maharlika
maharlíka with stress marks
nobleman; noble birth
Usage Note
Maharlika referred in pre-colonial Philippine society to the warrior-noble class, ranked above commoners but below the ruling datu. In modern usage the word evokes dignity, nobility of character, and national pride, having appeared in patriotic literature, place names, and Ferdinand Marcos's proposed renaming of the Philippines.
Examples
" Maharlika ang kanyang dugo. "
Natural Translation
His blood is noble.
Literal Translation
Noble the his blood.
" Siya ay isang maharlika. "
Natural Translation
He/She is a nobleman.
Literal Translation
He/She is a nobleman.
" Bago dumating ang mga Espanyol, ang mga maharlika ang nakikipaglaban para sa kanilang datu at pinagkakatiwalaan sa panahon ng digmaan. "
Natural Translation
Before the Spanish arrived, the warrior-nobles were the ones who fought for their datu and were trusted in times of war.
Literal Translation
Before arrived the [plural] Spanish, the [plural] nobleman the fighting for their datu and trusted in time of war.
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
- AWOL absence without leave
- Amboy short for American boy
- Ati ethnolinguistic group in Panay
- Balbalan ethnolinguistic group (Kalinga)
- Hiligaynon ethnolinguistic group/language
- Ilokana female native of the Ilocos region; Ilokana woman
- Ilokano Ethnolinguistic group in Ilocos
- Ilonggo Language/People of Western Visayas
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.
Ng vs Nang in Tagalog: The Spelling Rule
Ng vs nang sound identical but spell differently. Use ng to mark nouns (of, the object), and nang for how, when, repetition, and counting time.
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.
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.
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.