papaling-paling
swaying back and forth
From root: paling
Usage Note
Papaling-paling describes an unstable or wobbling motion, like a top losing its spin.
Examples
" Papaling-paling ang bangka. "
Natural Translation
The boat is swaying back and forth.
Literal Translation
Swaying-back-and-forth the boat.
" Papaling-paling ang puno dahil sa hangin. "
Natural Translation
The tree is swaying back and forth because of the wind.
Literal Translation
Swaying-back-and-forth the tree because of wind.
" Papaling-paling ang lasing na lalaki habang naglalakad pauwi, kaya't tinulungan siya ng mga kaibigan upang hindi madapa. "
Natural Translation
The drunk man was swaying back and forth as he walked home, so his friends helped him so he wouldn't fall.
Literal Translation
Swaying-back-and-forth the drunk man while walking going-home, so helped him by-the friends so-that not fall.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
paling has 3 related forms built from the same root.
Related Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.

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.

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.

Tagalog Time Expressions: Past, Present & Future Guide
Tagalog has no tenses — it uses aspect. Learn time words, days of the week, clock time, and the aspect system, with vocabulary tables and cultural notes.

Filipino Family Words and Honorifics: Ate, Kuya & Tita
Filipino family words like ate, kuya, tita, tito, lolo, and lola go far beyond family — learn how Filipinos use them with strangers, plus mano po etiquette.