Editing Tausug language

{{Short description|Austronesian language of the Tausug people}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox language
| name             = Tausūg
| nativename       = {{lang|tsg-Latn|Bahasa Sūg}}, {{Script/Arabic|بَهَسَ سُوْغْ}}
| states           = [[Philippines]]<br>[[Malaysia]]<br>[[Indonesia]]
| region           = — Spoken throughout the [[Sulu Archipelago]] (Basilan and Tawi-Tawi), southern Palawan,eastern [[Sabah]] and northern portion of [[North Kalimantan]] <br>— Also spoken in [[Zamboanga City]] and [[Zamboanga Peninsula]]
| ethnicity        = [[Tausūg people|Tausūg]]
| speakers         = {{sigfig|1.925261|3}} million
| date             = 2013–2020
| ref              = <ref>
* Household language size in the Philippines (2020 census): {{Cite web |date=March 7, 2023 |title=Tagalog is the Most Widely Spoken Language at Home (2020 Census of Population and Housing) |url=https://psa.gov.ph/content/tagalog-most-widely-spoken-language-home-2020-census-population-and-housing |website=Tagalog is the Most Widely Spoken Language at Home (2020 Census of Population and Housing)}}
* Suluk speakers in Malaysia (2013): {{cite journal |first1=Amrullah |last1=Maraining |first2=Zaini |last2=Othman |first3=Marsitah |last3=Mohd Radzi |first4=Md Saffie |last4=Abdul Rahim |date=December 31, 2018 |title=Komuniti Suluk dan Persoalan Migrasi: 'Sirih Pulang ke Gagang' |trans-title=The Community of Sulu and the Issue of Migration |language=ms |journal=Jurnal Kinabalu |volume=24 |page=44 |doi=10.51200/ejk.v24i.1678 |doi-broken-date=April 15, 2025 |doi-access=free}}</ref>{{efn|The number of speakers in the Philippines is calculated from the reported number of households, based on an average household size of 5.9 persons in the [[Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao]] as of 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 Mar 2022 |title=Household Population, Number of Households, and Average Household Size of the Philippines (2020 Census of Population and Housing) |url=https://psa.gov.ph/content/household-population-number-households-and-average-household-size-philippines-2020-census |access-date=13 Mar 2023 |website=Household Population, Number of Households, and Average Household Size of the Philippines (2020 Census of Population and Housing)}}</ref>}}
| familycolor      = Austronesian
| fam2             = [[Malayo-Polynesian languages|Malayo-Polynesian]]
| fam3             = [[Philippine languages|Philippine]]
| fam4             = [[Greater Central Philippine languages|Greater Central Philippine]]
| fam5             = [[Central Philippine languages|Central Philippine]]
| fam6             = [[Bisayan languages|Bisayan]]
| fam7             = Southern Bisayan
| fam8             = [[Butuanon language|Butuan]]–Tausug
| script           = [[Latin script|Latin]] ([[Filipino alphabet]])<br />[[Arabic script|Arabic]] ([[Jawi alphabet]])<br />''Historically [[Baybayin|Luntar Sūg]]''
| nation           = [[Regional language]] in the [[Philippines]]
| agency           = [[Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino]]
| iso3             = tsg
| glotto           = taus1251
| glottorefname    = Tausug
| map              = Tausug language map.png
| mapcaption       = {{legend|#c12939|Areas where Tausūg is the majority language}}
| notice           = IPA
}}

'''Tausūg''' ({{lang|tsg|Bahasa Sūg}}, {{lang|tsg-Arab|بَهَسَ سُوْغْ}},<ref name="Bangahan2015" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jannaral |first=Julmunir I. |date=2019-09-11 |title=English-Bahasa Sug Dictionary Launched Today |language=en |work=The Manila Times |url=https://www.manilatimes.net/2019/09/11/news/regions/english-bahasa-sug-dictionary-launched-today/614153/ |access-date=2020-12-03}}</ref> {{langx|fil|Bahása Sug}}, {{langx|ms|Bahasa Suluk, بهاس سولوق|lit=Language of Sulu/the Tausūg people}}) is an [[Austronesian language]] spoken in the [[Provinces of the Philippines|province]] of [[Sulu]] in the [[Philippines]] and in the eastern area of the state of [[Sabah]], [[Malaysia]]. It is widely spoken in the [[Sulu Archipelago]] (Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and [[Basilan]]), the [[Zamboanga Peninsula]] ([[Zamboanga del Norte]], [[Zamboanga Sibugay]], [[Zamboanga del Sur]], and [[Zamboanga City]]), southern [[Palawan]], [[Malaysia]] (eastern [[Sabah]]), and [[Indonesia]] ([[Tarakan|Tarakan City]] and [[Nunukan Regency]], province of [[North Kalimantan]]).

Tausūg has some lexical similarities or near similarities with [[Surigaonon language]] of the provinces [[Surigao del Norte]], [[Surigao del Sur]], and [[Agusan del Sur]] and with the [[Butuanon language]] of [[Agusan del Norte]]; it has also some vocabulary similarities with [[Sugbuanon]], [[Bikol languages|Bicolano]], and with other [[Philippine languages]].<ref name="Bangahan2015" /> Many [[Malay language|Malay]] and [[Arabic]] words are found in Tausug language.

