hinlalaki
hinlalakí with stress marks
thumb
Usage Note
Hinlalaki is the standard Tagalog term for the thumb. The word is a compound meaning roughly 'big finger', reflecting its size relative to the other fingers. It is used in everyday speech, medical contexts, and children's education when naming body parts.
Examples
" Nasugatan ang hinlalaki ko. "
Natural Translation
My thumb got wounded.
Literal Translation
Got-wounded the thumb my.
" Masakit ang aking hinlalaki. "
Natural Translation
My thumb is painful.
Literal Translation
Painful the my thumb.
" Itinaas ng guro ang kanyang hinlalaki bilang tanda na maganda ang ginawa ng buong klase. "
Natural Translation
The teacher raised her thumb as a sign that the whole class did well.
Literal Translation
Raised by teacher the her thumb as sign that good the did of whole class.
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 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.
Tagalog Root Words: Learn a Few Hundred, Understand Thousands
Tagalog root words unlock vocabulary fast: learn a few hundred and recognize thousands. Real word families, examples, and a practical study strategy.
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.
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.