Where does “pagsiyasat” come from?

pagsiyasat (Bikol Central) comes from Tagalog siyasat, from Malay siasat, from Classical Malay سياست, from Persian سياست, from Arabic سِيَاسَة — policy, politics.

Ancestry of “pagsiyasat”, step by step

pagsiyasat traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Tagalog siyasat

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Tagalogsiyasatinvestigation; detailed or careful examination;...
2Malaysiasatinvestigative inquiry; investigation
3Classical Malayسياست
4Persianسياست
5Arabicسِيَاسَةpolicy, politics

via Bikol Central pag

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Bikol Centralpag
Every word from Arabic سِيَاسَةEvery word from Persian سياستEvery word from Classical Malay سياست
pagsiyasat — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer