From root: ulila
Conjugations
Past (Completed)
nangulila
na-ngu-LI-la
felt lonely
Present (Incomplete)
nangungulila
na-ngu-ngu-LI-la
feeling lonely
Future (Contemplated)
mangungulila
ma-ngu-ngu-LI-la
will feel lonely
Usage Note
Mangulila is used when someone experiences a deep sense of loneliness or longing, often stemming from the loss or absence of a loved one. It conveys a more profound and emotional state than simply being sad, frequently appearing in literary or formal contexts.
Examples
" Mangungulila ako sa iyo. "
Natural Translation
I will feel lonely without you.
Literal Translation
Will-feel-lonely I for you.
" Nagsimula na siyang mangulila sa kanyang ina. "
Natural Translation
He has started to miss his mother.
Literal Translation
Started already he to feel lonely for his mother.
" Kahit lumipas na ang maraming taon, hindi pa rin tumitigil siyang mangulila sa yumaong kanyang ama. "
Natural Translation
Even though many years have passed, he still has not stopped longing for his late father.
Literal Translation
Even passed already the many years, not yet still stops he to-feel-lonely for departed his father.
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 workWord family
ulila has 4 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.
How to Say "I Love You" in Tagalog: Phrases & Meaning
Learn how to say I love you in Tagalog. Mahal kita, Iniibig kita, and Filipino terms of endearment for partners, family, and friends — with cultural notes.
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.
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.
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.