==Nomenclature==
In English, the language is primarily known as Tausug (i.e., Tausug language "language of the Tausug people"). The local name of the language is ''bahasa Sūg'' (Sulu language). The term Tausūg ({{lang|tsg|tau Sūg}}, meaning "people of Sulu") is derived from two words: ''tau'' ("person") and ''Sūg''<ref name="haskins">{{Cite book |last=Haskins |first=Jim |title=The Filipino Nation: The Philippines: Lands and Peoples, a Cultural Geography |date=1982 |publisher=Grolier International |isbn=9780717285099 |page=190 |language=en}}</ref> (The transformation of "Sūk", itself the contraction of Sūlūk<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tausug |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tausug |access-date=2020-12-03 |website=[[Encyclopedia Britannica]] |language=en}}</ref>). <!--Or, Tausug could also mean "strong people" from the word "tau" means – people, "sug" from the word " kusug – strong.--> Thus, in Tausug, ''Tausug'' refers to people while ''Bahasa Sūg'' refers to the language. Several scholars postulate that "Sūlūk" derives from "Ahl ul-Sūlūk", or "people of the path (to Allah)," in reference to the Islamic missionaries who arrived to spread the religion of Islam.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hamsain |first=AbdulAziz H. |date=2016-06-27 |title=The Journey of a Tausug Doctor |url=https://www.tausugonline.com/docbenjbangahan.htm |access-date=2020-12-03 |website=TausugOnline |language=en}}</ref> Meanwhile, a similar sounding word "sug", which means "water-current", has been given by a number of writers as the etymologic source of the term; the two words, even if similarly pronounced, are not related.<ref name="Bangahan2015">{{Cite web |last=Bangahan |first=Benjamin S. |date=2015 |title=English-Bahasa Sūg Dictionary |url=https://shop.vibalgroup.com/products/english-bahasa-sug-dictionary |location=Vibal Publishing House}}</ref> In the past, the language has also been simply referred to using the generic term "Moro".<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hDniQDWN7FAC |title=Report of the Philippine Commission to the President |last=Philippine Commission |date=1901 |publisher=Government Printing Office |location=Washington |language=en |quote=Nevertheless, anyone who knows Visaya will note the moment that he studies the Moro language of Sulu that...}}</ref>

==Classification==
{{expand section|date=April 2021}}
Tausūg is an [[Austronesian language]]. It is classified by linguists as being a member of the [[Bisayan languages]] family, which includes [[Cebuano language|Cebuano]] and [[Waray language|Waray]].<ref name="Zorc">{{Cite book |title=The Bisayan Dialects of the Philippines: Subgrouping and Reconstruction |last=Zorc |first=David Paul |date=1977 |publisher=Dept. of Linguistics, Research School of Pacific Studies, Australian National University |isbn=0858831570 |location=Canberra, Australia |doi=10.15144/PL-C44 |doi-access=free |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/bisayandialectso0044zorc }}</ref>  In particular, it has many similarities with the [[Surigaonon language]] of the provinces [[Surigao del Norte]], [[Surigao del Sur]] and [[Agusan del Sur]] and with the [[Butuanon language]] of [[Agusan del Norte]]<ref name="Zorc" /> – both spoken in northeastern Mindanao; hence, Zorc (1977) groups these three languages as part of a "South Bisayan" grouping.

==Speakers==
{{expand section|date=April 2021}}
Tausūg is primarily spoken in the [[Sulu Archipelago]], which aside from the island of [[Sulu]], also includes the [[Tawi-Tawi]] chain of islands and the island of [[Basilan]]. It is a [[lingua franca]] spoken in different areas/islands of the archipelago.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tausug|url=https://www.csueastbay.edu/museum/virtual-museum/the-philippines/peoples/tausug.html|access-date=2020-12-03|website=www.csueastbay.edu}}</ref>

Due to migration, the language is also spoken alongside other local languages in the [[Zamboanga Peninsula]] (e.g., Cebuano and [[Chavacano]]), which includes the provinces of [[Zamboanga del Norte]], [[Zamboanga Sibugay]], [[Zamboanga del Sur]], and [[Zamboanga City]]. It is also spoken in Southern [[Palawan]], Eastern [[Sabah]], [[Malaysia]] and in [[Tarakan|Tarakan City]] and [[Nunukan Regency]], [[North Kalimantan]], [[Indonesia]].

==Phonology==

===Vowels===
Tausūg has three vowel phonemes: /a/, /i/, /u/, with phonemic length (e.g. ''īpun'', "shrimp" vs. ''ipun'', "tooth"). Stress is not phonemic and usually occurs on the final syllable.{{sfnp|Peneyra|1992|pp=1–2}}

The vowel phonemes have a broad range of [[allophone]]s:<ref name="Tan1967" />
*/a/: {{IPA|[a,ɐ,ɑ]}}
*/i/: {{IPA|[i,ɪ]}}
*/u/: {{IPA|[u,ʊ,ɤ,ʌ,ə]}}

Tausūg has expectedly developed some variations in accent and vocabulary from one area to another, but there are two basic dialects characterized by differences with regard to vowel sounds. The "Gimbahanun" (literally means people from the farm) speakers, the residents of the out-of-town rural areas, use four vowels: /a/, /i/, /u/ and /ə/,{{sfnp|Tan|1967}} the last vowel representing schwa sound or "obscure u", a retention from [[Proto-Philippine language|Proto-Philippine]] and [[Proto-Bisayan]]. The "Parianun", the residents of the urban areas, use only three vowel phonemes: /a/, /i/, /u/,;{{sfnp|Rubino|2005}} the loss of /ə/ is common in many Bisayan and other Philippine languages.

