tuko
túko with stress marks
gecko
Usage Note
Tuko is the large tokay gecko, named onomatopoeically for its distinctive loud call, and a familiar presence in Filipino homes where it is considered by some a good omen. It is also the subject of a persistent urban myth that pharmaceutical companies pay enormous sums for large geckos, which has fueled illegal wildlife trading.
Examples
" Malaki ang tukong iyon. "
Natural Translation
That gecko is big.
Literal Translation
Big the gecko that.
" May tuko sa kisame ng bahay. "
Natural Translation
There is a gecko on the ceiling of the house.
Literal Translation
Has gecko on ceiling of house.
" Tuwing gabi, naririnig namin ang tuko sa labas, kaya minsan nahihirapan kaming makatulog dahil sa lakas ng tunog nito. "
Natural Translation
Every night, we hear the gecko outside, so sometimes we have a hard time sleeping because of how loud its sound is.
Literal Translation
Every night, hear we the gecko at outside, so sometimes hard-pressed we to-sleep because of loudness of sound its.
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.

How to Say Sorry in Tagalog: Patawad vs Pasensya
How to say sorry in Tagalog: patawad, pasensya na, and paumanhin compared on a simple severity-and-formality ladder so you pick the right word every time.

Tagalog vs Filipino: What's the Difference & Which to Learn
Tagalog and Filipino aren't the same language — but they overlap almost completely. Here's the real difference and which one you should actually learn.

Philippine Christmas Traditions: World's Longest Holiday
Philippine Christmas traditions run four months — from Ber-month carols to Simbang Gabi dawn masses, Noche Buena feasts, and parol lanterns lighting every street.

Is Tagalog Hard to Learn? An Honest Answer
Tagalog takes around 1,100 hours to reach professional proficiency. Here is what is easy, what is hard, and what to expect at 3, 6, and 12 months.