From root: telepono
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
nagtelepono
nag-te-le-PO-no
telephoned
Present (Incomplete)
nagtetelepono
nag-te-te-le-PO-no
telephoning
Future (Contemplated)
magtetelepono
mag-te-te-le-PO-no
will telephone
Usage Note
Magtelepono is used to describe the act of making a phone call, traditionally associated with landlines, though it has become less common in favor of the more general verb 'tumawag.' It is primarily used when the focus is on the action of using a telephone device rather than just the communication itself.
Examples
" Magtelepono ka sa kanya. "
Natural Translation
Give him a call.
Literal Translation
Telephone you to him.
" Kailangan kong magtelepono sa opisina. "
Natural Translation
I need to make a telephone call to the office.
Literal Translation
Need I to telephone to office.
" Kapag nakauwi ka na, magtelepono ka agad sa lola para malaman niyang ligtas kang nakarating. "
Natural Translation
Once you get home, call your grandmother right away so she knows you arrived safely.
Literal Translation
When arrived-home you already, telephone you immediately to grandmother so know she safe you arrived.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
telepono has 4 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.

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.

Filipino Family Words and Honorifics: Ate, Kuya & Tita
Filipino family words like ate, kuya, tita, tito, lolo, and lola go far beyond family — learn how Filipinos use them with strangers, plus mano po etiquette.

Ng vs Nang in Tagalog: The Spelling Rule
Ng vs nang sound identical but spell differently. Use ng to mark nouns (of, the object), and nang for how, when, repetition, and counting time.