From root: dala
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
nadala
na-da-LA
learned a lesson
Present (Incomplete)
nadadala
na-da-da-LA
learning a lesson
Future (Contemplated)
madadala
ma-da-da-LA
will learn a lesson
Usage Note
Madala is used when someone learns a lesson from a negative experience, causing them to be cautious or avoid repeating the same mistake. It captures the sentiment of being 'once bitten, twice shy' in daily Filipino conversations.
Examples
" Madala ka sana sa pangyayaring iyon. "
Natural Translation
I hope you learn your lesson from that.
Literal Translation
Learn-lesson you hopefully from happening that.
" Mahirap madala kung hindi ka nakikinig. "
Natural Translation
It is hard to learn a lesson if you are not listening.
Literal Translation
Hard learn-a-lesson if not you listening.
" Pagkatapos malugi sa unang negosyo, tiyak na madala na siya at mag-iingat sa susunod na pagpapalawak. "
Natural Translation
After losing money in his first business, he will surely have learned his lesson and be careful with the next expansion.
Literal Translation
After lose in first business, surely that learned-lesson already he and will-be-careful in next expanding.
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
dala has 8 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.
How to Say Sorry in Tagalog: Patawad vs Pasensya
How to say sorry in Tagalog: patawad, pasensya na, and paumanhin compared on a simple severity-and-formality ladder so you pick the right word every time.
Filipino Family Words and Honorifics: Ate, Kuya & Tita
Filipino family words like ate, kuya, tita, tito, lolo, and lola go far beyond family — learn how Filipinos use them with strangers, plus mano po etiquette.
Is Tagalog Hard to Learn? An Honest Answer
Tagalog takes around 1,100 hours to reach professional proficiency. Here is what is easy, what is hard, and what to expect at 3, 6, and 12 months.
Tagalog Affixes Explained: A Beginner's Guide to Word Building
Tagalog affixes turn one root word into dozens of meanings. Learn prefixes, infixes, suffixes, and circumfixes with clear examples for beginners.