Adarna House’s Wikahon Pre-A is a great way to ease beginners into learning the Filipino/Tagalog language. However, kids whose first language is not Tagalog — who need to look at Filipino-English dictionaries for the meanings of certain words — may find Google Translate confusing and occasionally misleading. Commercially available Filipino-English dictionaries are often incomplete and not very helpful. Thus, we’re putting together this list of words found in the Wikahon stories and their meanings for easy reference. We are starting with the verbs, nouns, and adjectives used in Wikahon Pre-A.
The words are listed in alphabetical order. To easily find a word in this page, you can press Ctrl + F (or the equivalent search function in your device browser) and type in the word you are looking for.
I’m pretty sure I missed some words. When you spot a word in Wikahon that’s not here, please let me know by leaving a comment below. Or use the “Contact Us” link at the very bottom of the page.
* In cases where the word appears in Wikahon with the suffix -ng or -g, said suffix may be removed for clarity.
Filipino Word | Meaning in English | Root Word / Related Word / Remarks |
---|---|---|
abay | part of the wedding entourage | could be a groomsman or bridesmaid, or the best man or maid of honor |
alaga | pet | - |
ale | lady | - |
ampalaya | bitter gourd | - |
anim | six | - |
apa | ice cream cone | - |
apat | four | - |
apo | grandchild | - |
apoy | flame | - |
araw | day | - |
aso | dog | - |
asukal | sugar | - |
atis | sugar-apple / sweetsop | - |
ayokong | I do not want | from the phrase "ayaw ko," which also means "I don't want" |
baboy | pig | - |
bago | new | - |
baha | flood | - |
bahaghari | rainbow | a compound of two unrelated words: bahag (loin cloth) and hari (king) |
bahay | house | - |
bait | kindness / goodness | "ang bait!" means "how kind!" or "how good!" |
baka | cow | - |
bakuran | backyard | bakod (fence) |
balat | skin | the balat of a fruit is its peel / outer covering |
balikat | shoulder | - |
bangka | native boat | - |
bango | scent | "ang bango!" is said when something smells good |
basura | trash | - |
basurahan | trash can | basura (trash) |
bata | child / young | - |
bati | greeting | - |
bato | stone / rock | - |
bawat | each | - |
bayabas | guava | - |
bayong | a kind of native bag | - |
bestida | dress | - |
beterinaryo | veterinarian | - |
bigas | rice | - |
bigyan | give | bigay |
biik | piglet | - |
bilang | number / quantity | - |
bili | buy | bili |
bilog | round / circular | - |
biluhaba | oblong | from bilog (round) and haba (length) |
bimpo | face towel / wash cloth | - |
bintana | window | - |
bisiro | foal / young horse | - |
bisita | guest / visitor | - |
bola | ball | - |
braso | arm | - |
bubuyog | bee | - |
budbod | sprinkles | ibudbod means to sprinkle |
bughaw | blue | - |
buhok | hair | - |
bukid | farm | - |
buko | young coconut | - |
bulaklak | flower | - |
bulkan | volcano | - |
bulong | whisper | - |
bumabagsak | falls | bagsak (fall) |
bumisita | visited | bisita (visit) |
bundok | mountain | - |
bunga | fruit | - |
bunot | coconut husk | commonly used for polishing floors |
buoin | complete | buo (whole / complete) |
burol | hill | - |
buto | seed | - |
buwan | month | - |
dadaloy | will flow | daloy (flow) |
dagat | sea | - |
dahon | leaf | - |
daing | dried fish | - |
dalawa | two | - |
daliri | finger | - |
damuhan | grass / lawn | damo |
dapuan | to be alighted on | dapo (to land on) |
dengge | dengue | - |
dilaw | yellow | - |
diligan | water (a plant) / irrigate | dilig |
dumadaloy | flow | daloy |
dumating | arrived | dating |
galing | from | - |
gamit | tool | - |
ganda | beauty | "ang ganda!" means "how lovely!" or "how beautiful!" |