===Consonants===
The consonant phonemes are:{{sfnp|Peneyra|1992|p=1}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! colspan="2" |
! [[Labial consonant|Labial]]<br/>
! [[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! [[Velar consonant|Velar]]
! [[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|-
! colspan="2" | [[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
| {{IPA link|m}}
| {{IPA link|n}}
|
| {{IPA link|ŋ}}
|
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[Stop consonant|Plosive]]<br/>[[Affricate consonant|Affricate]]
! {{small|[[voicelessness|voiceless]]}}
| {{IPA link|p}}
| {{IPA link|t}}
|
| {{IPA link|k}}
| {{IPA link|ʔ}}
|-
! {{small|[[voice (phonetics)|voiced]]}}
| {{IPA link|b}}
| {{IPA link|d}}
| {{IPA link|d͡ʒ}} {{angbr|j}}
| {{IPA link|ɡ}}
|
|-
! colspan="2" | [[Fricative consonant|Fricative]]
| {{IPA link|f}}
| {{IPA link|s}}
|
|
| {{IPA link|h}}
|-
! colspan="2" | [[Approximant consonant|Approximant]]
|
| {{IPA link|l}}
| {{IPA link|j}} {{angbr|y}}
| {{IPA link|w}}
|
|-
! colspan="2" | [[Trill consonant|Trill]]
|
| {{IPA link|r}}
|
|
|
|}

Allophones:<ref name="Tan1967">{{harvp|Tan|1967|page=16}}</ref>
* /b/: per default {{IPA|[b]}}, but {{IPA|[β]}} between vowels
* /g/: per default {{IPA|[ɡ]}}, but {{IPA|[ɣ]}} between vowels
* /h/: per default {{IPA|[h]}}, but {{IPA|[ɦ]}} between vowels
* /r/: per default {{IPA|[r]}}, but {{IPA|[ɹ]}} before /m,n,g,k/

Medial gemination (of all non-[[glottal consonant]]s) is phonemic.<ref name="Tan1967" />

==Grammar==

===Pronouns===

====Personal pronouns====
Tausūg has three pronoun sets:{{sfnp|Peneyra|1992|pp=4–5}}<ref name="cameron"/>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="3" |
! colspan="2" |nominative
! colspan="2" | genitive
! colspan="2" | oblique
|-
! rowspan="4" | 1st person
! colspan="2" | singular
| {{lang|tsg|aku}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|اَكُ}}
| {{lang|tsg|-ku}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|ـكُ}}
| {{lang|tsg|kāku'}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَاكُؤْ}}
|-
! colspan="2" | dual
| {{lang|tsg|kita}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كِتَ}}
| {{lang|tsg|-ta / -natu'}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|ـتَ / ـنَتُؤْ}}
| {{lang|tsg|kātu'}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَاتُؤْ}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | plural
! exclusive
| {{lang|tsg|kami}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَمِ}}
| {{lang|tsg|-namu}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|ـنَمُؤْ}}
| {{lang|tsg|kāmu'}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَامُؤْ}}
|-
! inclusive
| {{lang|tsg|kitanyu}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كِتَپُ}}
| {{lang|tsg|-taniyu / -natu'nyu}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|ـتَپُ / ـنَتُؤْپُ}}
| {{lang|tsg|katu'nyu, katu'tanyu}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|کَاتُؤْپُ / كَاتُؤْتَپُ}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | 2nd person
! colspan="2" | singular
| {{lang|tsg|ikaw / kaw}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|اِكَوْ / كَوْ}}
| {{lang|tsg|-mu}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|ـمُ}}
| {{lang|tsg|kaymu}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَيْمُ}}
|-
! colspan="2" | plural
| {{lang|tsg|kamu}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَمُ}}
| {{lang|tsg|-nyu}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|ـپُ}}
| {{lang|tsg|kanyu}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَپُ}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | 3rd person
! colspan="2" | singular
| {{lang|tsg|siya}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|سِيَ}}
| {{lang|tsg|-niya}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|ـنِيَ}}
| {{lang|tsg|kaniya}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَنِيَ}}
|-
! colspan="2" | plural
| {{lang|tsg|sila}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|سِلَ}}
| {{lang|tsg|-nila}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|ـنِلَ}}
| {{lang|tsg|kanila}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَنِلَ}}
|}

====Demonstratives====

===Case markers===
The case markers of Tausūg are:{{sfnp|Peneyra|1992|pp=7; 14–15}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" 
!
! nominative
! genitive
! oblique
|-
!rowspan="2"| [[proper noun|common]]
| in 
| sin 
| ha
|-
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|اِنْ}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|سِنْ}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|هَ}}
|-
! rowspan="2"| [[proper noun|proper]] singular
| colspan="2"| hi || kan
|-
| dir="rtl" colspan="2"| {{script/Arabic|هِ}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَنْ}}
|-
! rowspan="2"| [[proper noun|proper]] plural
| colspan="2"| hinda' || kanda'
|-
| dir="rtl" colspan="2"| {{script/Arabic|هِنْدَ}}
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَنْدَ}}
|}
Non-subject undergoers take the oblique marker when definite or a proper noun, but indefinite common nouns take the genitive marker ''sin''.
*''Hi Nasul in kimaun '''ha''' mampallam.'' {{script/Arabic|هِ نَسُلْ اِنْ کِمَؤُنْ '''هَ''' مَمْفَلَّمْ.}}
**"It was Nasul who ate the mango."
*''Nagdakdak '''sin''' baju' in manga bujang.'' {{script/Arabic|نَغْدَكْ۲ '''سِنْ''' بَجُ اِنْ مَڠَ بُجَڠْ.}}
** "The maidens washed clothes."

