Skip to content

bakulaw

huge monkey, gorilla

noun ba-ku-LAW Native origin Rare

Usage Note

Bakulaw describes a large primate, particularly a gorilla. In informal usage it can be applied humorously or pejoratively to a large, rough, or unkempt person, though it is rarely heard in formal speech.

Examples

Beginner

" Malaki ang bakulaw sa zoo. "

Natural Translation

The gorilla at the zoo is huge.

Literal Translation

Big the gorilla at-the zoo.

Intermediate

" Nakakita sila ng bakulaw sa loob ng kulungan sa zoo. "

Natural Translation

They saw a gorilla inside the enclosure at the zoo.

Literal Translation

Saw they of gorilla inside the enclosure at-the zoo.

Advanced

" Tinawag siyang bakulaw ng mga kalaro dahil sa laki ng katawan, kahit na sa totoo lang ay napakabait at marahan niyang kumilos. "

Natural Translation

His playmates called him a gorilla because of his big body, even though in truth he was very kind and gentle in how he moved.

Literal Translation

Called him gorilla the playmates because of size of-the body, even though in truth only is very-kind and gentle his moving.

Free · iOS & Android

Take Tagalog with you

The full course, a 12,500-word dictionary, and flashcards that make every word stick — free to start on iOS and Android.

Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.

How Tagalog words work

Explore Tagalog by topic

Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.