gansa | goose | - |
gatas | milk | - |
ginagamit | being used | gamit (use) |
ginagamot | being cured | gamot (medicine / remedy) |
ginataan | food cooked with coconut milk | gata (coconut milk) |
guhit | draw / line | - |
gulay | vegetable | - |
gumalaw | move | galaw |
gumamela | hibiscus | - |
gumuhit | draw | guhit |
guro | teacher | - |
gusali | building | - |
gusto | like / want | - |
guya | calf (young cow) | - |
guyabano | soursop | - |
haba | length | - |
halaman | plant | - |
halamanan | garden | halaman (plant) |
halimbawa | example | - |
hanapin | find / search | hanap |
handa | prepare / something that has been prepared, particularly food | - |
harina | flour | - |
hayop | animal | - |
hilaw | unripe / raw | - |
hinihintay | is waiting for | hintay (wait) |
hinipan | blow | hipan |
hinog | ripe | - |
hinugis | shaped | hugis (shape) |
hirap | difficulty | - |
hugasan | wash | hugas |
hugis | shape | - |
huli | catch | - |
hulihin | to catch | huli |
huni | chirp / hum / tweet | - |
iba-iba | several / different | iba (different) |
ihuhulog | drop | hulog |
ikakasal | will be wed / the people to be wed | kasal (wedding) |
ilog | river | - |
indigo | indigo | - |
inihahagis | is thrown | hagis (throw) |
insekto | insect | - |
ipinagbabawal | is being prohibited | bawal (prohibited / forbidden) |
ipinamimigay | being given away | bigay (give) |
ipunas | wipe | punas |
isa | one | - |
isda | fish | - |
isinusuot | is worn | suot (wear) |
isulat | write | sulat |
itim | black | - |
itinatayo | being built | tayo (build / stand) |
itlog | egg | - |
kaarawan | birthday | araw (day) |
kabayo | horse | - |
kagat | bite | - |
kagatin | to bite / to be bitten | kagat (bite) |
kahel | orange | - |
kahon | box | - |
kahoy | wood | - |
kailangan | need | - |
kakaiba | unique / unusual | iba (different / something else) |
kaklase | classmate | klase (class) |
kaktus | cactus | - |
kalabaw | carabao | - |
kalaro | playmate | laro (play) |
kalat | mess / litter | - |
kaldereta | a kind of meat stew | - |
kalendaryo | calendar | - |
kalikasan | nature | likas (natural) |
kaliwa | left | - |
kalsada | street | - |
kama | bed | - |
kamay | hand | - |
kambing | goat | - |
kamya | camia / white ginger | - |
kanan | right | - |
kandila | candle | - |
kangkong | water spinach | - |
kanin | cooked rice | - |
kapatagan | plains | patag |
kapatid | sibling | - |
karne | meat | - |
karpintero | carpenter | - |
kasal | wedding | - |
kaserola | casserole / pan | - |
katawan | body | - |
katulong | assistant | tulong (help / assist) |
katumbas | match / equal / equivalent | tumbas |
kaunti | few | - |
kendi | candy | - |
keyk | cake | - |
kinagat | was bitten | kagat (bite) |
kinakapitan | being held onto | kapit (hold) |
kinayod | grated | kayod (grate); kayod could also mean hard work |
kuha | get | kuha |
kulay | color | - |
kumain | eating | kain (eat) |
kuting | kitten | - |
kuwadro | frame | - |
kuwarto | room | - |
kuwintas | necklace | - |
kuya | big brother | - |
labindalawa | twelve | - |
lagari | saw (tool) | - |
lagyan | to put | lagay (put) |
lalagyan | container | lagay (put) |
lalaki | male | - |
lambak | valley | - |
lambat | fishing net | - |
lamok | mosquito | - |
langaw | fly (insect) | - |
langit | skies / heaven | - |
larawan | picture | - |
laro | play | laro |
lasa | taste | - |
lawa | lake | - |
leeg | neck | - |
lila | violet / purple | lilac |
lima | five | - |
linggo | week | the capitalized Linggo means Sunday |
lobo | balloon | lobo may also mean wolf |
lola | grandmother | - |
lolo | grandfather | - |
loob | interior / inside | - |
lugaw | rice porridge | - |
lukso | jump | lukso |
luksong-tinik | a kind of game played by kids | from lukso (jump) and tinik (thorn) |
lumabas | went out | labas (go out) |
