From root: hiya
Usage Note
Kahihiyán refers to a state of disgrace that affects one's social standing or family honor.
Examples
" Malaking kahihiyan iyon. "
Natural Translation
That was a great disgrace.
Literal Translation
Big disgrace that.
" Ang pagnanakaw ay isang kahihiyan. "
Natural Translation
Stealing is a disgrace.
Literal Translation
The stealing is a disgrace.
" Iniwasan niya ang kahihiyan sa harap ng mga bisita sa pamamagitan ng tahimik na pag-alis sa kuwarto. "
Natural Translation
He avoided the embarrassment in front of the guests by quietly leaving the room.
Literal Translation
Avoided he the disgrace in front of guests through quiet leaving in room.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
hiya has 7 related forms built from the same root.
Related Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.

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.

Tagalog Question Words: Ano, Sino, Saan & More
Tagalog question words like ano, sino, and saan need the right frame to work. Learn the ang-vs-pronoun rule, confusable pairs, and the ba particle with audio.

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.

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.