alsa
alsâ with stress marks
rise, to revolt
Usage Note
Alsa comes from Spanish alzar (to raise) and in a political context refers to an uprising or rebellion, carrying deep resonance in Philippine history from colonial revolts to modern people-power movements. In everyday speech, umalsâ can also mean to physically rise — dough rising or a crowd surging forward.
Examples
" Umalsa ang mga tao. "
Natural Translation
The people rose up.
Literal Translation
Rose the people.
" Kita ang alsa ng mga tao. "
Natural Translation
The revolt of the people is visible.
Literal Translation
Visible the revolt of (plural) person.
" Nang umalsa ang mga magsasaka laban sa hindi makatarungang buwis, marami ang sumama sa kanilang panawagan. "
Natural Translation
When the farmers revolted against the unjust tax, many joined their call.
Literal Translation
When revolted the farmers against the not-just tax, many the joined to their call.
Take Tagalog with you
The full course, a 12,500-word dictionary, and flashcards that make every word stick — free to start on iOS and Android.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workActor Focus Verbs
Related Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.
Ng vs Nang in Tagalog: The Spelling Rule
Ng vs nang sound identical but spell differently. Use ng to mark nouns (of, the object), and nang for how, when, repetition, and counting time.
Tagalog Greetings: How to Say Hello, Goodbye & Po/Opo
Master Tagalog greetings with pronunciation: kumusta, magandang umaga, po and opo polite forms, time-of-day phrases, and the mano po tradition.
Tagalog Pronouns Explained: Complete Chart with Examples
Every Tagalog pronoun explained with clear charts: ang/ng/sa forms, tayo vs kami, ikaw vs ka, politeness markers, and the mistakes beginners make.
Tagalog Slang Guide: 20 Words You'll Hear on TikTok
Tagalog slang explained: lodi, petmalu, werpa, astig, chika and more. Decode Filipino TikTok comments, group chats, and pop culture with this practical guide.