lumalabas | going out | labas (go out) |
lumitaw | appear / arise / emerge | litaw |
lungtian | green (less common spelling than luntian) | - |
luntian | green | another Filipino word for green is berde |
lupa | soil / ground / land | - |
luto | cooked | - |
maaaring | it is possible | maari (may / likely / possible) |
maalat | salty | alat |
maamo | tame / docile | amo |
maanghang | hot / spicy | anghang |
maaring | it is possible | maari (may / likely / possible) |
maasim | sour | asim |
maayos | properly / well done / well-organized | ayos (order / okay) |
mababa | low | Mababang Paaralan refers to elementary (as opposed to high) school |
mabait | nice / kind | bait |
mabilis | fast | bilis (speed) |
mabuo | complete | buo (whole / complete) |
madalas | frequent | dalas (frequency) |
mag-aral | to study / to learn | aral (study) |
magaganda | beautiful (plural form) | ganda (beauty) |
maganda | beautiful (singular form) | ganda (beauty) |
magaling | skillful / excellent / good at something | galing |
magbanlaw | rinse | banlaw |
magbigay | give | bigay (give) |
magdadala | will bring | dala (bring) |
magdidilig | will water (a plant) | dilig (water a plant; irrigate) |
maghugas | to wash | hugas |
magiging | will become | maging (to become) |
magkasakit | to get sick | sakit (illness) |
maglaban | to compete / fight | laban (fight / match / contest) |
maglakad | to walk | lakad (walk) |
maglalaro | will play | laro |
maglaro | to play | laro |
maglilinis | will clean | linis |
magluluto | will cook | luto (cook) |
magpunas | wipe | punas |
magsaka | to farm | saka (to farm or cultivate) |
magsuot | to wear | suot (clothing / wear) |
magtampisaw | play/splash around in water | tampisaw |
magtitinda | will sell | tinda (sell) |
magturo | to teach | turo (teach) |
magwalis | sweep | walis (sweep / broom) |
magwawalis | will sweep | walis (sweep / broom) |
mahaba | long (singular form) | haba (length) |
mahahaba | long (plural form) | haba (length) |
mahilig | fond of / likes to / prone to | hilig (inclination) |
mahina | weak | hina (weakness) |
maiipon | to collect or to save | ipon (collection / savings) |
mainit | hot | init |
makati | itchy | kati (itch) |
makina | machine / sewing machine | - |
makintab | shiny / polished | kintab (shine / polish) |
makikita | can be seen | kita (see) |
makita | to see something | kita (see) |
makopa | rose apple | - |
makukulay | colorful | kulay |
malaki | big | laki |
malambot | soft | lambot |
malawak | wide | lawak |
malayo | far | layo |
maligaya | happy | ligaya |
maligo | take a bath | ligo |
maliit | small | liit (smallness) |
malinis | clean | linis |
malutong | crisp / crunchy | lutong |
mamamasyal | to go somewhere for leisure | pasyal |
mamimili | buyer | bili (buy) |
mamimili | will choose | pili (choose) |
mangga | mango | - |
mangingisda | fisherman | isda (fish) |
mangkok | bowl | - |
maninipis | thin (as opposed to thick) singular form | nipis (thinness) |
maninipis | thin (as opposed to thick) plural form | nipis (thinness) |
mano | the act of raising an elder's hand to one's forehead to show respect | - |
manok | chicken | - |
mapait | bitter | pait |
mapakla | bitter-sour / tart | pakla |
marami | many | dami |
martilyo | hammer | - |
marumi | dirty | dumi |
masakit | painful | sakit (pain) |
masama | bad | sama |
masarap | delicious | sarap |
masasarap | delicious | maramihan (plural) form of masarap |
masdan | observe | masid |
masipag | hardworking / industrious / diligent | sipag (hard work / diligence) |
mata | eye | - |
mataba | fat | taba (fat) |
matabang | bland | tabang |
matamis | sweet | tamis |
mataya | to become the it | taya (it) |
matutuyo | dry | tuyo |
may | there is | - |
mayroon | there is | "mayroon ako" means "I have" |
