From root: kaway
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
kumaway
ku-ma-WAY
waved
Present (Incomplete)
kumakaway
ku-ma-ka-WAY
is waving
Future (Contemplated)
kakaway
ka-ka-WAY
will wave
Usage Note
Kumaway is used when gesturing with the hand to greet someone, say goodbye, or signal for attention. It is a friendly and ubiquitous social action in both formal and informal Filipino settings.
Examples
" Kumaway ang bata sa akin. "
Natural Translation
The child waved at me.
Literal Translation
Waved the child to me.
" Kumaway siya sa kanyang kaibigan. "
Natural Translation
She waved at her friend.
Literal Translation
Waved he/she to his/her friend.
" Habang papalayo na ang bus, kumaway pa rin siya hanggang sa hindi na namin makita ang isa't isa. "
Natural Translation
As the bus pulled away, she kept waving until we could no longer see each other.
Literal Translation
While going-far already the bus, waved still also she until that not anymore we can-see the one-another.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
kaway has 5 related forms built from the same root.
Related Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.

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.

Days of the Week and Months in Tagalog
The days of the week and months in Tagalog are Spanish loanwords. Learn all 7 days and 12 months with pronunciation, plus how to say dates and 'every Monday.'

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.

How to Say Sorry in Tagalog: Patawad vs Pasensya
How to say sorry in Tagalog: patawad, pasensya na, and paumanhin compared on a simple severity-and-formality ladder so you pick the right word every time.