From root: saysay
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
isinaysay
i-si-nay-SAY
narrated
Present (Incomplete)
isinasaysay
i-si-na-say-SAY
narrating
Future (Contemplated)
isasaysay
i-sa-say-SAY
will narrate
Usage Note
Isaysay is used when recounting events or history in a formal or literary context, emphasizing a detailed or sequential narration. It is less common in everyday conversation, where the word 'ikwento' is more frequently used.
Examples
" Isaysay mo ang nangyari. "
Natural Translation
Narrate what happened.
Literal Translation
Narrate you the what-happened.
" Kailangan nating isaysay ang ating kasaysayan. "
Natural Translation
We need to narrate our history.
Literal Translation
Need by-us to-narrate the our history.
" Hiniling ng guro na isaysay ng mga bata ang buong kuwento mula sa simula hanggang sa wakas. "
Natural Translation
The teacher asked the children to narrate the whole story from beginning to end.
Literal Translation
Asked the teacher that narrate by the children the whole story from beginning until to end.
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 workWord family
saysay has 4 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.
Is Tagalog Hard to Learn? An Honest Answer
Tagalog takes around 1,100 hours to reach professional proficiency. Here is what is easy, what is hard, and what to expect at 3, 6, and 12 months.
Na vs -ng in Tagalog: The Linker Rule Made Simple
When do you use na vs -ng in Tagalog? One simple rule, with clear examples, memory tips, and common mistakes explained for English-speaking beginners.
Tagalog Affixes Explained: A Beginner's Guide to Word Building
Tagalog affixes turn one root word into dozens of meanings. Learn prefixes, infixes, suffixes, and circumfixes with clear examples for beginners.
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.