Usage Note
Sinupan is derived from the root sinop and refers to a cabinet or storage unit used for organizing documents and files, common in office and school environments. The word reflects the Tagalog tendency to derive functional object names from action roots.
Examples
" Nasa sinupan ang papeles. "
Natural Translation
The papers are in the file cabinet.
Literal Translation
In file-cabinet the papers.
" Nasa sinupan ang mga dokumento. "
Natural Translation
The documents are in the file cabinet.
Literal Translation
In file cabinet the documents.
" Inutusan ako ng aking amo na ayusin ang sinupan dahil magulo na ang mga dokumentong nakatago roon. "
Natural Translation
My boss instructed me to organize the file cabinet because the documents stored there had become disordered.
Literal Translation
Instructed me of my boss that organize the file-cabinet because messy already the plural document-that stored there.
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.

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.

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.

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.

Po and Opo in Tagalog: Where to Put Them Right
Po and opo confuse learners — but placement follows one rule. Where po goes in a sentence, why it's opo not 'oo po', and the pronoun shift to learn.