tungaw
tungáw with stress marks
mite
Usage Note
Tungaw refers to mites — tiny arachnid parasites that infest skin, crops, or stored goods. The word is used in both agricultural contexts (crop mites) and personal hygiene discussions (skin mites causing itching). It is commonly heard when discussing rashes or infestations in children.
Examples
" May tungaw ang manok. "
Natural Translation
The chicken has mites.
Literal Translation
Has mite the chicken.
" May kagat ng tungaw ang aking binti. "
Natural Translation
My leg has a bite from a mite.
Literal Translation
Has bite of mite the my leg.
" Kailangang linisin nang mabuti ang kulungan ng manok upang hindi dumami ang tungaw na nagpapakati sa mga ibon. "
Natural Translation
The chicken coop must be cleaned thoroughly so the mites that make the birds itch don't multiply.
Literal Translation
Need to-clean well the coop of chicken so not multiply the mite that causing-itch to the birds.
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.
Philippines Geography for Learners: Islands & Language
Philippines geography for Tagalog learners: 7,641 islands, three island groups, and the Southern Luzon heartland where the Tagalog language was born.
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.
Filipino Food: 12 Essential Dishes (With Tagalog Names)
Filipino food, from adobo to halo-halo: learn the Tagalog names, pronunciations, and ingredients behind 12 dishes you'll want to try on your first trip.
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.