Usage Note
Lelong is a regional affectionate term for grandfather, the masculine counterpart of lelang. Found particularly in Kapampangan-influenced communities and parts of the Tagalog-speaking region, it is warmer and more familiar than the standard lolo — the kind of word a grandchild reaches for naturally rather than a formal title.
Examples
" Matanda na ang lelong ko. "
Natural Translation
My grandpa is already old.
Literal Translation
Old already the grandpa my.
" Mabait ang lelong ko. "
Natural Translation
My grandpa is kind.
Literal Translation
Kind the grandpa my.
" Tuwing bakasyon, nagkukuwento ang lelong namin tungkol sa buhay niya noong bata pa siya sa probinsya. "
Natural Translation
Every vacation, our grandpa tells stories about his life when he was still a child in the province.
Literal Translation
Every vacation, tells-stories the grandpa our about the life his when child still he in province.
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.
Philippines Geography for Learners: Islands & Language
Philippines geography for Tagalog learners: 7,641 islands, three island groups, and the Southern Luzon heartland where the Tagalog language was born.
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.
Languages of the Philippines: Tagalog, Cebuano, and More
Languages of the Philippines: one national language (Filipino) plus 180+ regional languages. Here's who speaks what, where, and why it matters to you.
Seasons in the Philippines: A Tagalog Guide
The Philippines has two seasons, not four. Learn tag-araw, tag-ulan, and taglamig, the generative tag- prefix, and the weather vocabulary to match.