araw
/ˈʔaɾaw/
The Tagalog word for sun is araw.
araw refers to the star around which the Earth revolves. It is also used when referring to sunlight, such as in the phrase sa araw (in the sun).
Meaning: the star around which the Earth revolves (name)
What does it mean word for word?
Depending on the context, araw can mean both 'sun' or 'day'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʔaɾaw/
Did you know?
- Araw shares a common ancestor with the Malagasy word andro used in Madagascar.
- In traditional Filipino culture, the araw is a central symbol of life and energy, often appearing in indigenous art and mythology.
- Tagalog describes the 'day' as a unit of time using the same word as the 'sun' because the day is defined by the sun's appearance.
Examples in context
- May araw po kahapon.Yesterday there was sun.This sentence shows how to use araw to indicate the presence of sun in the past.Tatoeba #11641071 by qwertzu, translation #10717821 by carlosalberto
- Nagbilad sila sa araw.They dried themselves in the sun.This sentence demonstrates the use of araw in the phrase 'sa araw' (in the sun).Tatoeba #1783547 by nonong, translation #306005 by CK
- Ang araw ay sumusunog na bola.The sun is a flaming ball.This sentence uses araw to describe the sun as a physical object.Tatoeba #1854220 by nonong, translation #275159 by rul
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are sitting on a park bench during a bright afternoon.
- JasmineAng lakas ng araw ngayon.The sun is very strong today.
- MarkOo, mainit na mainit.Yes, it is very hot.
- JasmineMagdala ka ng payong, Mark.Bring an umbrella, Mark.
- MarkSalamat, Jasmine.Thanks, Jasmine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sun” translations and entries araw, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries araw, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
