Mag-ingat ka sa kalsada ngayong gabi.

Be careful on the road tonight.

Breakdown of Mag-ingat ka sa kalsada ngayong gabi.

• sa: on
• ngayong gabi: tonight
• ka: you
• mag-ingat: to be careful
• kalsada: the road

Questions & Answers about Mag-ingat ka sa kalsada ngayong gabi.

What does the prefix mag- do in mag-ingat?

mag- is a common Tagalog verbal prefix that makes an intransitive, actor-focused verb meaning “to do X/engage in X.” With the root ingat (“care”), mag‑ingat means “to be careful / take care.” In this sentence it works as advice or an imperative: “Be careful.”

Why is there a hyphen in mag-ingat?

The hyphen marks the boundary between the prefix mag- and the vowel-initial root ingat. It’s mainly for readability and is common with vowel-starting roots (e.g., mag‑ayos, mag‑apply). You’ll also see it without a hyphen (magingat) in informal writing; both are understood.

Can I just say Ingat or Ingat ka?

Yes. Ingat and Ingat ka are very common in casual speech, texts, and sign‑offs. Mag‑ingat ka can sound a bit fuller or more directive, while bare Ingat! feels like a quick, friendly “Take care!”

What does ka mean here?

ka is the unstressed second‑person singular pronoun “you” (informal). Compare:

• Mag‑ingat ka... = “You (singular) be careful…”
• Mag‑ingat kayo... = “You (plural) / you (formal) be careful…”
• Add politeness with po: Mag‑ingat po kayo...

Can I use ikaw instead of ka?

Use ikaw only when the pronoun is the topic by itself or is fronted. Otherwise, ka is the enclitic form that follows the first predicate word. So:

• Natural: Mag‑ingat ka...
• Unnatural: Mag‑ingat ikaw...
• If fronting the pronoun: Ikaw, mag‑ingat sa kalsada ngayong gabi.

Where does ka go in the sentence?

As an enclitic, ka normally comes right after the first predicate element (the verb here). If you move the time phrase to the front, ka still follows the verb:

• Mag‑ingat ka sa kalsada ngayong gabi.
• Ngayong gabi, mag‑ingat ka sa kalsada.

Is sa the right preposition for “on the road”?

Yes. sa is a general preposition for “in/at/on/to.” sa kalsada = “on the road / in the street.” Alternatives:

• sa daan = on the way/on the road (more “route/way” in feel)
• sa kalye = on the street (colloquial; Spanish loan)

What’s the difference between kalsada, daan, and kalye?

• kalsada: road/street; neutral and common in standard Filipino.
• daan: way/route/road; broader meaning, often “along the way” when used as sa daan.
• kalye: street; informal, from Spanish; frequent in everyday speech.

What does ngayong gabi literally mean, and why ngayong not ngayon?

Literally “this night” = “tonight.” ngayong is ngayon plus the linker -ng attaching to gabi:

• If a word ends in a vowel: add -ng (e.g., bago
  • -ng = bagong)
• If it ends in n: the n becomes ng (so ngayon → ngayong)
• If it ends in another consonant: use na (e.g., gabi na)

Can I move the time phrase around?

Yes. All of these are natural:

• Mag‑ingat ka sa kalsada ngayong gabi.
• Ngayong gabi, mag‑ingat ka sa kalsada.
• Mag‑ingat ka ngayong gabi sa kalsada. The meaning stays the same.

How do I say “Drive safely tonight”?

Be more specific about the activity:

• Mag‑ingat ka sa pagmamaneho ngayong gabi. (driving)
• Ingat sa biyahe ngayong gabi. (your trip/commute)
• Polite/plural: Mag‑ingat po kayo sa pagmamaneho ngayong gabi.

How do I make it more polite or show respect?

Use po and kayo:

• Mag‑ingat po kayo sa kalsada ngayong gabi. You can also soften with particles:
• Mag‑ingat po kayo sa kalsada ngayong gabi, ha.
• Mag‑ingat po kayo muna sa kalsada. (for now)
• Mag‑ingat po kayo lang sa kalsada is not idiomatic; use mag‑ingat po kayo sa kalsada lang if you must limit the scope, but it’s uncommon here.

Can I drop ka?

Yes, for a general reminder or notice:

• Mag‑ingat sa kalsada ngayong gabi. This reads like advice to anyone, not to one specific person.

How is mag-ingat pronounced?

• ng is a single sound [ŋ], like the final sound in English “sing.”
• The hyphen doesn’t change pronunciation; it just marks the prefix boundary.
• Because ingat begins with a vowel, many speakers start it with a light glottal stop, so you may hear something like [mag ʔingat]. Keep syllables clear: ma‑g | i‑ngat.

How would I say “Don’t be careless on the road tonight”?

Use pabaya (“careless”) and the verb maging (“to become”):

• Huwag kang maging pabaya sa kalsada ngayong gabi. Polite/plural: Huwag po kayong maging pabaya sa kalsada ngayong gabi.

Is this an imperative or a suggestion?

Formally it’s an imperative (command/advice), but in everyday use it functions as a caring reminder. Tagalog commonly uses the bare mag‑ form for neutral, friendly imperatives like this.