Masarap talaga ang kape.

The coffee is really delicious.

Breakdown of Masarap talaga ang kape.

• ay: to be
• masarap: delicious
• kape: the coffee
• talaga: really

Questions & Answers about Masarap talaga ang kape.

What does ang do here? Is it just “the”?

Ang marks the topic (the noun phrase the sentence is about). It often translates as “the,” but it can also mark a generic class.

• Specific: Masarap talaga ang kapeng ito. = This coffee is really delicious.
• Generic: Masarap talaga ang kape. = Coffee (in general) is really delicious.

Why is there no word for “is”?

Filipino doesn’t use a copula (“is/are”) with adjective or noun predicates. The structure is typically Predicate + Topic:

• Predicate: Masarap talaga
• Topic: ang kape So Masarap talaga ang kape. literally maps to “Really delicious the coffee.”

Where should I put talaga?

Common, natural placements:

• After the first predicate word (neutral): Masarap talaga ang kape.
• Before the predicate with the linker: Talagang masarap ang kape.
• With topic-fronting: Ang kape ay talagang masarap. Keep talaga close to the adjective it intensifies.

What’s the difference between talaga and talagang?

Same meaning (“really/truly”). Talagang is talaga plus the linker -ng, used when it comes before the word it modifies:

• Talagang masarap ang kape. (flowing, often a bit more emphatic)
• Masarap talaga ang kape. (equally natural; talaga follows the adjective)

How do I turn it into a yes–no question like “Is the coffee really delicious?”?

Use the particle ba:

• Masarap ba talaga ang kape? You can also say:
• Talaga bang masarap ang kape? (here, bang = ba
  • linker -ng)

How do I negate it, and what’s the nuance?

• Hindi talaga masarap ang kape. = It’s really not delicious. (strong negation)
• Hindi masyadong masarap ang kape. = It’s not very delicious. (softer)
• Talagang hindi masarap ang kape. = It’s truly not delicious. (emphasizes the truth of the negation)

Can I front the topic for a more formal style?

Yes, with the inversion marker ay:

• Neutral: Masarap talaga ang kape.
• Formal/contrastive: Ang kape ay masarap talaga. / Ang kape ay talagang masarap. Note: ay is not “is”; it’s an inversion particle.

How do I say “really delicious coffee” (attributive, before a noun)?

Use the linker na/-ng with adjectives before nouns:

• masarap na kape = delicious coffee To add “really”:
• talagang masarap na kape or masarap na kape talaga (the first is more natural)

How do I make it stronger, like “so/very delicious”?

Common intensifiers:

• Napakasarap ng kape. (very/so delicious; after napaka-, use ng with the noun)
• Sobrang sarap ng kape. or Sobrang masarap ang kape. Exclamatory:
• Ang sarap ng kape! = The coffee is so good!

How do I compare (comparatives/superlatives)?

• Comparative: Mas masarap ang kape kaysa sa tsaa. = Coffee is tastier than tea.
• Superlative: Pinakamasarap ang kapeng ito. = This coffee is the most delicious.

How do I pronounce the words?

Stress is on the last syllable for all three content words:

• masarap [mɐsɐˈɾap]
• talaga [tɐlɐˈɡa]
• kape [kɐˈpɛ] The r is a tapped sound [ɾ], like the Spanish single r.

Is kape a mass noun? How would I say “some coffee” or “a coffee”?

Yes, kape is typically a mass noun.

• “I want (some) coffee”: Gusto ko ng kape. (object marked by ng) In cafés, count uses are fine:
• Isang kape, pakiusap. = One coffee, please.

Where does the politeness particle po go?

Clitics like po normally come right after the first predicate word:

• Masarap po talaga ang kape. You’ll also hear: Talagang masarap po ang kape.

I often hear yung instead of ang. Can I say that here?

Yes. Yung (from iyong) is a very common colloquial equivalent of ang:

• Masarap talaga yung kape. (casual) Formal/standard:
• Masarap talaga ang kape.

Is masarap only for taste?

Mostly it means “delicious/tasty,” but it also extends to “pleasant/enjoyable” for experiences:

• Ang sarap matulog. = Sleeping feels so good.
• Ang sarap pakinggan. = It’s nice to listen to.