Mastering “Sampu”: Saying 10 in Tagalog

Learning to count in Tagalog is a fundamental step in mastering the language. While numbers might seem simple, understanding their usage helps build a strong base for more complex conversations. Knowing how to say “ten,” which is sampu, is particularly useful in everyday scenarios, from shopping to telling time. This article provides a comprehensive guide to using sampu and related concepts in Tagalog. Whether you’re a beginner or an intermediate learner, this guide will enhance your understanding of Tagalog numbers and their practical applications.

This guide is designed for anyone learning Tagalog, including students, travelers, and those with a personal interest in the language and culture. By the end of this article, you’ll be confident in using sampu in various contexts and will have a solid foundation for learning other Tagalog numbers. We’ll explore not only the basic word but also its variations and how it fits into larger numerical expressions.

Table of Contents

• Definition of Sampu
• Structural Breakdown
• Types and Categories of Use
• Examples of Sampu in Use
• Usage Rules for Sampu
• Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics: Sampu in Complex Expressions
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

Definition of Sampu

In Tagalog, the word for “ten” is sampu. It is a cardinal number, meaning it denotes quantity rather than order. Sampu is used in counting, measuring, and expressing quantities in various contexts, from simple arithmetic to more complex calculations.

Classification: Cardinal number

Function: To denote the quantity of ten.

Contexts: Used in counting objects, expressing age, telling time, stating prices, and general numerical references.

Structural Breakdown

The word sampu itself is a single unit and doesn’t have a complex internal structure. However, understanding how it combines with other words to form larger numbers is crucial. Tagalog uses a decimal system, so sampu serves as a base for forming numbers from 11 to 19, and is a multiple in numbers such as 20, 30, and so on.

Combining with “at”: To form numbers 11-19, you use the structure “sampu at” followed by the number from one to nine. For example, sampu at isa means “ten and one,” or eleven.

Multiples of ten: For multiples of ten (20, 30, 40, etc.), you use the prefixes dalawa-, tatlo-, apat-, etc., attached to the word -pu. However, sampu itself doesn’t require a prefix because it’s the base unit.

Types and Categories of Use

Sampu is mainly a cardinal number, but its usage extends to various categories:

Cardinal Use

This is the most straightforward use, simply meaning “ten.” Examples include counting objects (sampu na mansanas – ten apples) or stating a quantity.

Ordinal Use (Indirect)

While Tagalog has specific ordinal numbers (ika- prefix), sampu can indirectly indicate order when referring to, for example, the tenth day of the month. This is less common but still relevant.

Measurement

Sampu can be used in measurements, such as ten meters (sampu metro) or ten kilograms (sampu kilo).

Age

Used to state age, for example, “He is ten years old” (Sampu taong gulang siya).

Examples of Sampu in Use

Here are several examples of how to use sampu in different contexts. These examples will help illustrate the versatility of the word and its importance in everyday Tagalog conversations.

Counting Objects

The following table demonstrates how sampu is used when counting various objects. Notice how the noun follows the number, a common pattern in Tagalog.

Tagalog Phrase	English Translation
Sampu na mansanas	Ten apples
Sampu na libro	Ten books
Sampu na bata	Ten children
Sampu na bahay	Ten houses
Sampu na kotse	Ten cars
Sampu na aso	Ten dogs
Sampu na pusa	Ten cats
Sampu na ibon	Ten birds
Sampu na bulaklak	Ten flowers
Sampu na lapis	Ten pencils
Sampu na papel	Ten papers
Sampu na sapatos	Ten shoes
Sampu na medyas	Ten socks
Sampu na damit	Ten clothes
Sampu na pagkain	Ten foods
Sampu na inumin	Ten drinks
Sampu na prutas	Ten fruits
Sampu na gulay	Ten vegetables
Sampu na kaibigan	Ten friends
Sampu na araw	Ten days
Sampu na buwan	Ten months
Sampu na taon	Ten years
Sampu na oras	Ten hours
Sampu na minuto	Ten minutes
Sampu na segundo	Ten seconds
Sampu na piso	Ten pesos
Sampu na sentimo	Ten centavos
Sampu na itlog	Ten eggs

Expressing Age

When stating someone’s age, sampu is used with the phrase taong gulang, meaning “years old.” The following table provides examples of this usage.

