balakubak
balakúbak with stress marks
dandruff
Usage Note
Balakubak is the standard everyday term for dandruff, used straightforwardly in personal care and health conversations. Shampoo advertisements in the Philippines regularly use this word directly in their messaging.
Examples
" May balakubak ang anak ko. "
Natural Translation
My child has dandruff.
Literal Translation
Has dandruff the child my.
" Kita ang balakubak sa buhok. "
Natural Translation
The dandruff in the hair is visible.
Literal Translation
Visible the dandruff in hair.
" Pinapayuhan ng dermatologo na lagyan ng espesyal na gamot ang anit kung hindi mawala-wala ang balakubak. "
Natural Translation
The dermatologist advises applying special medicine to the scalp if the dandruff just won't go away.
Literal Translation
Advises by-the dermatologist to put of special medicine the scalp if not goes-away-away the dandruff.
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 workRelated Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.
Tagalog Time Expressions: Past, Present & Future Guide
Tagalog has no tenses — it uses aspect. Learn time words, days of the week, clock time, and the aspect system, with vocabulary tables and cultural notes.
Tagalog Question Words: Ano, Sino, Saan & More
Tagalog question words like ano, sino, and saan need the right frame to work. Learn the ang-vs-pronoun rule, confusable pairs, and the ba particle with audio.
Tagalog Greetings: How to Say Hello, Goodbye & Po/Opo
Master Tagalog greetings with pronunciation: kumusta, magandang umaga, po and opo polite forms, time-of-day phrases, and the mano po tradition.
Days of the Week and Months in Tagalog
The days of the week and months in Tagalog are Spanish loanwords. Learn all 7 days and 12 months with pronunciation, plus how to say dates and 'every Monday.'