From root: laya
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
nilaya
ni-la-YA
liberated
Present (Incomplete)
nilalaya
ni-la-la-YA
liberating
Future (Contemplated)
lalayain
la-la-ya-IN
will liberate
Usage Note
Layain is used when focusing on the specific person or entity being set free from captivity or oppression. It is often encountered in formal, historical, or literary contexts rather than casual daily conversation.
Examples
" Layain natin ang mga bilanggo. "
Natural Translation
Let's liberate the prisoners.
Literal Translation
Liberate by-us the prisoners.
" Kailangan nating ipalaya ang mga inosente. "
Natural Translation
We need to have someone freed the innocent.
Literal Translation
Need by-us to-have-someone-freed the [plural] innocent.
" Nangako ang bagong pinuno na lalayain ang lahat ng inosenteng nakulong dahil sa maling paratang ng nakaraang pamahalaan. "
Natural Translation
The new leader promised to liberate all the innocent people who were imprisoned because of false accusations by the previous government.
Literal Translation
Promised the new leader that will-liberate the all of innocent imprisoned because of wrong accusation by past government.
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
laya 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.
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.
Tagalog Question Words: Ano, Sino, Saan & More
Tagalog question words like ano, sino, and saan need the right frame to work. Learn the ang-vs-pronoun rule, confusable pairs, and the ba particle with audio.
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.
Magkano: How to Ask "How Much" in Tagalog
Magkano means how much in Tagalog. Learn to ask a price, tell it apart from ilan and gaano, sound polite with po, and haggle at the palengke.