katoto
katotó with stress marks
chum; buddy (males)
Usage Note
Katoto is a warm, informal term for a close male friend or buddy. It carries a sense of camaraderie and is used especially among men. The term has a slightly old-fashioned or rural feel compared to the more widespread 'kaibigan.'
Examples
" Matagal ko na siyang katoto. "
Natural Translation
He's been my buddy for a long time.
Literal Translation
Long I already him buddy.
" Si Romy at si Bert ay katoto mula pa noong bata sila. "
Natural Translation
Romy and Bert have been buddies since they were kids.
Literal Translation
Si Romy and si Bert are buddies since even when young they.
" Tuwing umuuwi siya sa probinsya, dumadalaw siya sa kanyang mga katoto noong kabataan upang magkuwentuhan. "
Natural Translation
Whenever he goes home to the province, he visits his childhood buddies to swap stories.
Literal Translation
Every-time goes-home he to-the province, visits he to his plural buddies during youth in-order-to exchange-stories.
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.
Is Tagalog Hard to Learn? An Honest Answer
Tagalog takes around 1,100 hours to reach professional proficiency. Here is what is easy, what is hard, and what to expect at 3, 6, and 12 months.
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 Numbers 1-100: Counting, Time & Money Explained
Learn Tagalog numbers 1-100 and beyond. Master both native and Spanish-derived counting systems, plus telling time, reading prices, and ordinals.
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.