo magkita sa tanghali or Sa tanghali tayo magkita sa Starbucks.

How should I pronounce tayo here? Is it the same as tayó?

Here it’s táyo (stress on the first syllable) meaning “we/let’s.” tayó (stress on the second syllable) is the verb “stand.” Context and stress distinguish them: Magkita táyo (let’s meet) vs. Tayó (let’s stand).