From root: sumpa
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
sumumpa
su-mum-PA
swore
Present (Incomplete)
sumusumpa
su-mu-sum-PA
is swearing
Future (Contemplated)
susumpa
su-sum-PA
will swear
Usage Note
Sumumpa is used when taking a formal oath or making a solemn promise, such as in legal proceedings, weddings, or official ceremonies. It carries a heavy weight and is more formal and binding than the common word for promise, 'pangako'.
Examples
" Ayaw niyang sumumpa. "
Natural Translation
He doesn't want to swear.
Literal Translation
Dislike he to-swear.
" Ayaw kong sumumpa sa harap nila. "
Natural Translation
I don't want to swear in front of them.
Literal Translation
Dislike I swear in front of them.
" Bago tumestigo, kinailangan munang sumumpa ng saksi na magsasabi lamang siya ng katotohanan sa hukuman. "
Natural Translation
Before testifying, the witness first had to swear that he would tell only the truth in court.
Literal Translation
Before to-testify, needed first to-swear of witness that will-tell only he of truth in court.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
sumpa has 6 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.

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.

Tagalog Verb Focus System Explained (It's Not Active vs. Passive)
The Tagalog verb focus system isn't active vs. passive. Learn actor focus, object focus, and more with clear examples that finally make it click.

Tagalog Slang Guide: 20 Words You'll Hear on TikTok
Tagalog slang explained: lodi, petmalu, werpa, astig, chika and more. Decode Filipino TikTok comments, group chats, and pop culture with this practical guide.

Tagalog Word Order: Sentence Structure Made Simple
Why Tagalog puts the verb first, and how ang, ng, and sa markers work. A clear guide to VSO word order, forming questions, and negation.