From root: unan
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
nag-unan
nag-U-nan
used a pillow
Present (Incomplete)
nag-uunan
nag-u-U-nan
using a pillow
Future (Contemplated)
mag-uunan
mag-u-U-nan
will use a pillow
Usage Note
Mag-unan is used to describe the act of using a pillow while sleeping or resting. It is commonly used in household settings when offering a pillow or ensuring someone is comfortable.
Examples
" Gusto kong mag-unan kapag natutulog. "
Natural Translation
I like to use a pillow when sleeping.
Literal Translation
Like I use-pillow when sleeping.
" Bakit ayaw mong mag-unan ngayon? "
Natural Translation
Why don't you want to use a pillow now?
Literal Translation
Why not-want you use-pillow now?
" Hindi makatulog nang maayos ang sanggol kung hindi siya nakapag-uunan, kaya laging may dalang maliit na unan ang kanyang ina. "
Natural Translation
The baby cannot sleep well if he is not able to use a pillow, so his mother always brings a small pillow along.
Literal Translation
Not can-sleep properly the baby if not he able-to-use-pillow, so always with bringing small pillow the his mother.
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 workWord family
unan 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.
Tagalog vs Filipino: What's the Difference & Which to Learn
Tagalog and Filipino aren't the same language — but they overlap almost completely. Here's the real difference and which one you should actually learn.
Languages of the Philippines: Tagalog, Cebuano, and More
Languages of the Philippines: one national language (Filipino) plus 180+ regional languages. Here's who speaks what, where, and why it matters to you.
Tagalog Pronouns Explained: Complete Chart with Examples
Every Tagalog pronoun explained with clear charts: ang/ng/sa forms, tayo vs kami, ikaw vs ka, politeness markers, and the mistakes beginners make.
Filipino Food: 12 Essential Dishes (With Tagalog Names)
Filipino food, from adobo to halo-halo: learn the Tagalog names, pronunciations, and ingredients behind 12 dishes you'll want to try on your first trip.