Tagalog Phrase	English Translation
Sampu taong gulang ako.	I am ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang siya.	He/She is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang ang anak ko.	My child is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na si Maria.	Maria is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang kapatid ko.	My sibling is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang pinsan ko.	My cousin is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang apo ko.	My grandchild is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang pamangkin ko.	My niece/nephew is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang kaibigan ko.	My friend is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang kaklase ko.	My classmate is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang estudyante ko.	My student is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang kapitbahay ko.	My neighbor is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang manlalaro.	The player is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang artista.	The actor/actress is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang mang-aawit.	The singer is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang guro.	The teacher is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang doktor.	The doctor is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang pulis.	The police officer is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang bumbero.	The firefighter is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang nars.	The nurse is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang inhinyero.	The engineer is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang abogado.	The lawyer is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang arkitekto.	The architect is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang negosyante.	The businessman/businesswoman is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang magsasaka.	The farmer is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang mangingisda.	The fisherman is ten years old.
Sampu taong gulang na ang karpintero.	The carpenter is ten years old.

Stating Prices

Sampu is commonly used when discussing prices. The currency (e.g., pesos) typically follows the number. Below are some examples.

Tagalog Phrase	English Translation
Sampu piso ito.	This is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang bayad.	The fee is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang isa.	One costs ten pesos.
Sampu piso lang.	Only ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang sukli.	The change is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang pamasahe.	The fare is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang presyo.	The price is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang halaga.	The value is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang bawat isa.	Each one costs ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang tubo.	The profit is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang kita.	The earnings are ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang donasyon.	The donation is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang regalo.	The gift is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang tip.	The tip is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang upa.	The rent is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang interes.	The interest is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang multa.	The fine is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang diskwento.	The discount is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang buwis.	The tax is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang singil.	The charge is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang gastos.	The expense is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang puhunan.	The investment is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang utang.	The debt is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang savings.	The savings are ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang allowance.	The allowance is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang suweldo.	The salary is ten pesos.
Sampu piso ang bonus.	The bonus is ten pesos.

Telling Time

While Tagalog also uses Spanish-derived terms for time, knowing how to say “ten” is helpful. For example, “ten o’clock” can be expressed using sampu.

Tagalog Phrase	English Translation
Alas-sampu na.	It’s ten o’clock.
Sampu minuto pagkatapos ng alas-diyes.	Ten minutes after ten o’clock.
Alas-sampu ng umaga.	Ten o’clock in the morning.
Alas-sampu ng gabi.	Ten o’clock at night.
Sampu oras na ako naghihintay.	I have been waiting for ten hours.
Sampu minuto na lang.	Just ten minutes.
Sampu segundo.	Ten seconds.
Sampu araw.	Ten days.
Sampu buwan.	Ten months.
Sampu taon.	Ten years.
Sampu dekada.	Ten decades.
Sampu siglo.	Ten centuries.
Sampu milenyo.	Ten millenniums.
Sampu balikbayan box.	Ten balikbayan boxes.

Usage Rules for Sampu

Using sampu correctly involves understanding a few basic rules:

1. Placement: In most cases, sampu comes before the noun it modifies (e.g., sampu na libro).
2. Linking word “na”: When counting nouns, the linker “na” (or “ng” if the preceding word ends in a vowel) is used between the number and the noun.
3. Age: When stating age, use the phrase “taong gulang” after sampu.
4. Currency: The currency (e.g., piso, dolyar) typically follows the number when stating prices.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes learners make when using sampu and how to correct them:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
Sampu libro	Sampung libro	Missing the linker “ng” after sampu when followed by a noun.
Taong gulang sampu ako.	Sampu taong gulang ako.	Incorrect word order when stating age.
Piso sampu	Sampung piso (more formal) / Sampu piso (more common)	While sampu piso is common, using the linker “ng” is grammatically correct but less frequently used in spoken language.

Practice Exercises

Test your knowledge of sampu with these exercises. Provide the correct Tagalog translation for each sentence.

Exercise 1: Translation

Question	Answer
1. I have ten pencils.	Mayroon akong sampung lapis.
2. The book costs ten pesos.	Sampu piso ang libro.
3. She is ten years old.	Sampu taong gulang siya.
4. There are ten chairs.	May sampung upuan.
5. He bought ten apples.	Bumili siya ng sampung mansanas.
6. It’s ten o’clock.	Alas-sampu na.
7. Ten students are present.	Sampu estudyante ang narito.
8. I need ten more.	Kailangan ko ng sampu pa.
9. We have ten cats.	Mayroon kaming sampung pusa.
10. The movie starts at ten.	Magsisimula ang pelikula sa alas-sampu.

