kalinga
kalínga with stress marks
care, protection, attention
Usage Note
Kalinga expresses nurturing care directed toward another person, often implying emotional investment and long-term responsibility rather than casual attention. It is common in contexts of family, community service, and social welfare, and carries a warm, protective connotation that makes it stronger than simple pagmamahal in institutional or civic speech.
Examples
" Kailangan ng kalinga ng matatanda. "
Natural Translation
The elderly need care.
Literal Translation
Need of care the elderly.
" Ang kalinga ng ina para sa kanyang anak ay walang kapantay. "
Natural Translation
A mother's care for her child is unmatched.
Literal Translation
The care the mother for her child is without-equal.
" Bukod sa pera, ang tunay na kalinga ay ang pagbibigay ng panahon at pansin sa mga nangangailangan. "
Natural Translation
Beyond money, true care means giving time and attention to those in need.
Literal Translation
Besides money, the true care is the giving of time and attention to the needing.
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 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.

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.