utak-biya
stupid or slow-witted
From root: utak
Usage Note
Utak-biya is a derogatory idiom comparing a person's brain to that of a small fish. It is used to insult someone's intelligence or lack of common sense.
Examples
" Huwag kang maging utak-biya. "
Natural Translation
Don't be dim-witted.
Literal Translation
Don't you be slow-witted.
" Huwag kang maging utak-biya sa klase. "
Natural Translation
Don't be slow-witted in class.
Literal Translation
Don't you be slow-witted in class.
" Hindi siya utak-biya gaya ng akala mo, kundi matalino lamang na hindi nagpapakita ng kanyang kakayahan. "
Natural Translation
He is not slow-witted as you think, but rather intelligent and simply does not show off his ability.
Literal Translation
Not he slow-witted like of thought your, but intelligent only that not shows of his ability.
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
utak has 5 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.
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.
May vs Mayroon vs Meron: Have & There Is
May vs mayroon in Tagalog finally made simple: one rule decides which to use, plus how meron and wala fit the same have and there-is family.
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.
Tagalog Numbers 1-100: Counting, Time & Money Explained
Learn Tagalog numbers 1-100 and beyond. Master both native and Spanish-derived counting systems, plus telling time, reading prices, and ordinals.