Skip to content

sira

sirâ with stress marks

defect; to destroy; defective or broken

noun verb adjective si-RA Native origin Common
Illustration of "sira" (defect; to destroy; defective or broken)

Also means

Sira can also be used in the idiom 'sira ang ulo' (broken head) to mean crazy or mentally unstable.

Usage Note

Sira is one of the most versatile and high-frequency words in Tagalog, used daily for anything broken, damaged, or not working — appliances, reputations, or relationships. The form sirain means to ruin or damage something, and the idiomatic phrase sira ang ulo is a common slang expression for being crazy.

Examples

Beginner

" Sira ang lumang relo. "

Natural Translation

The old watch is broken.

Literal Translation

Broken the old watch.

Intermediate

" May sira ang aking telepono. "

Natural Translation

My phone has a defect.

Literal Translation

Has defect the my phone.

Advanced

" Kahit sira na ang aming lumang aparador, ayaw itong itapon ng aking lola dahil may sentimental na halaga. "

Natural Translation

Even though our old cabinet is already broken, my grandmother does not want to throw it away because it has sentimental value.

Literal Translation

Even-though broken already the our old cabinet, not-want this to-throw by my grandmother because has sentimental that value.

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

Derived Words

Actor Focus Verbs

Object Focus Verbs

Explore Tagalog by topic

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