===Existentials===
The positive existential ("there is") is ''aun'', the negative existential ("there is none") is ''way''.{{sfnp|Peneyra|1992|p=32}}

===Interrogative words===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! English !! Tausug
|-
| Who? || Siyu?/Hisiyu?<ref name="Zorc"/>
|-
| What? || Unu?
|-
| Where? || Diin? / Hariin? / Hāin? (contracted Hariin) / Haunu? (Ha+uuu)
|-
| Why? || Mayta'? / Mahi?
|-
| When? (future) || Ku'nu?
|-
| When? (past) || Ka'nu?
|-
| How? (manner)|| Biya'diin?
|-
| How many? || Pila?
|}

=== Verbs ===
Verbs in Tausūg are inflected for [[Austronesian alignment|focus]] and [[Grammatical aspect|aspect]].{{sfnp|Peneyra|1992|pp=35–47}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" 
|-
!
!completed
!progressive
!contemplative
!imperative
|-
! Actor focus
| {{angbr|im}}<br/>nag-<br/>naN- || C{{angbr|im}}V-<br/>nag-CV-<br/>naN-CV- || ‹um›<br/>mag-<br/>maN- || ∅<br/>∅<br/>paN-
|-
! Patient focus
| {{angbr|i}} || C{{angbr|iy}}V- || -un || -a
|-
! Locative focus
| {{angbr|i}} -an || C{{angbr|iy}}V- -an || -an || -i
|-
! Instrument focus
| {{angbr|i}} || C{{angbr|iy}}V- || hi- || -an
|}
Affixes expressing ability:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" 
|-
!
!completed
!progressive
!contemplative
|-
! Actor focus
| naka- || nakaka- || maka-
|-
! Patient focus
| na- || na-CV- || ma-
|-
! Locative focus
| kiya- -an || kiya-CV- -an || ka- -an
|-
! Instrument focus
| kiya- || kiya-CV- || hika-
|}

===Numbers===
Tausūg numerals:<ref name="Zorc"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Archived |url=https://mpi-lingweb.shh.mpg.de/numeral/Tausug.htm |website=mpi-lingweb.shh.mpg.de |access-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909050451/https://mpi-lingweb.shh.mpg.de/numeral/Tausug.htm |archive-date=September 9, 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="cameron"/>
{| class="wikitable"
!
!colspan="2"|Tausug 
|-
! 1 
| isa / hambuuk
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|اِسَ}}
|-
! 2
| duwa
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|دُوَ}}
|-
! 3
| tū
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|تُوْ}}
|-
! 4
| upat
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|اُفَتْ}}
|-
! 5
| lima
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|لِيْمَ}}
|-
! 6
| unum
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|اُنُمْ}}
|-
! 7
| pitu
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|فِتُ}}
|-
! 8
| walu
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|وَلُ}}
|-
! 9
| siyam
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|سِيَمْ}}
|-
! 10
| hangpū'
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|هَڠْفُؤْ}}
|-
! 11
| hangpū' tag isa
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|هَڠْفُؤْ تَغِسَ}}
|-
! 20
| kawha'an
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَوْهَأَنْ}}
|-
! 30
| katlu'an
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَتْلُؤَنْ}}
|-
! 40
| kapatan
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَفَتَنْ}}
|-
! 50
| kay'man
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَيْئْمَنْ}}
|-
! 60
| kanuman
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَأْنُمَنْ}}
|-
! 70
| kapituwan
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَفِتُوَنْ}}
|-
! 80
| kawaluwan
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَوَلُوَنْ}}
|-
! 90
| kasiyaman
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|كَسِيَمَنْ}}
|-
! 100
| hanggatus / gatus
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|هَڠْغَتُسْ / غَتُسْ}}
|-
! 1,000
| hangibu / ibu
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|هَڠِيْبُ / إِيْبُ}}
|-
! 1,282
| hangibu tag duwang gatus tag kawaluwan tag duwa
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|هَڠِيْبُ تَغْدُوَڠْ غَتُسْ تَغْكَوَلُوَنْ تَغْدُوَ}}
|-
! 2,000
| duwa nga'ibu
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|دُوَ ڠَئِيْبُ}}
|-
! 10,000
| hangpu' nga'ibu
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|هَڠْپُؤْ ڠَئِيْبُ}}
|}

==Writing system==

Tausūg is today primarily written using the Latin alphabet. Historically, it had previously been written using the Arabic alphabet. The script used was derived from [[Jawi script|Jawi]] used in writing the [[Malay language]]. The script is referred to as ''Sulat Sug''

The Arabic script used to write Tausūg differs in some aspects from the script used for Arabic and in the Jawi script used for Malay.<ref name="cameron">{{cite book | language = en | first = Charles Raymond | last = Cameron | title = Sulu writing, an explanation of the Sulu-Arabic script as employed in writing the Sulu language of the southern Philippines | date = 1917 | publisher = The Sulu Press | location = Zamboanga, P.I. | url = https://archive.org/details/suluwritingexpla00camerich }}</ref>

In Sulu, there is no separate letter for [g]. Whereas in Jawi, the sound [g] is represented with the letter {{lang|ms-Arab|غ}} (which has a pronunciation [ɣ] in Arabic) is reserved for Arabic loanwords, and sometimes the letter {{lang|ms-Arab|ݢ}}.

In Sulu, there is no differentiation between [f] and [p]. Whereas in Jawi, the letters {{lang|ms-Arab|ف}} and {{lang|ms-Arab|ڤ}} are used respectively, in Sulu the letter {{lang|tsg-Arab|ف}} is used in all instances.

For the sound [ɲ] in the final position, in Sulu, the letter {{lang|tsg-Arab|پ}} is used whereas in Malay Jawi, the letter {{lang|ms-Arab|ڽ}} is instead used. The letter {{lang|tsg-Arab|پ}} is associated with the sound [p] in [[Persian alphabet|Persian]] and other scripts derived from Persian. In both Malay Jawi and Sulu the letter {{lang|tsg-Arab|پـ}}/{{lang|ms-Arab|ڽـ}} is used in all other positions.

For the sound [k] in the final position, in Malay Jawi, the letter {{lang|ms-Arab|ک}} is used, having the same form as when in initial or medial positions. In Sulu, similar to Arabic, it is customary to use {{lang|tsg-Arab|ك}}.

