buntot
buntót with stress marks
tail
Usage Note
Buntot is the standard Tagalog word for an animal's tail. Figuratively, it describes a trailing end — the tail of a kite, the back end of a queue, or a person who follows another around constantly. The expression 'parang aso sa buntot' (like a dog at the tail) describes someone who closely follows or shadows another person.
Examples
" Mahaba ang buntot ng pusa. "
Natural Translation
The cat's tail is long.
Literal Translation
Long the tail of cat.
" Iniindayog ng aso ang buntot nang makita ang amo. "
Natural Translation
The dog wagged its tail when it saw its owner.
Literal Translation
Wagging the dog the tail when saw the owner.
" Sumusunod ang bata sa kanyang ate kahit saan kaya tinawag siyang parang aso sa buntot. "
Natural Translation
The child follows his older sister everywhere, so he was called "like a dog at the tail."
Literal Translation
Following the child to his older-sister wherever so called him like dog at tail.
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.
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.
Mano Po and Filipino Etiquette: A Visitor's Guide
Mano po presses an elder's hand to your forehead as a blessing. Learn who to mano, how to lip-point, and the etiquette that wins over a Filipino family.
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.
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.