sero
/ˈseɾo/
The English word zero is translated into Tagalog as sero or awan.
Meaning: cardinal number before 1, denoting nothing (num)
Ways to say it
| Tagalog | IPA |
|---|---|
| sero | /ˈseɾo/ (Standard Tagalog) |
| awan | /ʔaˈwan/ (Standard Tagalog) |
The term refers to the cardinal number before 1, denoting nothing. While sero is often used for the digit itself, the word wala is more frequently used to express the concept of zero in terms of quantity or presence, such as saying there is nothing.
Which one should you use?
sero is used to refer specifically to the digit, whereas wala is the more common way to express that there is zero or nothing of something.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈseɾo/
Did you know?
- The use of awan represents an effort by Filipino linguists to create a scientific vocabulary that draws from indigenous Philippine languages rather than colonial ones.
- The term awan was officially coined by a scientific committee in 1969 specifically for use in a correlative word list for sciences.
Examples in context
- Nauuna ang sero sa isa.Zero comes before one.This sentence shows the position of sero in a numerical sequence.Tatoeba #11594371 by qwertzu, translation #682520 by Source_VOA
- Ang halaga ng produksyon ay zero.The production value is zero.
- Walang estudyante sa silid-aralan.There are no students in the classroom.
- Wala akong natanggap na sulat.I didn't receive any letters.
- Waley kang laban dito, pare!You don't stand a chance here, buddy!
- Mayroon bang sero sa listahan?Is there a zero on the list?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Juan and Jasmine are checking their test results.
- JuanJasmine, tingnan mo ang score ko.Jasmine, look at my score.
- JasmineBakit sero ang nakuha mo, Juan?Why did you get a zero, Juan?
- JuanNakalimutan kong isulat ang pangalan ko.I forgot to write my name.
- JasmineKausapin mo ang guro tungkol dito.Talk to the teacher about this.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “zero” translations and entries sero, awan, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries awan, sero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