===Latin===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; min-width:60%; margin-left:5px"
|-
|+ Tausūg Alphabet (Bahasa Sūg Alipbā'tā')
|-
! style="font-weight:normal; text-align:right"|Letter
![[A]]||[[B]]||[[D]]||[[G]]||[[H]]||[[I]]||[[J]]||[[K]]||[[L]]||[[M]]
|-
! style="font-weight:normal; text-align:right"|Name
|''Alip''||''bā' ''||''dāl''||''gā' ''||''hā' ''||''ī''||''jīm''||''kāp''||''lām''||''mīm''
|-
! style="font-weight:normal; text-align:right"|[[Help:IPA/Spanish|IPA]]
| {{IPA|/a/}}||{{IPA|/b/}}, {{IPA|/β/}}||{{IPA|/d/}}||{{IPA|/ɡ/}}, {{IPA|/ɣ/}}||{{IPA|/h/}}, {{IPA|/ɦ/}}||{{IPA|/i/}}||{{IPA|/dʒ/}}||{{IPA|/k/}}||{{IPA|/l/}}||{{IPA|/m/}}
|-
! style="font-weight:normal; text-align:right"|Letter
![[N]]||[[Ng (digraph)|Ng]]||[[P]]||[[R]]||[[S]]||[[T]]||[[U]]||[[W]]||[[Y]]||[[']]
|-
! style="font-weight:normal; text-align:right"|Name
|''nūn''||''ngā' ''||''pā' ''||''rā' ''||''sīn''||''tā' ''||''ū''||''wāw''||''yā' ''||''hamja''
|-
! style="font-weight:normal; text-align:right"|IPA
| {{IPA|/n/}}||{{IPA|/ŋ/}}||{{IPA|/p/}}||{{IPA|/r/}}, {{IPA|/ɹ/}}||{{IPA|/s/}}||{{IPA|/t/}}||{{IPA|/u/}}||{{IPA|/w/}}||{{IPA|/j/}}||{{IPA|/ʔ/}}
|}

===Arabic===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ Tausūg Alphabet – Arabic Script
|- style="font-size:small"
! Character !! Isolated !! Initial !! Medial !! Final !! Name
|-
| ا || ﺍ || || || ﺎ || style="font-size: small;" | alip
|-
| ب || ب || بـ || ـبـ || ـب || style="font-size: small;" | bā'
|-
| ت || ﺕ || ﺗ || ـﺘ || ـﺖ || style="font-size: small;" | tā'
|- bgcolor="#FFEFD5"
| ث || ث || ثـ || ـثـ || ـث || style="font-size: small;" | sā(thā')
|-
| پ || پ || پـ || ـپـ || ـپ || style="font-size: small;" | nyā'
|-
| ج || ﺝ || ﺟ || ـﺠ || ـﺞ || style="font-size: small;" | jīm
|- bgcolor="#FFEFD5"
| ح || ح || حـ || ـحـ || ـح || style="font-size: small;" | hā'
|- bgcolor="#FFEFD5"
| خ || خ || خـ || ـخـ || ـخ || style="font-size: small;" | khā'
|-
| چ || چ || چـ || ـچـ || ـچ || style="font-size: small;" | chā'
|-
| د || د || || || ـد || style="font-size: small;" | dāl
|- bgcolor="#FFEFD5"
| ذ || ذ || || || ـذ || style="font-size: small;" | jāl
|-
| ر || ﺭ || || || ـر || style="font-size: small;" | rā'
|-bgcolor="#FFEFD5"
| ز || ز || || || ـز || style="font-size: small;" | jā'
|-
| س || ﺱ || ﺳ || ـﺴ || ـﺲ || style="font-size: small;" | sīn
|-bgcolor="#FFEFD5"
| ش || ش || شـ || ـشـ || ـش || style="font-size: small;" | sīn
|-bgcolor="#FFEFD5"
| ص || ص || صـ || ـصـ || ـص || style="font-size: small;" | sād
|- bgcolor="#FFEFD5"
| ض || ض || ضـ || ـضـ || ـض || style="font-size: small;" | dād
|-bgcolor="#FFEFD5" 
| ط || ط || طـ || ـطـ || ـط || style="font-size: small;" | tā'
|-bgcolor="#FFEFD5" 
| ظ || ظ || ظـ || ـظـ || ـظ || style="font-size: small;" | lā'
|-
| ع || ع || عـ || ـعـ || ـع || style="font-size: small;" | 'ayn
|-
| غ || ﻍ || ﻏ || ـﻐـ || ـﻎ || style="font-size: small;" | gayn
|-
| ڠ || ڠ || ڠـ || ـڠـ || ـڠ || style="font-size: small;" | ngā'
|-
| ف || ﻑ || ﻓ || ـﻔ || ـﻒ || style="font-size: small;" | pā'
|-bgcolor="#FFEFD5" 
|  ق || ق || قـ || ـقـ || ـق || style="font-size: small;" | kāp
|-
| ك || ك || كـ || ـكـ || ـك || style="font-size: small;" | kāp
|-
| ل || ﻝ || ﻟ || ـﻠ || ـﻞ || style="font-size: small;" | lām
|-
| م || ﻡ || ﻣ || ـﻤ || ـﻢ || style="font-size: small;" | mīm
|-
| ن || ﻥ || ﻧ || ـﻨ || ﻦ || style="font-size: small;" | nūn
|-
| ه || ﻩ || ﻫ || ـﻬ || ﻪ || style="font-size: small;" | hā'
|-
| و || ﻭ || || || ـو || style="font-size: small;" | wāw
|-
| ي || ﻱ || ﻳ || ـﻴـ || ﻲ || style="font-size: small;" | yā'
|-
| ء || ء || || || ء || style="font-size: small;" | hamja
|-
| أ || أ || || || ـأ || style="font-size: small;" | alip with hamja above
|-
| ﺅ || ﺅ || || || ـﺆ || style="font-size: small;" | wāw with hamja above
|-
| ئ || ئ || ئـ || ــئـ || ـئ || style="font-size: small;" | yā' with hamja above
|-
| لا || لا || لا || ــلا || ــلا || style="font-size: small;" | lām alip
|}

