Skip to content

palengke

paléngke with stress marks

public market

noun pa-LENG-ke Spanish origin Common
Illustration of "palengke" (public market)

Usage Note

Palengke refers to traditional wet markets where Filipinos buy fresh meat, seafood, and produce, typically at lower prices than supermarkets. It is a central part of community life where haggling for a discount, or 'tawad,' is a common and expected practice.

Examples

Beginner

" Pupunta ako sa palengke. "

Natural Translation

I'm going to the market.

Literal Translation

Will-go I to public-market.

Intermediate

" Bibili ako sa palengke. "

Natural Translation

I will buy things at the market.

Literal Translation

Will buy I at public market.

Advanced

" Tuwing umaga, maaga akong pumupunta sa palengke para mas sariwa ang isda at gulay na mabibili ko. "

Natural Translation

Every morning, I go to the market early so that the fish and vegetables I can buy are fresher.

Literal Translation

Every morning, early I going to public-market so more fresh the fish and vegetable that will-be-bought I.

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

Actor Focus Verbs

Object Focus Verbs

Explore Tagalog by topic

Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.