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the following sentences with the correct Tagalog word or phrase.

Question	Answer
1. Ako ay _______ taong gulang. (I am ten years old.)	sampu
2. Kailangan ko ng _______ lapis. (I need ten pencils.)	sampung
3. Ang presyo ay _______ piso. (The price is ten pesos.)	sampu
4. May _______ bata sa silid. (There are ten children in the room.)	sampung
5. _______ na ng umaga. (It’s ten in the morning.)	Alas-sampu
6. Bumili ako ng _______ mansanas. (I bought ten apples.)	sampung
7. Meron akong _______ kaibigan. (I have ten friends)	sampung
8. _______ na ang oras. (That is ten o’clock)	Alas-sampu
9. _______ araw sa isang dekada. (Ten years in a decade)	Sampu
10. _______ ang kanyang grado. (Ten is their grade)	Sampu

Advanced Topics: Sampu in Complex Expressions

Beyond basic usage, sampu appears in more complex numerical expressions. Learning to combine sampu with other numbers is essential for fluency.

Numbers 11-19

As mentioned earlier, numbers 11 to 19 are formed using “sampu at” followed by the unit number. For example:

• Sampu at isa (11)
• Sampu at dalawa (12)
• Sampu at tatlo (13)
• Sampu at apat (14)
• Sampu at lima (15)
• Sampu at anim (16)
• Sampu at pito (17)
• Sampu at walo (18)
• Sampu at siyam (19)

Multiples of Ten

To say multiples of ten (20, 30, etc.), you use prefixes attached to “pu.” However, for 10 itself, you simply use sampu.

• Dalawampu (20)
• Tatlumpu (30)
• Apatnapu (40)
• Limampu (50)
• Animnapu (60)
• Pitumpu (70)
• Walumpu (80)
• Siyamnapu (90)

Combining Hundreds, Thousands, and Sampu

You can combine sampu with larger numbers. For instance, “one hundred and ten” is isang daan at sampu. “One thousand and ten” is isang libo at sampu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about using sampu in Tagalog:

1. Q: Is it always necessary to use “na” or “ng” after sampu when counting nouns?
   
   A: Yes, it is grammatically correct. However, in casual conversation, especially when stating prices, people often omit it. But for clarity and formal usage, it’s best to include it. For example, “sampung piso” is more grammatically correct than “sampu piso,” but both are understood.
2. Q: How do I say “tenth” in Tagalog?
   
   A: The ordinal form is ika-sampu. For example, “the tenth day” is ika-sampu ng araw.
3. Q: Can I use sampu with Spanish numbers?
   
   A: While Tagalog has absorbed many Spanish words, it’s best to keep the numbers consistent. Use Tagalog numbers with Tagalog words and Spanish numbers with Spanish words for better clarity.
4. Q: What is the difference between “sampu” and “ikasampu“?
   
   A: “Sampu” is a cardinal number meaning “ten,” while “ikasampu” is an ordinal number meaning “tenth.” Cardinal numbers indicate quantity, while ordinal numbers indicate position in a sequence.
5. Q: How do I say “approximately ten” in Tagalog?
   
   A: You can use the word “mga” before sampu to indicate approximation. For example, “mga sampu” means “approximately ten.” Another option is “halos sampu”
6. Q: Is there a slang or informal way to say “ten” in Tagalog?
   
   A: Not really. Sampu is the standard and most common word. There aren’t significant slang variations for the number ten in Tagalog.
7. Q: How do I use “sampu” in a sentence about time?
   
   A: You can say “Alas-sampu na ng umaga” meaning “It’s ten o’clock in the morning,” or “Alas-sampu na ng gabi” for “It’s ten o’clock at night.” Always include “Alas-” before the number to indicate time.
8. Q: Can I use “sampu” when talking about dates?
   
   A: Yes, you can. For example, “ika-sampu ng Mayo” means “the tenth of May.” Remember to use the ordinal form “ika-sampu.”

Conclusion

Understanding how to use sampu is a crucial step in your Tagalog language journey. This article has covered the definition, structural breakdown, and various uses of sampu, including counting objects, expressing age, stating prices, and telling time. By avoiding common mistakes and practicing the exercises, you can confidently incorporate sampu into your everyday conversations.

Continue practicing and expanding your vocabulary to become more fluent in Tagalog. Remember that consistent practice and exposure to the language are key to mastering any new skill.

Good luck with your Tagalog studies!