kalaguyo
intimate friend, paramour, concubine
Usage Note
Kalaguyo originally meant a close companion but has evolved in modern usage to refer specifically to a secret romantic partner outside of a marriage or committed relationship. Its use in that sense carries a strong negative social judgment. The word appears frequently in tabloid culture and telenovelas.
Examples
" May kalaguyo raw siya. "
Natural Translation
They say he has a paramour.
Literal Translation
Has paramour reportedly he.
" Kilala siya bilang kalaguyo ng mayaman. "
Natural Translation
She is known as the paramour of the rich man.
Literal Translation
Known she as paramour of-the rich.
" Nabuking ng asawa ang lihim na kalaguyo nang makita niya ang mga mensahe sa telepono nito. "
Natural Translation
The wife discovered the secret paramour when she saw the messages on his phone.
Literal Translation
Discovered by-the spouse the secret paramour when saw she the messages on phone its.
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.
Na vs -ng in Tagalog: The Linker Rule Made Simple
When do you use na vs -ng in Tagalog? One simple rule, with clear examples, memory tips, and common mistakes explained for English-speaking beginners.
Tagalog Greetings: How to Say Hello, Goodbye & Po/Opo
Master Tagalog greetings with pronunciation: kumusta, magandang umaga, po and opo polite forms, time-of-day phrases, and the mano po tradition.
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.
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.