Question: Whats the difference between uli, ulit, and muli?

@malayono “Mulî”, “ulí”, and “ulít” generally mean “again” (adverb). They are often interchangeable but none of them can stand alone.1. a) “mulî” is more like “once again” and may be used to begin a sentence;“Mulî siláng naglarô pagkatapos kumain” = (Once) again they played after eating.“Naglarô silá mulî/ulî/ulít pagkatapos kumain” = They played again after eating.b) “mulî” may be used, and usually linked with “na”, just before the word it is modifying;“Mulíng (mulî na) naglarô silá pagkatapos kumain. = Once again they played after eating. Note: The "ng" in "siláng" used in the first example under 1a above is that "na" that should have gone between "mula" and "naglaro" as their linker. It's just that "sila" was in there too and that's where it got attached.2. “Ulî” is not used to begin a sentence nor linked as a modifier, i.e.,"uling", before a word. It is the one we tend to use more often though for “again”.3. “Ulít” is the least often used of the three. Although it may be used to begin a sentence, it is rarely done. It may also be used before the modified word with the linker “na” in between.“Ulít na naglarô silá pagkatapos kumain.”More examples:Magkita tayo ulî/mulî/ulít. = Let's see each other again.Kailán ulî/mulî/ulít tayo magkikita? = Kailan tayo uli/muli/mulíng/ulit magkikita? = When shall we see each other again?Mulî tayong magkita sa Linggó. = Let's see each other again on Sunday.Ano (nga) ulî/ulít ang pangalan mo? = What's your name again? [“Muli (once again)” would not sound right here because the person has not even mentioned his name yet.][This sentence is a way of asking for the name of a stranger, or someone whose name you have already forgotten, with whom you have just had a substantial conversation. The “nga” gives the effect of adding something like “Please tell/remind me,” at the start of the question. It is optional, but it can make the question sound a little bit more polite.]Kailán kayó ulî/ulit/mulî/mulíng bábalik sa Pilipinas? = When are you coming back again to the Philippines?Baká sa súsunod na taón uli/ulit/muli. = Maybe next year again.Sige, hanggáng sa ating mulíng pagkikita. = OK, until we see each other again. (*Another form of "ulit” may be used here, not the one above. See asterisk a couple of paragraphs below)
or Sige, hanggang sa ating pagkikita uli/muli/ulit.Mulíng/Ulít na bumalík silá sa Pilipinas makatapos ang sampúng taón. = They returned again to the Philippines after ten years. The “ulit” used above has the accent on the 2nd syllable.When the accent is on the 1st syllable (ulit), it takes a slightly different meaning – “repeat/again/repetition”. It is the one used as the root word for affixes to form other words – umulit, ulitin, maulit, ipaulit, etc.
(* "... mauulit na pagkikita" or "... uuliting pagkikita" would be the more standard form of "ulit" that we'd use.)
-It can stand alone to mean “repeat/again”. If, for example, you are teaching someone how to play a musical instrument and you want him to repeat a segment or even the entire piece, you can say “Ulitin mo” (you repeat it) or simply “Ulit” (repeat/again).Ilang ulit ang kailangan kong gawin? = How many repetitions do I need to do?You might also encounter “uli-ulî”. It is only used when admonishing someone to do the right thing in the future. It may be translated as “next time”.Uli-ulî 'wag kang basta maniniwala sa mga nababasa mo sa Facebook. = Next time don't just believe things you read in FB. (“Sa” (on) may be optionally added before “uli-uli” without changing its meaning.) “Sa súsunod” also means “next time”. You may use it in place of “(sa) uli-uli” above.However, you can't use “uli-uli” to replace “sa súsunod” in something like: Ngayon nanoód tayo ng sine. Sa súsunod kumain namán tayo ng pizza.” = Now we watched a movie. Next time let's eat pizza instead. (“Naman” may be translated to “instead” there.)You can't use “uli-uli” above in place of “sa susunod” because it is not an admonishment.

@JuantutriWow ... you are always covering your topics with a very high degree of expertise and completeness . Great ! Thank you so much for your invaluable efforts !May I add one phrase, that just came to my mind, when reading your posting ? I heard it in a Tagalog song "Kung Ako Na Lang Sana " sung by "Bituin Escalante" - you can find that nice and romantic song on YouTube ... the verse goes like this: At heto naman ako - And here I am
nakikinig sa mga kwento mong - listening to all of your stories
paulit-ulit lang - that only repeat again and againI think it's a nice example of how "ulit-ulit" may be used. I love to learn Tagalog straight from the mouth of native speakers ... especially if it is such a beautiful female ... Have a nice day everybody !
Jimmy