ungal
ungál with stress marks
howl or cry of an animal
Usage Note
Ungal describes the loud, mournful howl or cry of an animal — most commonly a dog or wolf. As a verb it means to howl or cry out. Colloquially it is also applied to a person wailing dramatically or making excessive noise when crying. In rural settings, a dog's ungal at night is considered an omen of death in traditional Filipino superstition.
Examples
" Umungal ang aso kagabi. "
Natural Translation
The dog howled last night.
Literal Translation
Howled the dog last-night.
" Malakas ang ungal ng aso sa gabi. "
Natural Translation
The howl of the dog is loud at night.
Literal Translation
Loud the howl of dog in night.
" Naniniwala ang lola ko na kapag umungal ang aso sa hatinggabi, may darating na masamang balita sa pamilya. "
Natural Translation
My grandmother believes that when a dog howls at midnight, bad news will come to the family.
Literal Translation
Believes the grandmother my that when howls the dog at midnight, there-is coming bad news to-the family.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workActor Focus Verbs
Related Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.

Tagalog Question Words: Ano, Sino, Saan & More
Tagalog question words like ano, sino, and saan need the right frame to work. Learn the ang-vs-pronoun rule, confusable pairs, and the ba particle with audio.

Na vs -ng in Tagalog: The Linker Rule Made Simple
When do you use na vs -ng in Tagalog? One simple rule, with clear examples, memory tips, and common mistakes explained for English-speaking beginners.

Ang, Ng, Sa: The 3 Tagalog Case Markers Explained
Ang, ng, sa are the three Tagalog case markers every noun takes. Learn what each does, the personal forms si/ni/kay, plurals with mga, and clear examples.

Po and Opo in Tagalog: Where to Put Them Right
Po and opo confuse learners — but placement follows one rule. Where po goes in a sentence, why it's opo not 'oo po', and the pronoun shift to learn.