meryenda | snack | - |
mesa | table | - |
modista | modiste / seamstress | - |
mukha | face | - |
mula | from | - |
munti | little / small | - |
naamoy | smell | amoy |
nabundat | stuffed (after eating) | bundat |
nadiligan | has been watered | dilig (water a plant / irrigate) |
nag-aaral | studying | aral (study) |
nagbabakasyon | go on a vacation | bakasyon |
nagbibigay | gives | bigay (give) |
nagdilig | watered a plant | dilig (water a plant / irrigate) |
nagiging | becomes | maging (to become) |
naglalako | peddling | lako (peddle) |
naglalaro | playing | laro (play / game) |
naglaro | played | laro (play / game) |
nagmano | put the hand of an elder to one's forehead to show respect | mano |
nagsusungka | playing sungka, a Filipino game | sungka |
nagtatago | is hiding | tago (hide) |
nagtitinda | selling | tinda (sell) |
nagwawalis | sweeping | walis (sweep / broom) |
nahahati | is divided | hati (divided / split) |
nakabaon | buried | baon (bury) |
nakakita | seen | kita (see) |
nakarating | arrived; to have gone to a place | dating (arrive) |
nakasuot | is wearing | suot (clothing / wear) |
nakatapak | stepped on | tapak (step) |
nakatatakot | scary | takot (fear) |
nakikita | can see / can be seen | kita (see) |
nanay | mother | - |
napaliligiran | is surrounded | paligid (surroundings) |
nasagi | sideswiped / brushed against | sagi |
nawawala | is lost | wala (gone / nothing) |
niyog | coconut | - |
nobya | girlfriend / bride | - |
nobyo | boyfriend / groom | - |
paa | foot | - |
paaralan | school | aral (study) |
pabilog | becoming round | bilog (round) |
paborito | favorite | - |
pagalingin | heal / make better | galing |
pagdudugtungin | will link / connect / join | dugtong |
pagitan | space between / interval / middle | - |
pagkain | food | kain |
pagsasaka | farming | saka |
pagtatawag | calling | tawag (call) |
pahina | page | - |
pakikintabin | polish / shine | kintab |
pakilagay | put | lagay (the prefix "paki-" frames the word as a request) |
pakpak | wing | - |
palakol | ax | - |
palengke | market | - |
paligid | surroundings | - |
palitaw | a native delicacy | litaw |
pamato | a thing used to hit something else in a game | "pambato" (with a b) refers to a representative or the team's best player |
pamputol | something used to cut | putol (cut) |
pang-apat | fourth | apat |
pangalan | name | ngalan also means name |
pangatlo | third | tatlo |
panghuli | a thing used to catch something | huli |
pangkinis | thing used to smoothen or polish | kinis (smoothness) |
pangungusap | sentence | usap (converse / discuss / talk) |
pantahi | a thing used for sewing | tahi |
pantira | a thing used to hit or strike, usually in a game | tira (hit / strike) |
panyo | handkerchief | - |
paramihan | contest to have the most | dami (quantity) |
parihaba | rectangle | haba (length) |
parisukat | square | sukat (measurement) |
paruparo | butterfly | - |
pasalubong | a gift brought home from a trip | salubong (meet / welome on arrival) |
paso | pot (for plants) | - |
patag | flat | |
patintero | a traditional Filipino children's game | - |
patlang | space | - |
patusok-tusok | prickly / thorny / spiky | tusok (pierce) |
payaso | clown | - |
payat | thinness | - |
petsa | date | as in, for example, January 1, 2020 |
piko | hopscotch | - |
piliin | choose / select | pili |
pinaalis | to send away | alis |
pinakahuli | last | huli |
pinakuluan | boiled | kulo (boiling / bubbling) |
pinitas | plucked / picked (a fruit or flower) | pitas |
pinsan | cousin | - |
pintuan | door / doorway | pinto (door) |
pisara | blackboard | - |
pitas | pick / pluck | - |
pito | seven | - |
plasa | plaza / piazza / town square | - |
plato | plate | - |
plorera | flower vase | - |
prutas | fruit | - |
