Skip to content

tabi-tabi

side by side

adverb ta-BI-ta-BI DERIVED Less Common
Illustration of the root word "tabi" (side; beside; to move to the side; asking permission)
Illustration from root: tabi

From root: tabi

Usage Note

Tabi-tabi po is a respectful expression used to ask permission to pass through areas where spirits are believed to live.

Examples

Beginner

" Naglalakad sila nang tabi-tabi. "

Natural Translation

They are walking side by side.

Literal Translation

Walking they side-by-side.

Intermediate

" Maganda ang tabi-tabi na mga puno. "

Natural Translation

The trees lined up side-by-side are beautiful.

Literal Translation

Beautiful the side-by-side trees.

Advanced

" Bago dumaan sa madilim na bukirin, bumulong muna ang matanda ng tabi-tabi po bilang paggalang sa mga nilalang doon. "

Natural Translation

Before passing through the dark field, the old man first whispered "tabi-tabi po" as a sign of respect to the beings there.

Literal Translation

Before pass at dark field, whispered first the elder of side-by-side please as respect to the beings there.

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

Word family

tabi has 6 related forms built from the same root.

See all

Explore Tagalog by topic

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