From root: tulis
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
tinulis
ti-nu-LIS
sharpened
Present (Incomplete)
tinutulis
ti-nu-tu-LIS
sharpening
Future (Contemplated)
tutulisin
tu-tu-li-SIN
will sharpen
Usage Note
Tulisin is used when focusing on making the tip of an object sharp or pointed, such as a pencil or a bamboo stick. Note that for sharpening the blades of knives or tools, the word 'hasain' is more commonly used instead.
Examples
" Tulisin natin ang lapis. "
Natural Translation
Let's sharpen the pencil.
Literal Translation
Sharpen let-us the pencil.
" Nagsimulang tulisin ni Nanay ang lapis. "
Natural Translation
Mom started to sharpen the pencil.
Literal Translation
Started to-sharpen by Mom the pencil.
" Tutulisin ng mga magsasaka ang dulo ng kawayan para gawing tulos na ipangbabakod sa hardin. "
Natural Translation
The farmers will sharpen the end of the bamboo to make it into a stake for fencing the garden.
Literal Translation
Will-sharpen by the farmers the end of bamboo so-as-to make-into stake that will-fence in garden.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
tulis has 8 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.

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.

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.

Philippines Geography for Learners: Islands & Language
Philippines geography for Tagalog learners: 7,641 islands, three island groups, and the Southern Luzon heartland where the Tagalog language was born.

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.