salawikain
salawikáin with stress marks
proverb
Usage Note
Salawikain is a traditional Filipino proverb or saying that encapsulates folk wisdom, moral guidance, or cultural values. Proverbs are highly regarded in Filipino culture as condensed expressions of collective experience, taught in schools and invoked in conversation to advise or counsel others.
Examples
" Marami akong alam na salawikain. "
Natural Translation
I know many proverbs.
Literal Translation
Many I know that proverb.
" Ito ay isang lumang salawikain. "
Natural Translation
This is an old proverb.
Literal Translation
This is a old proverb.
" Ayon sa lumang salawikain, ang taong nagmamadali ay madalas na nadadapa sa daan. "
Natural Translation
According to the old proverb, a person who rushes often stumbles along the way.
Literal Translation
According to old proverb, the person hurrying is often stumble on road.
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.
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 "I Love You" in Tagalog: Phrases & Meaning
Learn how to say I love you in Tagalog. Mahal kita, Iniibig kita, and Filipino terms of endearment for partners, family, and friends — with cultural notes.
How Long Does It Take to Learn Tagalog?
Survival Tagalog takes ~3-4 weeks and comfortable conversation 6-12 months. FSI's 1,100 hours is the professional bar, not the talking-to-family bar.
Na vs -ng in Tagalog: The Linker Rule Made Simple
When do you use na vs -ng in Tagalog? One simple rule, with clear examples, memory tips, and common mistakes explained for English-speaking beginners.