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kulang-kulang

mentally unstable or incomplete

adjective ku-lang-KU-lang DERIVED Less Common
Illustration of the root word "kulang" (lacking; insufficient)
Illustration from root: kulang

From root: kulang

Usage Note

Kulang-kulang is a reduplicated adjective from kulang, used colloquially to describe someone who is mentally unstable, scatter-brained, or not quite right in the head. It is informal and can range from gently teasing to genuinely disparaging depending on tone and context.

Examples

Beginner

" Parang kulang-kulang siya. "

Natural Translation

He/she seems a bit off.

Literal Translation

Like mentally-unstable he/she.

Intermediate

" Minsan siya ay parang kulang-kulang. "

Natural Translation

Sometimes he/she seems mentally unstable.

Literal Translation

Sometimes he/she is like mentally unstable.

Advanced

" Huwag mong pansinin ang sinabi niya kanina dahil minsan ay parang kulang-kulang siya kapag pagod na. "

Natural Translation

Don't mind what he/she said earlier because sometimes he/she seems a bit scatter-brained when tired.

Literal Translation

Don't you mind the said his/her earlier because sometimes is like mentally-unstable he/she when tired already.

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Word family

kulang has 4 related forms built from the same root.

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