kawanihan
government bureau or department
From root: kawani
Usage Note
Kawanihan is a common term for large administrative divisions, such as the Kawanihan ng Rentas Internas.
Examples
" Malaki ang kawanihan ng buwis. "
Natural Translation
The bureau of taxes is big.
Literal Translation
Big the bureau of tax.
" Pumunta siya sa kawanihan ng buwis. "
Natural Translation
He went to the bureau of internal revenue.
Literal Translation
Went he to the bureau of tax.
" Maraming dokumento ang kailangan mong dalhin kapag pupunta ka sa kawanihan para ayusin ang iyong papeles. "
Natural Translation
You need to bring many documents when you go to the bureau to fix your paperwork.
Literal Translation
Many document the need by-you to-bring when will-go you to bureau to fix the your papers.
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
kawani 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.
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.
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.
Ang, Ng, Sa: The 3 Tagalog Case Markers Explained
Ang, ng, sa are the three Tagalog case markers every noun takes. Learn what each does, the personal forms si/ni/kay, plurals with mga, and clear examples.
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.