Tagalog Irregular Verbs

Some roots change forms when an affix is added to them. For example, a particular root may lose a vowel when -an or -in is added to it.

These changes are different from the usual sound changes that occur when combining roots and affixes. See also: Sound changes when combining roots and affixes (p. 25)

Below is a list of the most common irregular verbs.

The roots and root-affix combinations may have more meanings than the ones given here.

root	meaning	root + affix	meaning
alaala	memory	alalahanin	to keep in mind, to take into account
bigay	something given	bigyan	to give to
bili	buying, buying price	bilhan	to buy for (to buy someone)
bili	buying, buying price	bilhin	to buy
bukas	open	buksan	to open
dala	something brought	dalhan	to bring for (to bring someone)
dala	something brought	dalhin	to bring
dating	arrival	datnan	to catch or find on arrival
gawa’	something made	gawan	to make for (to make someone)
gawa’	something made	gawin	to make, to do
hingi’	asking (for something)	hingan	to ask from
hingi’	asking (for something)	hingin	to ask for
ihip	blowing	hipan	to blow on
iwan	leaving	iwan iwanan	to leave, to leave something for
kinig	hearing	pakinggan	to listen to
kuha’	getting	kunan	to get or take for
kuha’	getting	kunin	to get or take
lagay	putting	lagyan	to put something in/on/at
sakay	riding, a ride	sakyan	to ride
sakit	pain	saktan	to hurt
sunod	following	sundan	to follow (somewhere)
sunod	following	sundin	to obey
takip	lid	takpan	to cover
tikim	tasting	tikman	to taste
tingin	look	tingnan	to look at
tira	living, residing	tirhan	to live in

root	alaala
meaning	memory
root + affix	alalahanin
meaning	to keep in mind, to take into account

root	iwan
meaning	leaving
root + affix	iwan iwanan
meaning	to leave, to leave something for

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