Skip to content

tabi

tabí with stress marks

side; beside; to move to the side; asking permission

noun verb adverb ta-BI Native origin Common
Illustration of "tabi" (side; beside; to move to the side; asking permission)

Usage Note

Tabi is commonly used with the marker 'sa' to indicate proximity or a location next to something. It is also used in the polite phrase 'Tabi po' to ask someone to move out of the way or when passing through a crowd.

Examples

Beginner

" Umupo ka sa tabi ko. "

Natural Translation

Sit beside me.

Literal Translation

Sit you at side my.

Intermediate

" Nandito ako sa tabi mo. "

Natural Translation

I am here beside you.

Literal Translation

Here I am at your side.

Advanced

" Tumabi naman po kayo nang kaunti para makadaan ang mga taong may dalang mabibigat na gamit. "

Natural Translation

Please move to the side a little so that the people carrying heavy things can pass through.

Literal Translation

Move-to-side please polite you a-little so-that can-pass the people who carrying heavy things.

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

Derived Words

Actor Focus Verbs

Object Focus Verbs

Explore Tagalog by topic

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