===Sample Texts===

Below some examples of Sulu in both Latin and Arabic scripts:<ref name="cameron"/>

* '''Latin script''':
** Wayruun tuhan malayngkan Allāh, hi Muhammad ing (in) rasūl sin Allāh
* '''Arabic script'''
** {{script/Arabic|وَيْرُؤُنْ تُهَنْ مَلَيِڠْکَنْ هَالله، هِمُحَمَّدْ اِڠْ رَسُولْ سِنْ الله}}
* '''English translation''' 
**[[Shahada|There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah]]


* '''Latin script''' 
** Uu kamu manga bang-sa Islam dii haka-pu'-pu' an Suug, agad tu'ud kamy sing da'akun i-ban sing tagga-hun sing parin-ta.
* '''Arabic script'''
** {{script/Arabic|اُو كَمْ مَڠَ بَڠْ‌سَ اِسْلَامْ دِي هَكَ فُؤْ۲ اَنْ سُوغْ اَغَدْ تُؤُدْ كَمُ سِڠْ دَأَ كُنْ اِ بَنْ سِڠْ تَغَّ هُنْ سِڠْ فَرِنْ تَ.}}
* '''English translation''' 
** Oh ye of Islamic race here in the Sulu Archipelago, obey ye fully the orders and prohibitions of the government.

==Examples==
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2021}}
{| class="wikitable"
!English
!Tausūg Latin Script
!Tausūg Arabic Script
|-
|What is your name?
|Unu in ngān mu?{{efn|"Unu in ngān mu?" is a literal translation of Tagalog question "''Ano ang pangalan mo?''" (or "What is your name?" in English) but is not used by autochthonous Tausūg in day-to-day conversations. To use "Unu in ngān mu" is a glaring sign that the speaker is not a Tausug. "Siyu (or Hisiyu) in ngān mu?" is used for knowing the given or personal name, but to know other callings that are not personal, "Unu" is used, as in: "Unu in pagtawag kaymu ha bāy?" (What is your calling in the house?... "In pagtawag kāku' Bungsu, sabab aku in kabungsuhan." (My calling is Bungsu because I am the youngest); "Unu in ama' mu? Siyu in ngān niya?" (What is your father? What is his name?)..."In ama' ku mangingista'. In ngān niya hi Abdulla." (My father is a fisherman. His name is Abdulla); {{citation needed|date=April 2021}}}} / Siyu in ngān mu?
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|اُنُ اِنْ ڠَانْ مُ؟ / سِيُ اِنْ ڠَانْ مُ؟}}
|-
|My name is Muhammad.
|In ngān ku Muhammad.
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|اِنْ ڠَانْ كُ مُحَّمَدْ.}}
|-
|How are you?
|Maunu-unu na kaw?
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|مَؤُنُ اُنُ نَكَوْ؟}}
|-
|I am good.
|Marayaw da isab.
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|مَرَيَوْ دَ اِسَبْ.}}
|-
|Where is Ahmad?
|Hariin hi Ahmad?
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|هَرَينْ هِ اَحْمَدْ؟}}
|-
|He is in the house.
|Yadtu siya ha bāy.
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|يَدْتُ سِيَ هَ بَايْ.}}
|-
|Thank you!
|Magsukul kaymu!
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|مَغْسُكُلْ كَيْمُ‎}}
|}

==Loanwords==
{{unreferenced section|date=May 2020}}
Many Tausug words derive from the Arabic language.

