dambana
dambána with stress marks
altar
Usage Note
Dambana refers to a sacred altar or shrine — the physical focal point of worship. It can denote a formal church altar or a home-made family shrine housing images of saints. The word carries deep spiritual significance and appears in religious poetry, rituals, and descriptions of Filipino folk Catholicism.
Examples
" May dambana sa loob ng bahay. "
Natural Translation
There is an altar inside the house.
Literal Translation
There-is altar in inside of-the house.
" Malinis ang dambana sa simbahan. "
Natural Translation
The altar in the church is clean.
Literal Translation
Clean the altar in church.
" Bago matulog, nagdarasal ang buong pamilya sa harap ng dambanang puno ng mga imahen ng mga santo. "
Natural Translation
Before sleeping, the whole family prays in front of the altar filled with images of the saints.
Literal Translation
Before sleep, prays the whole family in front of-the altar full of (plural) image of-the (plural) saint.
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.
Filipino Family Words and Honorifics: Ate, Kuya & Tita
Filipino family words like ate, kuya, tita, tito, lolo, and lola go far beyond family — learn how Filipinos use them with strangers, plus mano po etiquette.
Ng vs Nang in Tagalog: The Spelling Rule
Ng vs nang sound identical but spell differently. Use ng to mark nouns (of, the object), and nang for how, when, repetition, and counting time.
Magkano: How to Ask "How Much" in Tagalog
Magkano means how much in Tagalog. Learn to ask a price, tell it apart from ilan and gaano, sound polite with po, and haggle at the palengke.
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.