tema
téma with stress marks
theme
Usage Note
Tema, from Spanish 'tema', is used in Filipino for the central theme of a story, event, or composition, as well as the topic of an essay or discussion. In school settings students are frequently asked to identify the 'tema ng kuwento' (theme of the story). It also appears in party and event planning — 'ano ang tema ng okasyon?'
Examples
" Maganda ang tema ng kuwento. "
Natural Translation
The theme of the story is good.
Literal Translation
Good the theme of story.
" Ano ang tema ng inyong programa? "
Natural Translation
What is the theme of your program?
Literal Translation
What the theme of your program?
" Bago natin simulan ang sanaysay, kailangan muna nating maunawaan kung ano talaga ang tema na nais ipahatid ng may-akda. "
Natural Translation
Before we begin the essay, we first need to understand what theme the author truly wants to convey.
Literal Translation
Before we start the essay, need first we understand if what really the theme that wants convey of author.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workRelated Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.

Tagalog Word Order: Sentence Structure Made Simple
Why Tagalog puts the verb first, and how ang, ng, and sa markers work. A clear guide to VSO word order, forming questions, and negation.

Tagalog Verb Conjugation: Aspects Made Simple
Tagalog verb conjugation uses aspects, not tenses. Learn the three aspects with -um- and mag- verbs, one reduplication rule, and clear example tables.

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.

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.