wangwang
wangwáng with stress marks
sound of a car siren
Usage Note
Wangwang is an onomatopoeic word imitating the blare of a siren or horn. It gained wide public attention during the Aquino administration's anti-wangwang campaign, which sought to stop politicians and government officials from illegally using sirens to cut through traffic — making the word itself a symbol of privilege abuse and anti-corruption sentiment.
Examples
" Narinig ko ang wangwang. "
Natural Translation
I heard the siren.
Literal Translation
Heard I the siren.
" Ipinagbawal ng pamahalaan ang paggamit ng wangwang ng mga opisyal. "
Natural Translation
The government banned officials from using sirens.
Literal Translation
Banned the government the use of-the siren of-the officials.
" Tuwing may dumadaang ambulansya, nag-iingay ang wangwang para magbigay-daan ang mga sasakyan sa kalsada. "
Natural Translation
Whenever an ambulance passes, the siren blares so that the vehicles on the road give way.
Literal Translation
Every there-is passing ambulance, making-noise the siren so give-way the plural vehicle on road.
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.
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.
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.
Tagalog vs Filipino: What's the Difference & Which to Learn
Tagalog and Filipino aren't the same language — but they overlap almost completely. Here's the real difference and which one you should actually learn.
Languages of the Philippines: Tagalog, Cebuano, and More
Languages of the Philippines: one national language (Filipino) plus 180+ regional languages. Here's who speaks what, where, and why it matters to you.