Skip to content

sumayaw

to dance

verb su-ma-YAW AF VERB Less Common
Illustration of the root word "sayaw" (dance)
Illustration from root: sayaw

From root: sayaw

Conjugations

Past (Completed)

sumayaw

su-ma-YAW

danced

Present (Incomplete)

sumasayaw

su-ma-sa-YAW

dancing

Future (Contemplated)

sasayaw

sa-sa-YAW

will dance

Usage Note

Sumayaw is used when describing the act of dancing, especially in social gatherings, celebrations, or formal performances. As an actor-focus verb, it emphasizes the person performing the action and is the standard way to express dancing in daily conversation.

Examples

Beginner

" Sumayaw kami sa parti. "

Natural Translation

We danced at the party.

Literal Translation

Danced we at party.

Intermediate

" Sumayaw siya sa entablado. "

Natural Translation

She danced on the stage.

Literal Translation

Danced she on stage.

Advanced

" Habang tumutugtog ang banda, sumayaw ang mga bisita hanggang sa madaling-araw nang walang humpay. "

Natural Translation

While the band played, the guests danced until dawn without stopping.

Literal Translation

While playing the band, danced the guests until early-morning without ceasing.

Free · iOS & Android

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 work

Word family

sayaw has 7 related forms built from the same root.

See all

Explore Tagalog by topic

Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.