magbawas
/maɡbaˈwas/
To subtract in Tagalog is magbawas. Wiktionary also lists bawasin.
Meaning: to remove or reduce (verb)
Ways to say it
| Tagalog | IPA |
|---|---|
| magbawas | /maɡbaˈwas/ (Standard Tagalog) |
| bawasin |
Both magbawas and bawasin mean to remove or reduce.
Which one should you use?
Use magbawas to say 'to subtract' (intransitive/actor-focused), but use bawasin to say 'to subtract [something]' (transitive/object-focused).
How does it change in a sentence?
The form magbawas is used when the focus is on the actor performing the act of subtracting. In contrast, the form bawasin is used when the focus is on the object or amount being subtracted.
How do you pronounce it?
/maɡbaˈwas/
Did you know?
- In some contexts, 'magbawas' can also be used to mean 'to urinate' or 'to relieve oneself' in a polite, indirect way.
- The root word bawas is also used colloquially to describe a 'discount' in a marketplace. If you want a lower price, you might ask the vendor to 'bawasan' the amount.
- The prefix mag- traces its ancestry back to Proto-Austronesian roots, connecting this modern Tagalog verb to thousands of years of linguistic history in the Pacific.
Examples in context
- Nagsasagawa kami ng pagbabawas ng mga numero sa klase ngayon.We are performing subtraction of numbers in class today.
- Ang pagbabawas ay isang mahalagang kasanayan sa matematika.Subtraction is an important skill in mathematics.
- Kinuha ko ang limang piso mula sa pitong piso.I subtracted five pesos from seven pesos.
Example conversation
Mark and Angela are discussing their monthly budget.
- MarkMasyadong malaki ang gastos natin ngayon.Our expenses are too high right now.
- AngelaDapat ba tayong magbawas ng budget sa luho?Should we subtract the budget for luxuries?
- MarkOo, kailangang magtipid tayo.Yes, we need to save money.
- AngelaSige, gagawin ko na iyan.Okay, I will do that now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “subtract” translations and entries magbawas, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries magbawas, CC BY-SA 4.0.