Some examples of Arabic words in Tausug are
{| class="wikitable"
!Tausūg Word
!Meaning (Tausūg)
!Arabic Word
!Pronunciation
!Meaning (Arabic)
|-
|Adab
|manners
|أدب
|adab
|manners
|-
|Ahirat
|hereafter
|آخرة
|ākhirah
|hereafter
|-
|Ajayb
|amazing
|عجيب
|'ajīb
|amazing
|-
|Akkal
|intelligence
|عقل
|[['Aql]]
|intellect
|-
|Alam
|universe
|[[عالم]]
|'ālam
|world
|-
|Allāh
|God (Allah)
|الله
|Allāh
|God (Allah)
|-
|Amānat
|message
|أمانة
|amānah
|trust
|-
|Ammal
|use
|عمل
|'amal
|to make
|-
|Awal
|origin
|أوّل
|awwal
|first
|-
|Awliya
|ascetic
|أولياء
|[[wali|awliyā']]
|ascetics
|-
|Ayat
|verse
|آية
|āyah
|verse
|-
|Ayb
|shame
|عيب
|'ayb
|shame
|-
|Barawi
|Desert robber
|بدوي
|badawī
|bedouin
|-
|Batāl
|unclean
|باطل
|bātil
|void
|-
|Bilāl
|Muezzin/caller to prayer
|بلال
|Bilāl
|[[Bilal ibn Rabah]]
|-
|Daawa
|excuse/alibi
|دعوة
|da'wah
|invitation
|-
|Duhul
|extremity
|دخول
|dukhūl
|entrance
|-
|Daira
|city
|دائرة
|dā'irah
|area
|-
|Dayyus
|cuckold
|ديّوث
|dayyūth
|cuckold
|-
|Dunya
|earth
|دنيا
|dunyā
|world
|-
|Duwaa
|prayer
|دعاء
|du'ā
|prayer/supplication
|-
|Habal
|news
|خبر
|khabar
|news
|-
|Hadas
|impurity
|حدث
|hadath
|impurity
|-
|Hakīka
|birth ritual
|عقيقة
|aqīqah
|birth ritual
|-
|Hakīkat
|truth
|حقيقة
|haqīqah
|truth
|-
|Hatīb
|speaker
|خطيب
|khatīb
|speaker
|-
|Hawa
|Eve
|حواء
|Hawā'
|Eve
|-
|Hidāyat
|announcement
|هداية
|hidāyah
|guidance
|-
|Hikmat
|wisdom
|حكمة
|hikmah
|wisdom
|-
|Hukum
|judge
|حكم
|hukm
|ruling
|-
|Humus
|alms
|خمس
|khums
|fifth
|-
|Hutba'
|sermon
|خطبة
|khutbah
|sermon
|-
|Hurup
|sound of a letter
|حروف
|hurūf
|letters
|-
|Ibilīs
|demon
|إبليس
|Iblīs
|devil
|-
|Ihilās
|sincerity
|إخلاص
|ikhlās
|sincerity
|-
|Ijin
|blessing
|إذن
|idhn
|permission
|-
|Ilmu'
|knowledge
|علم
|'ilm
|knowledge
|-
|Imān
|forbearingness
|إيمان
|īmān
|faith
|-
|Intiha'
|end
|إنتهى
|intihā
|end
|-
|Irādat
|determination
|إرادة
|irādah
|determination
|-
|Islām
|Islam
|إسلام
|Islām
|[[Islam]]
|-
|Istigapar
|to beg pardon
|إستغفار
|istighfār
|to beg pardon
|-
|Instinja
|pure
|إستنجاء
|istinjā'
|to clean one's self
|-
|Jabūr
|Psalms
|زبور
|zabūr
|Psalms
|-
|Jāhil
|foolish
|جاهل
|jāhil
|ignorant
|-
|Jakāt
|tithe
|زكاة
|zakāh
|tithe
|-
|Jamāa
|congregation
|جماعة
|jamā'ah
|congregation
|-
|Jamān
|clock
|زمان
|zamān
|time
|-
|Janāja
|bier
|جنازة
|janāzah
|funeral
|-
|Jāt
|appearance
|ذات
|dhāt
|self
|-
|Jaytūn
|olive
|زيتون
|zaytūn
|olive
|-
|Jin
|spirit
|جنّ
|jinn
|demon
|-
|Jinā
|adultery
|زنا
|zinā
|adultery
|-
|Juba
|garment
|جبّة
|jubbah
|garment
|-
|Jubul
|anus
|دبر
|dubr
|anus
|-
|Junub
|pollution
|جنوب
|junūb
|dirty
|-
|Jurriyat
|lineage
|ذرية
|dhurriyyah
|offspring
|-
|Kahawa
|coffee
|قهوة
|qahwah
|coffee
|-
|Kāpil
|disbeliever
|كافر
|kāfir
|disbeliever
|-
|Karāmat
|miracle
|كرامة
|karāmah
|miracle
|-
|Kawwāt
|power
|قوّة
|quwwah
|force
|-
|Kubul
|grave
|قبور
|qubūr
|graves
|-
|Kudarat
|Power of God
|قدرة
|qudrah
|ability
|-
|Kulbān
|sacrifice
|قربان
|qurbān
|sacrifice
|-
|Kuppiya'
|male head covering
|كوفيّة
|kūffiyah
|kefiyyeh
|-
|Kupul
|disbelief
|كفز
|kufr
|disbelief
|-
|Lidjiki'
|blessing
|رزق
|rizq
|sustenance
|-
|Maana
|meaning
|معنة
|ma'nah
|meaning
|-
|Magrib
|sunset
|مغرب
|maghrib
|sunset
|-
|Magsukul
|Thanks
|شكر
|shukr
|thanks
|-
|Mahluk
|human
|مخلوق
|maklūq
|created
|-
|Maksud
|purpose
|مقصود
|maqsūd
|intended
|-
|Makbul
|fulfilled
|مقبول
|maqbūl
|accepted
|-
|Malak
|Beautiful
|ملك
|malak
|[[Angel]]
|-
|Maruhum
|deceased
|مرحوم
|marhūm
|deceased
|-
|Masrik
|east
|مشرق
|mashriq
|east
|-
|Matakaddam
|parable
|متقدّم
|mutaqaddam
|preceding
|-
|Mayat
|corpse
|ميت
|mayt
|dead
|-
|Mujijat
|mystery
|معجزة
|mu'jizah
|miracle
|-
|Mulid
|pupil
|مريد
|murīd
|pupil
|-
|Munapik
|hypocrite
|منافق
|munāfiq
|hypocrite
|-
|Murtad
|apostate
|مرتد
|murtad
|apostate
|-
|Muskil
|uncommon
|مشكل
|mushkil
|problem
|-
|Mustahak
|lawful owner
|مستحقّ
|mustahaqq
|deserving
|-
|Mustajab
|occurred
|مستجاب
|mustajāb
|answered
|-
|Muwallam
|scholar
|معلّم
|mu'allim
|teacher
|-
|Nabī
|prophet
|نبي
|nabī
|prophet
|-
|Najal
|promise
|نذر
|nadhar
|vow/promise
|-
|Najjis
|filth
|ناجس
|nājis
|filthy
|-
|Napas
|breath
|نفس
|nafas
|breathe
|-
|Napsu
|desire
|نفس
|nafs
|ego/desire
|-
|Nasihat
|advice
|نصيحة
|nasīhah
|advice
|-
|Paham
|familiarity
|فهم
|fahm
|understanding
|-
|Pardu'
|legislation
|فرض
|fard
|compulsory
|-
|Piil
|action
|فعل
|fi'l
|action
|-
|Pikil
|think
|فكر
|fikr
|thought
|-
|Pir'awn
|Pharaoh
|فرعون
|fir'awn
|Pharaoh
|-
|Rahmat
|blessing
|رحمة
|rahmah
|mercy
|-
|Rasūl
|messenger
|رسول
|rasūl
|messenger
|-
|Ruku'
|bow
|ركوع
|rukū'
|bowing
|-
|Rukun
|precept
|ركن
|rukn
|pillar
|-
|Sabab
|because
|سبب
|sabab
|reason/cause
|-
|Sahabat
|follower
|صحابة
|sahābah
|companions
|-
|Saytān
|Satan
|شيطان
|shaytān
|Satan
|-
|Sual
|discussion
|سؤال
|su'āl
|question
|-
|Subu
|dawn
|صبح
|subh
|dawn
|-
|Sunnat
|female circumcision
|سنّة
|sunnah
|tradition/sunnah
|-
|Takabbul
|arrogant
|تكبّر
|takabbur
|arrogance
|-
|Takwīm
|calendar
|تقويم
|taqwīm
|calendar
|-
|Tallak
|divorce
|طلاق
|talāq
|divorce
|-
|Tarasul
|Tausug poem
|تراسل
|tarāsul
|correspondence
|-
|Tasbi
|prayer beads
|تسبيح
|tasbīh
|praise
|-
|Ummul
|age
|عمر
|'amr
|age
|-
|Wajib
|compulsory
|واجب
|wājib
|compulsory
|-
|Wakap
|pause
|وقف
|waqf
|pause
|-
|Waktu
|time
|وقت
|waqt
|time
|}

