kuwako
kuwáko with stress marks
smoker's pipe
Usage Note
Kuwako refers to a smoking pipe, especially the traditional long-stemmed variety. It is associated with older generations and is occasionally depicted in historical portrayals of Filipino life. The word may have entered Tagalog via Chinese communities in Manila.
Examples
" May luma siyang kuwako. "
Natural Translation
He/She has an old pipe.
Literal Translation
Has old he/she-of pipe.
" Lagi siyang may hawak na kuwako noong bata pa ako. "
Natural Translation
He/She always had a pipe in his/her hand when I was young.
Literal Translation
Always he/she has hold of pipe when young still I.
" Tuwing gabi, naupo ang aking lolo sa beranda habang umuusok ang kanyang kuwakong gawa pa noong panahon ng mga Kastila. "
Natural Translation
Every night, my grandfather sat on the porch while his pipe, made back in Spanish times, gave off smoke.
Literal Translation
Every night, sat the my grandfather on-the porch while smoking the his pipe-that made still during time of-the Spanish.
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.
Tagalog Pronouns Explained: Complete Chart with Examples
Every Tagalog pronoun explained with clear charts: ang/ng/sa forms, tayo vs kami, ikaw vs ka, politeness markers, and the mistakes beginners make.
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.
Ang, Ng, Sa: The 3 Tagalog Case Markers Explained
Ang, ng, sa are the three Tagalog case markers every noun takes. Learn what each does, the personal forms si/ni/kay, plurals with mga, and clear examples.
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.