bili
/biˈli/
bili is the Tagalog word for the act of buying or purchasing something.
The word bili functions as the root for the concept of buying or purchasing. When you use it as a verb, it is generally followed by the preposition ng before the item being purchased. To express that you are not buying something, place the word hindi before the verb.
How does it change in a sentence?
While bili is the root, it is commonly used with affixes to change its meaning and tense. Use the actor focus affix -um- to form bumili, which means 'to buy' or 'bought'. The form bibili is the future tense of bumili, meaning 'will buy' and bumibili is the progressive aspect, meaning 'is buying'. If the thing being bought is the focus of the sentence, use the object-focus version binili, which means 'bought'.
How do you pronounce it?
/biˈli/
Did you know?
- Filipinos use the phrase bili ng oras idiomatically to mean stalling or wasting time, rather than the literal physical act of purchasing time.
- In the Philippines, the act of bili is deeply connected to the social practice of tawad, where buyers negotiate and haggle for a lower price before finalizing a purchase.
- The word bili shares a common ancestor with the Malay word beli, both tracing back to the prehistoric Proto-Austronesian root *bəli.
Examples in context
- Paki-bili ng kape para sa pulong bukas, pakisama na rin ang mga kakanin.Please buy coffee for tomorrow's meeting, and also include some pastries.
- Pabili naman ng tinapay sa tindahan, pakisabay na rin ng mantikilya.Can you please buy some bread from the store, and also get some butter?
- Bumili ako ng libroI bought a book
- Bibili ako ng mansanas bukasI will buy apples tomorrow
- Hindi ko pa nabibili ang regalo para sa kanyaI haven't bought the gift for him/her yet
- Bibili ka ng ticketYou will buy a ticket
- Bumili kami ng mga damitWe bought clothes
- Hindi ako bibili ng kapeI will not buy coffee
- Hindi pa ako bumibili ng bagong damitI am not yet buying new clothes
- Bumili ako ng tinapay.I bought bread.
Example conversation
Juan and Maria are at a local market.
- JuanMaria, bili tayo ng mangga.Maria, let's buy some mangoes.
- MariaSige, mukhang matamis ang mga ito.Okay, these look sweet.
- JuanIlan ang gusto mong bili?How many do you want to buy?
- MariaKuhanin mo na ng lima.Just get five of them.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry bili, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bili, CC BY-SA 4.0.
