Also means
Dapo can also mean to alight or land on a surface, as used for insects or birds, when pronounced with stress on the second syllable.
Usage Note
Dapo as a plant name refers to epiphytic ferns or orchids that grow on tree trunks without soil, common in Philippine forests. The word is used by farmers and plant enthusiasts and appears in folk beliefs where such plants are associated with spirits inhabiting old trees.
Examples
" May dapo sa lumang puno. "
Natural Translation
There is an air plant on the old tree.
Literal Translation
Has air-plant on old tree.
" May dapo na lumalaki sa puno ng mangga sa bakuran. "
Natural Translation
There is an air plant growing on the mango tree in the yard.
Literal Translation
Has air-plant that grows on tree of-mango in yard.
" Sinasabi ng matatanda na huwag galawin ang dapo sa malaking balete dahil baka may nananahang espiritu roon. "
Natural Translation
The elders say not to disturb the air plant on the big balete tree because a spirit might be dwelling there.
Literal Translation
Said by-the elders that don't touch the air-plant on big balete because maybe has dwelling spirit there.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workActor Focus Verbs
Object Focus Verbs
Related Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.

Is Tagalog Hard to Learn? An Honest Answer
Tagalog takes around 1,100 hours to reach professional proficiency. Here is what is easy, what is hard, and what to expect at 3, 6, and 12 months.

Seasons in the Philippines: A Tagalog Guide
The Philippines has two seasons, not four. Learn tag-araw, tag-ulan, and taglamig, the generative tag- prefix, and the weather vocabulary to match.

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.

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.