sultan
sultán with stress marks
Muslim ruler
Usage Note
Sultan refers to the traditional Muslim ruler or chieftain, particularly in the context of Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, where the sultanate system has deep historical roots. While the political power of sultans has diminished, the title remains important in cultural, religious, and peace-negotiation contexts.
Examples
" Makapangyarihan ang sultan. "
Natural Translation
The sultan is powerful.
Literal Translation
Powerful the sultan.
" Mabait ang sultan sa kanyang nasasakupan. "
Natural Translation
The Muslim ruler is kind to his/her subjects.
Literal Translation
Kind the Muslim ruler to his/her subjects.
" Iginalang ng buong pamayanan ang sultan dahil sa kanyang matalino at makatarungang pamumuno sa loob ng maraming taon. "
Natural Translation
The whole community respected the sultan because of his wise and just leadership over many years.
Literal Translation
Respected by whole community the sultan because of his wise and just leadership in many years.
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.
Mano Po and Filipino Etiquette: A Visitor's Guide
Mano po presses an elder's hand to your forehead as a blessing. Learn who to mano, how to lip-point, and the etiquette that wins over a Filipino family.
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.'
Philippines Geography for Learners: Islands & Language
Philippines geography for Tagalog learners: 7,641 islands, three island groups, and the Southern Luzon heartland where the Tagalog language was born.
Tagalog Time Expressions: Past, Present & Future Guide
Tagalog has no tenses — it uses aspect. Learn time words, days of the week, clock time, and the aspect system, with vocabulary tables and cultural notes.