sapsap
sápsap with stress marks
small flat slipmouth fish
Usage Note
Sapsap (Leiognathus spp.) is a small, flat, silver fish commonly sold in Philippine wet markets. It is an affordable protein source, often fried whole or dried. Its abundance makes it a staple for lower-income households, and it is a familiar sight in coastal communities throughout the archipelago.
Examples
" Bumili ako ng sapsap. "
Natural Translation
I bought some slipmouth fish.
Literal Translation
Bought I of slipmouth-fish.
" Masarap ang sapsap na isda. "
Natural Translation
The slipmouth fish is delicious.
Literal Translation
Delicious the slipmouth that fish.
" Mura lang ang sapsap sa palengke, kaya madalas itong iniprito ng mga pamilyang gusto ng masustansyang ulam. "
Natural Translation
Slipmouth fish is cheap at the market, so families who want a nutritious dish often fry it.
Literal Translation
Cheap only the slipmouth-fish at market, so often it fried by the families want of nutritious dish.
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 workRelated 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.
Days of the Week and Months in Tagalog
The days of the week and months in Tagalog are Spanish loanwords. Learn all 7 days and 12 months with pronunciation, plus how to say dates and 'every Monday.'
Filipino Family Words and Honorifics: Ate, Kuya & Tita
Filipino family words like ate, kuya, tita, tito, lolo, and lola go far beyond family — learn how Filipinos use them with strangers, plus mano po etiquette.
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.