Skip to content

ulila

orphan

noun adjective u-LI-la Native origin Less Common

Usage Note

Ulila primarily refers to an orphan, but it is often used figuratively to describe someone who is profoundly alone or bereft of family. In Filipino culture, the term carries a strong sense of sympathy and is frequently used in literature and drama to evoke a feeling of deep solitude.

Examples

Beginner

" Ulila siya sa magulang. "

Natural Translation

He has no parents.

Literal Translation

Orphan he of parents.

Intermediate

" Siya ay isang ulila. "

Natural Translation

He/she is an orphan.

Literal Translation

He/she is a orphan.

Advanced

" Bata pa siyang naulila, ngunit hindi siya nawalan ng pag-asa dahil inampon siya ng mabait na pamilya. "

Natural Translation

He was orphaned while still young, but he did not lose hope because a kind family adopted him.

Literal Translation

Young still he was-orphaned, but not he lost of hope because adopted him by kind family.

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

Derived Words

Actor Focus Verbs

Object Focus Verbs

Explore Tagalog by topic

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