What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of paano (how), sabihin (to say) and iyon (that).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To make the phrase more polite when speaking to elders or strangers, you can add the particle po as in paano po sabihin iyon? In casual settings, you may see the informal version Pano sabihin yun? If you want to ask a more complex, formal question regarding the method or process of saying something, you can use Ano ang pamamaraan upang sabihin iyon? or Mayroon ka bang alam na paraan kung paano sabihin ang bagay na iyan?
How does it change in a sentence?
The specific word used for "that" changes based on the physical proximity of the object to the speakers. Use paano sabihin iyan if the thing you are referring to is physically closer to the listener than the speaker. Use paano sabihin ito if you are referring to something physically close to the speaker or something you are currently showing/writing.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈʔano saˈbihin ʔiˈon/
Did you know?
- The word iyon is believed to have been borrowed from Spanish, which in turn borrowed it from English, tracing back to the Ancient Greek word ión.
- The root of the verb sabihin is sabi, which carries a cultural weight beyond just speaking. In the Philippines, the term sabi-sabi is commonly used to describe rumors or hearsay that circulate through a community.
- The root of paano is ano, which is the word for 'what'. Essentially, the word for 'how' is built by adding a prefix to the word for 'what'.
Examples in context
- Alam mo ba kung paano sabihin iyon?Do you know how to say that?
- Hindi ko alam kung paano sabihin iyon.I don't know how to say that.
Example conversation
Ricardo and Christina are studying Tagalog vocabulary together.
- RicardoPaano sabihin iyon sa Tagalog?How do you say that in Tagalog?
- ChristinaSabihin mo lang ang salita.Just tell me the word.
- RicardoSalamat, Christina.Thanks, Christina.
- ChristinaWalang anuman, Ricardo.You're welcome, Ricardo.
