From root: bisa
Usage Note
Mabisa is the adjective form of bisa, describing something — typically a medicine, method, or policy — that works as intended and produces results. It is the standard word in health communication and government announcements when asserting the proven effectiveness of an intervention.
Examples
" Mabisa ang gamot sa ubo. "
Natural Translation
The cough medicine is effective.
Literal Translation
Effective the medicine for cough.
" Mabisa ang gamot na ito. "
Natural Translation
This medicine is effective.
Literal Translation
Effective the medicine that this.
" Ayon sa mga eksperto, mas mabisa ang pag-iwas sa sakit kaysa sa paghahanap ng lunas kapag huli na ang lahat. "
Natural Translation
According to experts, preventing illness is more effective than searching for a cure when it's already too late.
Literal Translation
According to the experts, more effective the avoiding of sickness than the searching of cure when late already the all.
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 workWord family
bisa has 3 related forms built from the same root.
Related Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.
Languages of the Philippines: Tagalog, Cebuano, and More
Languages of the Philippines: one national language (Filipino) plus 180+ regional languages. Here's who speaks what, where, and why it matters to you.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Tagalog?
Survival Tagalog takes ~3-4 weeks and comfortable conversation 6-12 months. FSI's 1,100 hours is the professional bar, not the talking-to-family bar.
Tagalog Verb Focus System Explained (It's Not Active vs. Passive)
The Tagalog verb focus system isn't active vs. passive. Learn actor focus, object focus, and more with clear examples that finally make it click.
Na vs -ng in Tagalog: The Linker Rule Made Simple
When do you use na vs -ng in Tagalog? One simple rule, with clear examples, memory tips, and common mistakes explained for English-speaking beginners.