Skip to content

tawag

táwag with stress marks

call

noun verb TA-wag Native origin Common

Usage Note

Tawag refers to a phone call, the act of summoning someone, or the name given to a thing. It is most commonly used in the practical phrase 'Anong tawag dito?' which means 'What is this called?'

Examples

Beginner

" May tawag ka kanina. "

Natural Translation

You had a call earlier.

Literal Translation

Have call you a-while-ago.

Intermediate

" May tawag ka sa telepono. "

Natural Translation

You have a call on the phone.

Literal Translation

Have call you on-the phone.

Advanced

" Hindi ko narinig ang tawag mo dahil naka-silent ang telepono ko habang nasa pulong ako. "

Natural Translation

I didn't hear your call because my phone was on silent while I was in a meeting.

Literal Translation

Not I hear the call your because on-silent the phone my while at meeting I.

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

Actor Focus Verbs

Object Focus Verbs

Explore Tagalog by topic

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