Skip to content

lalo

lálo with stress marks

more; especially

adverb LA-lo Native origin Common

Usage Note

Lalo is one of the most frequent intensifiers in Tagalog, appearing in phrases like 'lalo na' (especially; in particular) and 'lalo pang' (even more). It modifies adjectives and verbs to indicate a greater degree. Reduplication 'lalong-lalo' further emphasises 'most especially'.

Examples

Beginner

" Lalo akong nagugutom. "

Natural Translation

I'm getting even hungrier.

Literal Translation

More I getting-hungry.

Intermediate

" Lalo siyang umiyak. "

Natural Translation

He/She cried more.

Literal Translation

More he/she cried.

Advanced

" Mahirap ang buhay sa probinsya, lalo na kapag walang trabaho at malayo ang pinakamalapit na ospital. "

Natural Translation

Life in the province is hard, especially when there is no work and the nearest hospital is far.

Literal Translation

Hard the life at province, more especially when no work and far the nearest hospital.

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.