ngayupapa
ngayupapà with stress marks
the act of humbling one's self before power
Usage Note
Ngayupapa describes the deliberate act of prostrating oneself — literally or figuratively — before someone of great power or authority. It carries strong connotations of submission and reverence and is often used in historical or religious contexts. In modern usage it can be ironic, applied to sycophantic behavior.
Examples
" Hindi ako marunong mangayupapa. "
Natural Translation
I don't know how to grovel.
Literal Translation
Not I know grovel.
" Ang kanyang ngayupapa sa harap ng hari ay nagpakita ng kanyang matinding paggalang. "
Natural Translation
His/Her act of humbling himself/herself in front of the king showed his/her deep respect.
Literal Translation
The his/her humbling in front of king is showed of his/her deep respect.
" Sa halip na ipaglaban ang katotohanan, pinili niya ang ngayupapa sa mga makapangyarihan upang mapanatili ang kanyang posisyon. "
Natural Translation
Instead of fighting for the truth, he chose to grovel before the powerful in order to keep his position.
Literal Translation
In place of fight-for the truth, chose he the grovel to the powerful in-order keep the his position.
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.
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.
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.
Mano Po and Filipino Etiquette: A Visitor's Guide
Mano po presses an elder's hand to your forehead as a blessing. Learn who to mano, how to lip-point, and the etiquette that wins over a Filipino family.
Tagalog Greetings: How to Say Hello, Goodbye & Po/Opo
Master Tagalog greetings with pronunciation: kumusta, magandang umaga, po and opo polite forms, time-of-day phrases, and the mano po tradition.