Also means
Huli with stress on the last syllable (hulí) means late or last.
Usage Note
Húli in this sense means to catch, capture, or arrest — as in catching a criminal, catching a fish, or catching someone in the act. It is used in police and legal contexts as well as in everyday speech. The phrase 'huli ka!' (I caught you!) is common in children's games.
Examples
" Huli ka! "
Natural Translation
I caught you!
Literal Translation
Caught you!
" Nasaan ang húli mong manok? "
Natural Translation
Where is the chicken you caught?
Literal Translation
Where the catch your-that chicken?
" Nahuli ng pulis ang magnanakaw matapos itong tumakbo nang ilang kilometro sa kalsada. "
Natural Translation
The police caught the thief after he ran for several kilometers down the road.
Literal Translation
Was-caught of police the thief after this ran of several kilometers in road.
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 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.
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.
Spaced Repetition for Tagalog: How Flashcards Make Words Stick
Cramming Tagalog vocabulary fails. See how spaced repetition — the science behind smart flashcards — makes words stick for the long term.
Tagalog Verb Conjugation: Aspects Made Simple
Tagalog verb conjugation uses aspects, not tenses. Learn the three aspects with -um- and mag- verbs, one reduplication rule, and clear example tables.
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.