Tausūg words derived from [[Sanskrit]]

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="2"| Tausūg Word
!Meaning (Tausūg)
!Sanskrit Word
!Pronunciation
!Meaning (Sanskrit)
|-
|Guru
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|غُرُ}}
|teacher
| गुरु
|guru
|teacher
|-
|Naga
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|نَغَ}}
|dragon
|नाग
|nāga
|serpent
|-
|Āgama
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|آغَمَ}}
|religion
|आगम
|āgama
|religion
|-
|Lahu'
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|لَهُؤْ}}
|eclipse
|राहु
|rāhu
|eclipse
|-
|Lupa
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|لُفَ}}
|appearance
|रूप
|rūpa
|appearance
|-
|Dukka
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|دُكَّ}}
|grieve
|दुःख
|duḥkha
|suffering
|-
|Sutla'
| dir="rtl"| {{script/Arabic|سُتْلَأْ}}
|silk
| सूत्र
|sūtra
|to sew/thread
|-
|}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==See also==
* [[Languages of the Philippines]]
* [[Yakan language|Yakan]]
* [[Bikol languages|Bikol]]
* [[Cebuano language|Cebuano]]
* [[Chavacano]]
* [[Hiligaynon language|Hiligaynon]]
* [[Kapampangan language|Kapampangan]]
* [[Ilocano language|Ilocano]]
* [[Pangasinan language|Pangasinan]]
* [[Bisayan languages]]
* [[Waray language]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Peneyra |first=Irma V. |date=1992 |title=A Grammatical Sketch of the Tausug Language |series=The Archive, Publication 6 |place=Diliman |publisher=University of the Philippines |language=en}}
* {{Cite book |last=Rubino|first=Carl R. Galvez|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lMwiAQAAMAAJ&q=parianun+tausug+vowels|title=Intensive Tausug: A Pedagogical Grammar of the Language of Jolo, Philippines|date=2005|publisher=Dunwoody Press|isbn=978-1-931546-17-1|language=en}}
* {{Cite thesis |last=Tan |first=Evangeline K. |title=The Phonology of Tausug: A Descriptive Analysis |date=1967 |degree=Master's |publisher=University of British Columbia |doi=10.14288/1.0105420 |doi-access=free |language=en}}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |last=Sundita |first=Christopher Allen |title=In Bahasa Sug: An Introduction to Tausug |publisher=Lobel & Tria Partnership, Co. |year=2002 |isbn=971-92226-6-2 |language=en}}
* {{Cite book |last=Cameron |first=C. R. |url=http://name.umdl.umich.edu/afu8764.0001.001 |title=Sulu Writing, an Explanation of the Sulu-Arabic Script as Employed in Writing the Sulu Language of the Southern Philippines |date=1917 |publisher=The Sulu Press |location=Zamboanga |language=en |via=University of Michigan Library Digital Collections}}
*{{Cite JIPA|author=Soderberg, Craig and Ashley, Seymour A. and Olson, Kenneth S.|title=Tausug (Suluk)|volume=42|issue=3|pages=361&ndash;364|doi=10.1017/S0025100312000230|printdate=2012-12|soundfiles=yes}}{{refend}}

== External links ==
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{{Wikivoyage|Tausug phrasebook|Tausug|a phrasebook}}
* [http://www.sil.org/asia/philippines/plb_download.html#Tlink Publications in Tausūg and other Philippine languages]
* [https://tausug.webonary.org/?lang=en Tausug-English Dictionary of SIL International]. online version accessible from Webonary.org.
* [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:Tausug_language Tausug at Wiktionary]
* [http://iloko.tripod.com/Tausug.htm Tausug Language] by Dr. Carl G. Rubino
* [http://www.bansa.org/?q=dictionaries/cmd&dict_lang=Tausug Bansa.org Tausug Dictionary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170010/http://www.bansa.org/?q=dictionaries%2Fcmd&dict_lang=Tausug |date=March 3, 2016 }}
* [http://www.languagelinks.org Tausug English Glossary] Search for common Tausug Words

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{{Visayan languages}}
{{Philippine languages}}
{{Arabic script}}
{{Languages of the Philippines}}
{{Languages of Indonesia}}
{{Languages of Malaysia}}

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[[Category:Visayan languages]]
[[Category:Languages of Sulu]]
[[Category:Languages of Tawi-Tawi]]
[[Category:Languages of Basilan]]
[[Category:Languages of Indonesia]]
[[Category:Languages of Sabah]]
[[Category:Languages of Malaysia]]