opsyonal
opsyonál with stress marks
optional; not compulsory
Usage Note
Opsyonal is borrowed from English 'optional' and is used in academic, workplace, and legal contexts to indicate something is not required. The word has been fully naturalized into Filipino formal writing and bureaucratic language.
Examples
" Opsyonal ang takdang-aralin. "
Natural Translation
The homework is optional.
Literal Translation
Optional the homework.
" Ang pagsali sa paligsahan ay opsyonal lamang. "
Natural Translation
Joining the contest is only optional.
Literal Translation
The joining in contest is optional only.
" Sinabi ng guro na opsyonal ang dagdag na proyekto, ngunit makakatulong ito sa mga nais magpataas ng kanilang grado. "
Natural Translation
The teacher said that the extra project is optional, but it would help those who want to raise their grades.
Literal Translation
Said by-teacher that optional the extra project, but will-help this to the want to-raise of their grade.
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.

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.

How to Say "I Love You" in Tagalog: Phrases & Meaning
Learn how to say I love you in Tagalog. Mahal kita, Iniibig kita, and Filipino terms of endearment for partners, family, and friends — with cultural notes.

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.

Ng vs Nang in Tagalog: The Spelling Rule
Ng vs nang sound identical but spell differently. Use ng to mark nouns (of, the object), and nang for how, when, repetition, and counting time.