From root: wala
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
iniwala
i-ni-wa-LA
misplaced something
Present (Incomplete)
iniwawala
i-ni-wa-wa-LA
misplacing something
Future (Contemplated)
iwawala
i-wa-wa-LA
will misplace something
Usage Note
Iwala is used to describe the act of misplacing an object, focusing on the specific item that is no longer in one's possession. While functional, speakers more frequently use the accidental prefix form 'maiwala' to emphasize that the loss was unintentional rather than a deliberate act.
Examples
" Huwag mong iwala ang susi. "
Natural Translation
Do not misplace the key.
Literal Translation
Do-not you to-misplace the key.
" Huwag subukang iwala ang mga dokumento. "
Natural Translation
Do not try to misplace the documents.
Literal Translation
Do-not try misplace the plural document.
" Mag-ingat ka at huwag iwala ang pasaporte, dahil mahirap iyong palitan kapag nasa ibang bansa ka. "
Natural Translation
Be careful and do not misplace the passport, because it is hard to replace when you are in another country.
Literal Translation
Be-careful you and do-not to-misplace the passport, because hard that to-replace when in other country you.
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
wala has 10 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.
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 Root Words: Learn a Few Hundred, Understand Thousands
Tagalog root words unlock vocabulary fast: learn a few hundred and recognize thousands. Real word families, examples, and a practical study strategy.
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.