Ways to say it
| Tagalog | IPA |
|---|---|
| pagalitan | |
| pagsabihan | /paɡsaˈbihan/ (Standard Tagalog) |
To scold involves rebuking someone. If you want to express that someone is using strong and offensive language while scolding or expressing anger, you can use the informal term murahin. If you are describing the act of inviting or provoking someone to scold you, the informal term magpabatikos is used.
Which one should you use?
The choice between these two words depends on the tone of the rebuke. pagalitan is used when the scolding is done with anger, harshness or a loss of temper. In contrast, pagsabihan is used when the scolding is more of a gentle correction, a lecture or a reprimand intended to give advice.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both pagalitan and pagsabihan are object-focused verbs, which means the person being scolded serves as the direct object in the sentence. When using the past tense, the form of pagalitan becomes pinagalitan, while the past tense of pagsabihan becomes pinagsabihan.
Did you know?
- The term murahin for aggressive scolding shares the same root as the word for 'cheap' or 'inexpensive'. In this context, to scold someone with profanity is to treat them as if they have no value.
- In the Philippines, receiving a pagsabihan from an elder is often viewed as a sign of care and affection rather than a punishment. It signifies that the elder still believes the person is worth guiding.
- In Filipino culture, pagsabihan often functions as a social tool for 'saving face', allowing a senior to correct a junior without the explosive anger of pagalitan.
Examples in context
- Huwag mong pagalitan ang mga anak mo sa publiko.Don't scold your children in public.This sentence is useful for showing how to use pagalitan when advising someone not to scold their children in public.Tatoeba #11268491 by qwertzu, translation #9946111 by CK
- Sinabon niya ako dahil sa aking pagkalimot.He scolded me because of my forgetfulness.
- Bakit ka nagkalat dito? Huwag kang magalit sa akin kapag napagalitan ka ng iba.Why did you make a mess here? Don't get mad at me when you get scolded by someone else.
- Kailan ka ba matututo?When will you ever learn?
- Mahiya ka naman.You should be ashamed.
- Tama na ang kalokohan mo.Stop your nonsense.
- Pagalitan mo ang batang hindi nakikinig.Scold the child who is not listening.
- Huwag mo siyang pagalitan nang malakas.Do not scold her loudly.
Example conversation
Jose and Angela are talking about their dog.
- JoseKailangan nating pagalitan ang aso.We need to scold the dog.
- AngelaBakit? Ano ang ginawa niya?Why? What did he do?
- JoseKinagat niya ang paborito mong sapatos.He bit your favorite shoes.
- AngelaSige, pagalitan mo na siya.Alright, go ahead and scold him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “scold” translations and entries pagsabihan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