pula | red | - |
pulbos | powder | - |
pulutin | pick up | pulot |
pumupunta | goes | punta (go to) |
punan | fill / fill up / fill out | - |
puno | tree | puno could also mean full or chief/head |
punong-guro | principal (of a school) / head teacher | from puno (chief / head) and guro (teacher) |
punong-puno | very full | full |
pupunta | will go somewhere | punta (go to) |
pupunuin | fill | puno |
pusa | cat | - |
puti | white | - |
repolyo | cabbage | - |
rosal | gardenia | Gardenia jasminoides |
rosas | pink | rosas could also refer to roses |
sabaw | soup | - |
sabi | said | sabi |
sabon | soap | - |
sabunin | soap | sabon |
saging | banana | - |
sagot | answer | - |
sahig | floor | - |
sakit | illness / pain | - |
sako | sack | - |
sala | living room | - |
salamin | mirror | - |
sali | join | sali |
salita | word | |
salusalo | banquet | - |
sampagita | jasmine | Jasminum sambac |
sampalok | tamarind | - |
sampu | ten | - |
sanga | branch | - |
santan | Ixora (plant) | - |
santol | cotton fruit | - |
sapa | stream | - |
sarap | taste / tastiness | "ang sarap!" means "how tasty!" or "how delicious!" |
sari-sari | assorted / variety | - |
sariling | own | sarili (self) |
sariwa | fresh | - |
sawa | python | - |
sayote | chayote | - |
sigaan | light a fire | siga |
sigaw | shout | - |
sigay | a kind of shell | - |
siko | elbow | - |
sili | chili / pepper | - |
silid-aralan | classroom | from silid (room) and aral (study) |
simbahan | church | simba (worship) |
sipa | a native Filipino game | - |
sisiw | chick | - |
sugat | wound | - |
suki | regular customer | - |
suman | a native sticky rice delicacy | - |
sumasakay | is riding | sakay (ride) |
sumisipsip | sucking / absorbing | sipsip (suck / absorb) |
sungkitin | hook something | sungkit |
sunod | next | - |
sunog | fire | - |
taasan | to raise something / elevate / make higher | taas (height / up) |
tagadala | carrier | dala (carry / bring) |
taguan | hide-and-seek | tago (hide) |
tainga | ear | - |
takpan | to cover | takip (cover) |
talaan | list / table | tala (list) |
tali | string | - |
talon | waterfall | the verb talon means jump |
talong | eggplant | - |
tama | correct / right | - |
tangkay | stalk / stem | - |
tanim | plant / crops | - |
taniman | field / garden | tanim (plants / crops) |
tanong | question | - |
tao | person / people | - |
taon | year | - |
tasa | cup | - |
tatsulok | triangle | from tatlo (three) and sulok (corner) |
tawag | call / name | - |
taya | "it" in a game | - |
tayo | stand / build | bagong tayo means newly built or newly constructed |
timba | pail / bucket | - |
tinapa | smoked fish | tapa (smoked meat) |
tinapay | bread | - |
tinatanaw | viewing | tanaw (view) |
tinatapon | throwing | tapon (throw) |
tindahan | store | tinda (sell) |
tindera | female seller | tinda (sell) |
tingnan | look at something | tingin (look / viewpoint) |
tinik | thorn | - |
tinulungan | help | tulong |
tiya | aunt | - |
tiyo | uncle | - |
tsinelas | slippers / flip flops | - |
tubig | water | - |
tubig-baha | floodwater | from tubig (water) and baha (flood) |
tuhod | knee | - |
tuko | gecko | - |
tuktok | peak / summit | - |
tukuyin | identify | tukoy |
tuta | puppy | - |
tutubi | dragonfly | - |
tuyo | dry | - |
ugat | root | - |
umaga | morning | aga |
umakyat | climb | akyat |
umiyak | cry | iyak |
umuusok | steaming / smoking | usok (smoke / steam) |
umuwi | go home | uwi |
una | first | - |
upuan | chair / seat | upo (sit) |
usok | smoke | - |
walis tambo | a type of broom | This is usually softer than the walis tingting and commonly used indoors. |
walis tingting | a type of broom | This is usually stiffer than the walis tambo and commonly used outdoors. |
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