sapian
sapián with stress marks
to possess [someone]
From root: sapi
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
sinapian
si-na-pi-AN
possessed
Present (Incomplete)
sinasapian
si-na-sa-pi-AN
is being possessed
Future (Contemplated)
sasapian
sa-sa-pi-AN
will be possessed
Usage Note
Sapian is the locative object-focus -an form of sapi, used when the person or body being possessed by a spirit is the grammatical focus. It carries significant cultural and religious weight in Filipino folk belief, where spirit possession by ancestral spirits, elemental beings, or malevolent entities is a recognized phenomenon. Distinct from the organizational-joining sense expressed through sumapi.
Examples
" Baka sapian ka ng masamang espiritu. "
Natural Translation
You might get possessed by an evil spirit.
Literal Translation
Maybe to-possess you by bad spirit.
" Mahirap sapian ng masamang espiritu ang silid na may liwanag. "
Natural Translation
It is difficult for an evil spirit to possess a room that has light.
Literal Translation
Difficult to-possess by bad spirit the room that has light.
" Ayon sa matatanda sa baryo, madaling sapian ng espiritu ang sinumang umuwi nang malalim na ang gabi. "
Natural Translation
According to the elders in the village, anyone who comes home late at night is easily possessed by a spirit.
Literal Translation
According to elders in village, easy to-possess by spirit the whoever go-home when deep already the night.
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sapi has 2 related forms built from the same root.
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