tala
tálà with stress marks
star; list; record; to register
Also means
Tala can also refer to the planet Venus as the morning or evening star in classical Tagalog poetry and mythology.
Usage Note
Tala is a rich, polysemous word. As a noun it means a star in the sky, or a written list or record. As a verb it means to register or note down. In formal and official contexts, italaan or itala means 'to record officially'. The word also appears in the name of the goddess Tala in pre-colonial Philippine mythology, giving it a poetic resonance.
Examples
" Maraming tala sa langit. "
Natural Translation
There are many stars in the sky.
Literal Translation
Many star in sky.
" Maganda ang tala sa langit ngayong gabi. "
Natural Translation
The star in the sky tonight is beautiful.
Literal Translation
Beautiful the star in sky tonight.
" Tuwing nalulungkot siya, tinitingnan niya ang mga tala sa langit dahil naaalala niya ang kanyang lolo na mahilig sa mga ito. "
Natural Translation
Whenever she feels low, she gazes at the stars in the sky because they remind her of her grandfather who loved them.
Literal Translation
Whenever feels-sad she looks she at-the stars in sky because remember she the her grandfather that fond of these.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workActor Focus Verbs
Object Focus Verbs
Related Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.

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.

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.

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.

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.