butiki
butikî with stress marks
house lizard
Usage Note
Butiki are small geckos commonly found on the walls and ceilings of Filipino homes, where they are often seen catching insects near lamps at night. They are a ubiquitous part of daily life and are generally welcomed as they help control the mosquito population.
Examples
" May butiki sa kisame. "
Natural Translation
There is a lizard on the ceiling.
Literal Translation
Has lizard on ceiling.
" May butiki sa dingding. "
Natural Translation
There is a lizard on the wall.
Literal Translation
Has lizard in wall.
" Tuwing gabi, may butiking malapit sa ilaw na nanghuhuli ng mga lamok at insekto. "
Natural Translation
Every night, there is a lizard near the lamp that catches mosquitoes and insects.
Literal Translation
Every night, has lizard near to light that catching of plural mosquito and insect.
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.
Na vs -ng in Tagalog: The Linker Rule Made Simple
When do you use na vs -ng in Tagalog? One simple rule, with clear examples, memory tips, and common mistakes explained for English-speaking beginners.
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.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Tagalog?
Survival Tagalog takes ~3-4 weeks and comfortable conversation 6-12 months. FSI's 1,100 hours is the professional bar, not the talking-to-family bar.