From root: tibay
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
tumibay
tu-MI-bay
became strong
Present (Incomplete)
tumitibay
tu-mi-TI-bay
becoming strong
Future (Contemplated)
titibay
ti-TI-bay
will become strong
Usage Note
Tumibay is used when describing physical objects, relationships, or character traits that become more durable, resilient, or sturdy over time. It is commonly applied to structures or emotional bonds that have withstood challenges.
Examples
" Tumibay ang tulay. "
Natural Translation
The bridge became sturdy.
Literal Translation
Became-strong the bridge.
" Nagsimulang tumibay ang mesa. "
Natural Translation
The table started to become strong.
Literal Translation
Started-to become-strong the table.
" Lalong tumibay ang aming pagkakaibigan matapos naming pagdaanan ang maraming pagsubok nang magkasama. "
Natural Translation
Our friendship grew even stronger after we went through many trials together.
Literal Translation
More became-strong the our friendship after we went-through the many trials when together.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workWord family
tibay has 6 related forms built from the same root.
Related Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.

Filipino Family Words and Honorifics: Ate, Kuya & Tita
Filipino family words like ate, kuya, tita, tito, lolo, and lola go far beyond family — learn how Filipinos use them with strangers, plus mano po etiquette.

Tagalog Greetings: How to Say Hello, Goodbye & Po/Opo
Master Tagalog greetings with pronunciation: kumusta, magandang umaga, po and opo polite forms, time-of-day phrases, and the mano po tradition.

Languages of the Philippines: Tagalog, Cebuano, and More
Languages of the Philippines: one national language (Filipino) plus 180+ regional languages. Here's who speaks what, where, and why it matters to you.

Tagalog Word Order: Sentence Structure Made Simple
Why Tagalog puts the verb first, and how ang, ng, and sa markers work. A clear guide to VSO word order, forming questions, and negation.