ungas
/ʔuˈŋas/
The Tagalog word for dimwit is ungas.
The term is used to describe a person who is perceived as being deficient in intelligence. You may also encounter the phrase Tanga ka ba? to ask, "Are you stupid?"
Meaning: person who is deficient in intelligence (noun)
Which one should you use?
Engot serves as an informal equivalent. To add emphasis to the level of someone's foolishness, you can use the reduplicated form Tanga-tanga, which repeats the word tanga.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʔuˈŋas/
Did you know?
- In some regional Tagalog dialects, the word ungas can actually be used as a playful nickname between very close friends, completely stripping away its insulting sting.
- While tanga is a common insult, using it in a professional setting is a much more severe social transgression than it would be in many Western English-speaking cultures.
- In Tagalog, the repetition of a word like tanga to create tanga-tanga does not just add emphasis, but can shift the meaning from a permanent trait to a temporary state of being clumsy or absent-minded.
Examples in context
- Ang pagkabobong iyan ay nababanggit na hindi lang sa paaralan kundi sa maraming aspeto ng buhay.That dimwittedness is mentioned not only in school but in many aspects of life.
- Ang engot mo talaga!You're such a dimwit!
- Bakit ganyan ka mag-isip, tanga ka ba?Why do you think that way, are you stupid?
- 'Di ko na talaga siya maintindihan, ulol na 'yan.I really can't understand him/her anymore, that dimwit/insane person.
- Isang ungas ang nakita ko sa kanto.I saw a dimwit at the corner.
- Huwag kang makinig sa ungas na iyon.Don't listen to that dimwit.
- Masyado siyang ungas para sa trabahong ito.He is too much of a dimwit for this job.
Example conversation
Jasmine and Mark are talking about a clumsy person at their office.
- JasmineAng ungas na iyon ay nakabasag ng baso.That dimwit broke a glass.
- MarkSeryoso ba? Ang laking ungas talaga niya.Are you serious? He is such a dimwit.
- JasmineKailangan niyang mag-ingat sa mga gamit.He needs to be careful with the equipment.
- MarkOo, nakakainis siya.Yes, he is annoying.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ungas, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
