alibata
alibáta with stress marks
Filipino indigenous system of writing
Usage Note
Alibata (also called Baybayin) is the pre-colonial indigenous script of the Philippines. The term 'alibata' was coined in 1914 by Paul Versoza but is now widely used in popular culture even though 'Baybayin' is the more historically accurate scholarly term. There is a growing cultural revival of this script.
Examples
" Marunong siyang sumulat ng alibata. "
Natural Translation
She knows how to write alibata.
Literal Translation
Knows she to-write of alibata.
" Itinuro sa amin ng guro ang pagsusulat gamit ang alibata. "
Natural Translation
Our teacher taught us to write using the alibata script.
Literal Translation
Taught to us the teacher the writing using the alibata.
" Marami sa mga kabataan ngayon ang interesadong matutunan ang alibata bilang paraan ng pagpapahalaga sa ating sinaunang kultura. "
Natural Translation
Many young people today are interested in learning the alibata script as a way of valuing our ancient culture.
Literal Translation
Many of the youth now the interested to-learn the alibata as way of valuing to our ancient culture.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workRelated Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.

Tagalog Affixes Explained: A Beginner's Guide to Word Building
Tagalog affixes turn one root word into dozens of meanings. Learn prefixes, infixes, suffixes, and circumfixes with clear examples for beginners.

Philippine Christmas Traditions: World's Longest Holiday
Philippine Christmas traditions run four months — from Ber-month carols to Simbang Gabi dawn masses, Noche Buena feasts, and parol lanterns lighting every street.

Tagalog Word Order: Sentence Structure Made Simple
Why Tagalog puts the verb first, and how ang, ng, and sa markers work. A clear guide to VSO word order, forming questions, and negation.

How to Say Sorry in Tagalog: Patawad vs Pasensya
How to say sorry in Tagalog: patawad, pasensya na, and paumanhin compared on a simple severity-and-formality ladder so you pick the right word every time.