Ways to say it
| Tagalog | IPA |
|---|---|
| kapatid na lalaki | /kapaˈtid na laˈlaki/ (Standard Tagalog, word by word) |
| kuya | /ˈkuja/ (Standard Tagalog) |
| totoy | /ˈtotoj/ (Standard Tagalog) |
| diko | /ˈdiko/ (Standard Tagalog) |
| sangko | /saŋˈko/ (Standard Tagalog) /ˈsaŋko/ (Standard Tagalog) |
| siko | /ˈsiko/ /siˈko/ |
Tagalog uses different terms to identify a brother depending on their age and the social context. While kapatid na lalaki is a neutral way to describe a male sibling, other terms like kuya or totoy specify whether the brother is older or younger.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase kapatid na lalaki is composed of kapatid, meaning sibling and lalaki, meaning male or man.
Which one should you use?
Kapatid na lalaki is a neutral term for a male sibling. In contrast, kuya specifically refers to an older brother or an older male sibling. Conversely, totoy is used to refer to a younger brother or a young boy, providing a contrast to the seniority implied by kuya.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Kapatid na lalaki is the formal way to say male sibling or brother. Kuya is an informal term that is nonetheless used to address an older brother in a respectful manner. The term tol is a slang abbreviation of the word kapatid used to address a male friend or brother.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The terms diko and sangko are dialectal forms. Kuya is also noted as a dialectal term.
How do you pronounce it?
/kapaˈtid na laˈlaki/
When do people say it?
In Filipino culture, it is common to address older brothers or older male peers using the term kuya as a sign of respect.
Did you know?
- The word kapatid is formed from patid, which means 'to sever' or 'to cut'.
- Addressing an older brother simply by his name without using kuya can be seen as disrespectful or overly blunt in traditional Filipino culture.
Examples in context
- Nasaan ang kuya mo?Where's your older brother?This sentence is useful for asking about someone's older brother using kuya.Tatoeba #10027520 by mar_vin_kaiser, translation #9821235 by CK
- Ihahatid ka ng kuya ko.My brother will take you home.This sentence is useful for stating that a brother will perform an action using kuya.Tatoeba #11468865 by qwertzu, translation #5190621 by CK
- Naging pari ang kuya ko.My brother has become a priest.This sentence is useful for describing a brother's profession using kuya.Tatoeba #11476719 by qwertzu, translation #649936 by Zifre
- Ako'y may kapatid na lalakiI have a brother
- Kuya, puwede bang humingi ng tulong?Brother, can I ask for your help?
- Kamusta, bro? Tara na!What's up, bro? Let's go!
- O, tol, anong balita?Hey, bro, what's the news?
- Siya ang aking kapatid na lalakiHe is my brother
- Oy, bro, sama ka sa gimik!Hey, bro, come join us for a night out!
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jose and Maria are talking about their families.
- JoseMay kapatid ka ba na lalaki?Do you have a brother?
- MariaOo, may isa akong kapatid na lalaki.Yes, I have one brother.
- JoseIlang taon na siya?How old is he?
- MariaSampung taon na ang kapatid na lalaki ko.My brother is ten years old.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brother” translations and entries kuya, totoy, diko, sangko, siko, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (kapatid, na, lalaki) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kapatid, kuya, lalaki, na, totoy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
Thank you for your help and dedication in this regard.