How to Say “Goat” in Ilocano

By Gregory Jackson • Updated October 2, 2026

kalding

/kalˈdiŋ/

The Ilocano word for goat is kalding.

kalding is used to refer to the animal (noun).

Meaning: animal (noun)

How do you pronounce it?

/kalˈdiŋ/

Did you know?

In Ilocano culture, goats are often kept as 'living savings accounts' because they are easy to sell quickly for cash when a family needs money.
In the Philippines, the meat of a kalding is used to make a dish called 'papaitan', which is prized for its intense bitter flavor.
The word kalding is a loanword from the Spanish 'cabrito', which refers to a young goat.

Examples in context

Adda maysa a kalding iti sadiay.
There is a goat over there.
Napintas dayta a kalding.
That goat is beautiful.

Example conversation

Maria and Ricardo are visiting a farm.

Maria

見て, Ricardo! Adda kalding ditoy.
Look, Ricardo! There is a goat here.
Ricardo

Wen, Maria. Naalas ti kalding.
Yes, Maria. The goat is small.
Maria

Mabalin kadi ti mangpakan kenkuana?
Is it possible to feed it?
Ricardo

Wen, mabalin.
Yes, you can.

Sources

Wiktionary, “goat” translations and entries kalding, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.

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About The Author

Gregory Jackson

Kumusta! I'm Gregory, your friendly guide to the Filipino language, Tagalog. My passion for languages, especially Tagalog, propels me into writing posts filled with formal and informal ways of expressing yourself in this vibrant language. From everyday greetings like "Good Evening", to unusual phrases such as "pak" or "nga", I've got you covered! I also have an obsession with food which often reflects in my posts — from "cereal" to "spaghetti", expect a dash of yummy in my content. I also write about Ilocano, the language of northern Luzon, sharing how everyday words are said in it. Mabuhay!

Gregory JacksonHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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