dapan
dapán with stress marks
flounder (fish)
Usage Note
Dapan is a flat, bottom-dwelling saltwater fish common in Philippine coastal waters. It is sold in wet markets and is popular for frying or sinigang. The name likely references the fish's flat shape, sharing a root with the idea of lying flat.
Examples
" Masarap ang piniritong dapan. "
Natural Translation
The fried flounder is delicious.
Literal Translation
Delicious the fried flounder.
" Bumili si Nanay ng dapan sa palengke para sa tanghalian. "
Natural Translation
Mom bought flounder at the market for lunch.
Literal Translation
Bought Mother of-flounder at-the market for lunch.
" Tuwing umaga sa palengke ay naghahanap si Lola ng sariwang dapan dahil ito raw ang pinakamasarap sa sinigang. "
Natural Translation
Every morning at the market, Grandma looks for fresh flounder because she says it is the tastiest in sinigang.
Literal Translation
Every morning at-the market Grandma searches for fresh flounder because it-said the tastiest in sinigang.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workRelated Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.

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.

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.

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.

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.