sampalok
sampálok with stress marks
tamarind tree or fruit
Usage Note
Sampalok is a beloved souring agent in Philippine cuisine, most famously used in sinigang. The tamarind tree is also a common shade tree in plazas and old neighborhoods, and candied sampalok is a popular street snack sold in small plastic bags.
Examples
" Gusto ko ng sampalok. "
Natural Translation
I want some tamarind.
Literal Translation
Like I of tamarind.
" Maasim ang sampalok. "
Natural Translation
The tamarind is sour.
Literal Translation
Sour the tamarind.
" Pumitas kami ng hinog na sampalok sa puno habang nagpapahinga sa lilim noong mainit na tanghali. "
Natural Translation
We picked ripe tamarind from the tree while resting in the shade during the hot noon.
Literal Translation
Picked we of ripe tamarind at tree while resting at shade during hot noon.
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.
Filipino Food: 12 Essential Dishes (With Tagalog Names)
Filipino food, from adobo to halo-halo: learn the Tagalog names, pronunciations, and ingredients behind 12 dishes you'll want to try on your first trip.
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.
Tagalog Affixes Explained: A Beginner's Guide to Word Building
Tagalog affixes turn one root word into dozens of meanings. Learn prefixes, infixes, suffixes, and circumfixes with clear examples for beginners.