Ways to say it
| Tagalog | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| baliw | /baˈliw/ (Standard Tagalog) /ˈbaliw/ (Standard Tagalog) |
literally |
| loko | /ˈloko/ (Standard Tagalog) |
The term baliw is used to describe someone who is insane or mentally deranged. In informal contexts, other words might be used to describe different states: sabog refers to someone acting erratically due to substance abuse, while bangag describes someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol causing irrational behavior.
Which one should you use?
While baliw refers to actual insanity, loko is used to describe someone acting foolishly, trickery or being a 'joker' in a derogatory way.
How does it change in a sentence?
The root word can change to describe different stages of the condition: nababaliw describes the process of becoming or going crazy, and mababaliw is the future aspect, used to indicate that someone will go crazy.
How do you pronounce it?
/baˈliw/
Did you know?
- While baliw describes a person's mental state, its ancient roots actually mean 'to return'.
- In modern slang, the word sabog literally translates to 'exploded' or 'scattered', used to describe someone acting erratic.
- The word loko can be used affectionately between friends to mean 'silly' or 'a prankster' despite its dictionary definition as derogatory.
Examples in context
- Baliw si Tom, hindi ba?Tom is crazy, isn't he?This sentence is useful for asking for confirmation about someone's state using baliw.Tatoeba #11328709 by qwertzu, translation #3417259 by CK
- Baliw si Suzan.Suzan is crazy.This sentence is a simple way to state that someone is baliw.Tatoeba #4491624 by kanlaon, translation #4491145 by carlosalberto
- "Nababaliw na yata ako." "Hindi naman. Hindi iniisip ng mga baliw na nababaliw na sila. Ang nasa isip nila, tumatalino sila.""I think I'm going crazy." "No, you aren't. Crazy people don't think they're going crazy. They think they're getting smarter."This dialogue shows the use of baliw and its aspectual form nababaliw to discuss the sensation of going crazy.Tatoeba #11570163 by qwertzu, translation #9872688 by soliloquist
- Ang kapatid ko ay sira ang ulo kapag natapat sa traffic.My sibling gets crazy when caught in traffic.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jasmine and Ricardo are talking about a strange person they saw.
- JasmineNakita mo ba 'yong lalaki? Baliw yata siya.Did you see that man? I think he's crazy.
- RicardoOo, nakakatakot nga ang ginawa niya.Yes, what he did was actually scary.
- JasmineSana ay may tumulong sa kanya.I hope someone helps him.
- RicardoTama, kailangan niya ng doktor.Right, he needs a doctor.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “crazy” translations and entries baliw, loko, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries baliw, loko, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
