atubili
atubilì with stress marks
hesitation
Usage Note
Atubili is the state of being uncertain or indecisive before acting, and it is often connected to hiya — Filipinos may express atubili when asked to accept a gift, speak up in public, or make a bold request, as directness can feel presumptuous.
Examples
" May atubili siya. "
Natural Translation
She has some hesitation.
Literal Translation
Has hesitation she.
" Puno ng atubili ang lalaki. "
Natural Translation
The man is full of hesitation.
Literal Translation
Full of hesitation the man.
" Dahil sa hiya, may atubili siyang tanggapin ang regalo kahit alam niyang taos-puso ang pagbibigay. "
Natural Translation
Out of shyness, she felt some hesitation to accept the gift even though she knew the giving was heartfelt.
Literal Translation
Because of shyness, has hesitation she accept the gift even-though knew she heartfelt the giving.
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 Slang Guide: 20 Words You'll Hear on TikTok
Tagalog slang explained: lodi, petmalu, werpa, astig, chika and more. Decode Filipino TikTok comments, group chats, and pop culture with this practical guide.

Philippines Geography for Learners: Islands & Language
Philippines geography for Tagalog learners: 7,641 islands, three island groups, and the Southern Luzon heartland where the Tagalog language was born.

Filipino Food: 12 Essential Dishes (With Tagalog Names)
Filipino food, from adobo to halo-halo: learn the Tagalog names, pronunciations, and ingredients behind 12 dishes you'll want to try on your first trip.

Spaced Repetition for Tagalog: How Flashcards Make Words Stick
Cramming Tagalog vocabulary fails. See how spaced repetition — the science behind smart flashcards — makes words stick for the long term.