balitaw
balitáw with stress marks
Visayan courtship dance/song
Usage Note
Balitaw is a traditional Visayan folk song and dance form in which a man and woman engage in a musical courtship exchange, improvising witty verses in response to each other. Associated with Cebuano and Hiligaynon traditions, it is performed at fiestas and cultural events, showcasing verbal dexterity and playful romantic banter.
Examples
" Sumayaw sila ng balitaw. "
Natural Translation
They danced the balitaw.
Literal Translation
Danced they of balitaw.
" Ipinakita nila ang tradisyonal na balitaw sa fiesta ng bayan. "
Natural Translation
They performed the traditional balitaw at the town fiesta.
Literal Translation
Showed they the traditional balitaw at-the fiesta of-the town.
" Sa balitaw, nagpapalitan ng matatalinong taludtod ang lalaki at babae habang isinasayaw nila ang sinaunang panliligaw. "
Natural Translation
In the balitaw, the man and woman exchange clever verses while they dance out the old-style courtship.
Literal Translation
In-the balitaw, exchange of clever verses the man and woman while dance-out they the ancient courtship.
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.
How to Say "I Love You" in Tagalog: Phrases & Meaning
Learn how to say I love you in Tagalog. Mahal kita, Iniibig kita, and Filipino terms of endearment for partners, family, and friends — with cultural notes.
Tagalog vs Filipino: What's the Difference & Which to Learn
Tagalog and Filipino aren't the same language — but they overlap almost completely. Here's the real difference and which one you should actually learn.
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 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.