tangkay
tangkáy with stress marks
stalk; stem
Usage Note
Tangkay refers to the stem or stalk of a plant, fruit, or leaf — the part that connects it to the main body. It is used in cooking contexts (removing the tangkay from vegetables) and in descriptions of flora. In Tagalog botany and gardening conversations, it is a very practical, everyday term.
Examples
" Putulin mo ang tangkay. "
Natural Translation
Cut off the stalk.
Literal Translation
Cut you the stalk.
" Mahaba ang tangkay ng bulaklak. "
Natural Translation
The stalk of the flower is long.
Literal Translation
Long the stalk of flower.
" Bago lutuin ang mga gulay, inalis muna ni Nanay ang matitigas na tangkay para mas madaling kainin. "
Natural Translation
Before cooking the vegetables, Mom first removed the tough stalks so they'd be easier to eat.
Literal Translation
Before cook the vegetables, removed first by Mom the tough stalks so more easy eat.
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.
Ng vs Nang in Tagalog: The Spelling Rule
Ng vs nang sound identical but spell differently. Use ng to mark nouns (of, the object), and nang for how, when, repetition, and counting time.
Mano Po and Filipino Etiquette: A Visitor's Guide
Mano po presses an elder's hand to your forehead as a blessing. Learn who to mano, how to lip-point, and the etiquette that wins over a Filipino family.
Days of the Week and Months in Tagalog
The days of the week and months in Tagalog are Spanish loanwords. Learn all 7 days and 12 months with pronunciation, plus how to say dates and 'every Monday.'
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.