From root: tawag
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
tinawagan
ti-na-wa-GAN
called (via phone)
Present (Incomplete)
tinatawagan
ti-na-ta-wa-GAN
calling (via phone)
Future (Contemplated)
tatawagan
ta-ta-wa-GAN
will call (via phone)
Usage Note
Tawagan is used when the focus of the sentence is the person or place being contacted, typically via telephone or a communication app. It is the standard object-focus verb used when requesting or promising to make a call to a specific individual.
Examples
" Tawagan mo ako mamaya. "
Natural Translation
Call me later.
Literal Translation
Call you me later.
" Kailangang tawagan ang iyong ina. "
Natural Translation
It is necessary to call (via phone) your mother.
Literal Translation
Need call-someone the your mother.
" Tawagan mo ang doktor kapag lumala ang lagnat ng kapatid mo nang hatinggabi. "
Natural Translation
Call the doctor if your sibling's fever gets worse in the middle of the night.
Literal Translation
Call you the doctor when worsened the fever of sibling your at midnight.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
tawag has 9 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.

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.

Na vs -ng in Tagalog: The Linker Rule Made Simple
When do you use na vs -ng in Tagalog? One simple rule, with clear examples, memory tips, and common mistakes explained for English-speaking beginners.

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 Question Words: Ano, Sino, Saan & More
Tagalog question words like ano, sino, and saan need the right frame to work. Learn the ang-vs-pronoun rule, confusable pairs, and the ba particle with audio.