gatol
gatól with stress marks
snag, interruption
Usage Note
Gatol refers to an unexpected hitch or interruption that causes a process to halt or slow down. It is used both literally — a physical snag in thread or fabric — and figuratively for interruptions in plans, speech, or workflow. In everyday speech it describes any small obstacle that causes a momentary pause.
Examples
" May gatol sa makina. "
Natural Translation
There's a snag in the machine.
Literal Translation
Has snag in-the machine.
" May gatol sa programa kaya naantala ang selebrasyon. "
Natural Translation
There was a snag in the program, so the celebration was delayed.
Literal Translation
Has snag in-the program so delayed the celebration.
" Kahit maayos na ang plano, laging may gatol na lumilitaw kapag hindi sapat ang oras na inilaan sa paghahanda. "
Natural Translation
Even when the plan is set, a snag always comes up when not enough time was set aside for preparation.
Literal Translation
Even orderly already the plan, always has snag that appears when not enough the time that allotted in preparation.
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.
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.
Tagalog Slang Guide: 20 Words You'll Hear on TikTok
Tagalog slang explained: lodi, petmalu, werpa, astig, chika and more. Decode Filipino TikTok comments, group chats, and pop culture with this practical guide.
Tagalog Verb Focus System Explained (It's Not Active vs. Passive)
The Tagalog verb focus system isn't active vs. passive. Learn actor focus, object focus, and more with clear examples that finally make it click.
Filipino Food: 12 Essential Dishes (With Tagalog Names)
Filipino food, from adobo to halo-halo: learn the Tagalog names, pronunciations, and ingredients behind 12 dishes you'll want to try on your first trip.