Skip to content

katalonan

katalónan with stress marks

indigenous priest/priestess

noun ka-ta-LO-nan Native origin Rare

Usage Note

Katalonan were the spiritual leaders of pre-colonial Philippine communities, serving as priests, healers, and intermediaries with the spirit world. The role was frequently held by women or gender-non-conforming individuals called bayog. Spanish colonizers suppressed the practice, making katalonan a historical and anthropological term today, though interest in precolonial spirituality has revived it.

Examples

Beginner

" Nanguna ang katalonan sa ritwal. "

Natural Translation

The katalonan led the ritual.

Literal Translation

Led the katalonan in-the ritual.

Intermediate

" Ang katalonan ang nanguna sa ritwal ng komunidad. "

Natural Translation

The katalonan led the community ritual.

Literal Translation

The katalonan led the ritual of-the community.

Advanced

" Bago dumating ang mga Espanyol, ang katalonan ang tagapag-ugnay ng mga tao sa daigdig ng mga espiritu. "

Natural Translation

Before the Spanish arrived, the katalonan was the link between the people and the world of spirits.

Literal Translation

Before arrive the Spanish, the katalonan the link of-the people to-the world of-the spirits.

Free · iOS & Android

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 work

Explore Tagalog by topic

Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.