From root: pili
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
pinili
pi-NI-li
chose
Present (Incomplete)
pinipili
pi-ni-PI-li
is choosing
Future (Contemplated)
pipiliin
pi-pi-li-IN
will choose
Usage Note
Piliin is used when focusing on a specific item or person being selected from a set of options. It is an object-focused verb, typically used in commands or when the choice itself is the main point of the sentence.
Examples
" Piliin mo ang gusto mo. "
Natural Translation
Choose what you want.
Literal Translation
Choose you the want you.
" Gusto kong piliin ang asul. "
Natural Translation
I want to choose the blue one.
Literal Translation
Want I choose the blue.
" Mahirap piliin kung alin ang mas maganda dahil parehong maganda ang dalawang damit na iyon. "
Natural Translation
It's hard to choose which one is nicer because both of those dresses are equally beautiful.
Literal Translation
Hard choose which the more nice because both nice the two clothes that.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
pili 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.

Filipino Food: 12 Essential Dishes (With Tagalog Names)
Filipino food, from adobo to halo-halo: learn the Tagalog names, pronunciations, and ingredients behind 12 dishes you'll want to try on your first trip.

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.

Mano Po and Filipino Etiquette: A Visitor's Guide
Mano po presses an elder's hand to your forehead as a blessing. Learn who to mano, how to lip-point, and the etiquette that wins over a Filipino family.

Tagalog Numbers 1-100: Counting, Time & Money Explained
Learn Tagalog numbers 1-100 and beyond. Master both native and Spanish-derived counting systems, plus telling time, reading prices, and ordinals.