magpusta
magpústá with stress marks
to bet
From root: pusta
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
nagpusta
nag-PUS-ta
bet
Present (Incomplete)
nagpupusta
nag-pu-PUS-ta
is betting
Future (Contemplated)
magpupusta
mag-pu-PUS-ta
will bet
Usage Note
Magpusta is the actor-focus mag- infinitive of pusta, from Spanish apuesta, with the bettor as the grammatical subject. It is deeply embedded in Filipino gambling culture, particularly cockfighting (sabong), jueteng, card games, and sports betting. The object-focus counterpart ipusta foregrounds the stake being wagered.
Examples
" Gusto niyang magpusta sa laro. "
Natural Translation
He wants to bet on the game.
Literal Translation
Want he to-bet in game.
" Mahilig magpusta ang tao tuwing may laban ang boksingero. "
Natural Translation
People love to bet whenever the boxer has a fight.
Literal Translation
Fond to bet the person every-time has fight the boxer.
" Bago magpusta sa sabong, mabuting suriin muna ang lakas ng bawat manok upang hindi malugi. "
Natural Translation
Before betting on a cockfight, it's good to first examine the strength of each rooster so you don't lose money.
Literal Translation
Before to-bet in cockfight, good to-examine first the strength of each rooster so-that not lose-money.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
pusta has 1 related form 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 Slang Guide: 20 Words You'll Hear on TikTok
Tagalog slang explained: lodi, petmalu, werpa, astig, chika and more. Decode Filipino TikTok comments, group chats, and pop culture with this practical guide.

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.

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 vs Filipino: What's the Difference & Which to Learn
Tagalog and Filipino aren't the same language — but they overlap almost completely. Here's the real difference and which one you should actually learn.