The star of the 1996 American family-comedy film Matilda — Mara Wilson — is learning the Tagalog language.
On Twitter, Mara asked a question in Tagalog about the meaning of the word “naman.”
She wrote: “Ano meaning ang ‘naman’? Salamat.” She added: “It does not seem to mean ‘yes.’”
Ano meaning ang “naman”? Salamat
— Mara “Get Rid of the Nazis” Wilson (@MaraWilson) July 12, 2020
It does not seem to mean “yes”
— Mara “Get Rid of the Nazis” Wilson (@MaraWilson) July 12, 2020
When asked by one netizen if she knows how to speak Tagalog, she replied: “I’m like a week into learning it!”
I’m like a week into learning it!
— Mara “Get Rid of the Nazis” Wilson (@MaraWilson) July 12, 2020
The now-32-year-old actress likewise revealed the online resource she’s using to learn the language.
— Mara “Get Rid of the Nazis” Wilson (@MaraWilson) July 12, 2020
Several Filipino on Twitter said “naman” can be interpreted as “again,” “really” or as word of reaffirmation.
When told by a Filipino Twitter user that she’s maganda or “beautiful” with a reaffirming “naman,” she replied: “Hahahaha, salamat!”
Mara’s tweet likewise elicited “surprised” responses from several others Filipinos on Twitter including Saab Magalona who wrote: “Looool nagulat ako nag-Tagalog si Matilda.”
Looool nagulat ako nag-Tagalog si Matilda https://t.co/YolccMqM9r
— Saab (@saabmagalona) July 12, 2020
Mara, whose movie Matilda where she played the titular role as Matilda Wormwood has become a cult favorite, retired from acting in 2000 but eventually returned in 2012 and played various roles in television. She also played Robin Williams’s youngest daughter in Mrs. Doubtfire.