From root: tagal
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
natagalan
na-ta-ga-LAN
took a long time
Present (Incomplete)
natatagalan
na-ta-ta-ga-LAN
is taking a long time
Future (Contemplated)
matatagalan
ma-ta-ta-ga-LAN
will take a long time
Usage Note
Matagalan is used to describe a is usually used to describe a process, a task, or a person who is running late.
Examples
" Natagalan ang biyahe. "
Natural Translation
The trip took a long time.
Literal Translation
Took-a-long-time the trip.
" Nagsimulang matagalan ang pila. "
Natural Translation
The line started to take a long time.
Literal Translation
Started-to take-a-long-time the line.
" Natagalan kami sa daan dahil sa trapiko kaya hindi na kami umabot sa simula ng palabas. "
Natural Translation
We took a long time on the road because of traffic, so we didn't make it to the start of the show.
Literal Translation
Took-a-long-time we on road because of traffic so not anymore we reach the start of-the show.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
tagal has 10 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.

Tagalog Pronouns Explained: Complete Chart with Examples
Every Tagalog pronoun explained with clear charts: ang/ng/sa forms, tayo vs kami, ikaw vs ka, politeness markers, and the mistakes beginners make.

Seasons in the Philippines: A Tagalog Guide
The Philippines has two seasons, not four. Learn tag-araw, tag-ulan, and taglamig, the generative tag- prefix, and the weather vocabulary to match.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Tagalog?
Survival Tagalog takes ~3-4 weeks and comfortable conversation 6-12 months. FSI's 1,100 hours is the professional bar, not the talking-to-family bar.

Spaced Repetition for Tagalog: How Flashcards Make Words Stick
Cramming Tagalog vocabulary fails. See how spaced repetition — the science behind smart flashcards — makes words stick for the long term.