butiki
/butiˈkiʔ/
The English word "lizard" is butiki in Filipino.
butiki is a noun meaning reptile. In informal settings, it is sometimes used as a catch-all term for various small lizards, which generally translates to gecko.
Meaning: reptile (noun)
Which one should you use?
While butiki refers to small common lizards, the word tuko is used specifically for the much larger, loud-calling tokay gecko.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make butiki plural, add the marker mga before the word. As a noun, butiki does not change its spelling based on gender, as Filipino nouns are gender-neutral.
How do you pronounce it?
/butiˈkiʔ/
Did you know?
- In Filipino folk beliefs, the tuko is often associated with omens of death if its call is heard at an unexpected time or place.
- In some rural areas, the sudden appearance of a butiki on a wall during a conversation is jokingly interpreted as a sign that someone is lying.
- Unlike the generic butiki, the tuko is highly prized in traditional medicine and is sometimes illegally traded for its supposed healing properties.
Examples in context
- Kapag pinutol mo ang buntot ng isang butiki, tutubo ito uli.If you cut the tail off of a lizard, it will grow back.This sentence is useful for describing how a butiki can regrow its tail.Tatoeba #11774349 by qwertzu, translation #851130 by papabear
- Ang aking kaibigang si Bratislav ay naniniwala sa Amerindiyong si Robert Morning Sky na nagteoryang ang mga nilalang sa ibang mga mundo ay may tendensiyang mag-ebolusyong magkaroon ng hugis humanoyde, habang papalapit sila sa matalinong damdamin, maging sila ay parang unggoy, parang butiki, parang insekto, parang halaman, parang halamang-singaw, at iba pa.My friend Bratislav believes the Amerindian, Robert Morning Sky, who theorizes that creatures on other worlds will tend to evolve to have humanoid shape, as they approach sentience, be they apelike, lizard-like, insect-like, plant-like, fungus-like, etc.This sentence uses butiki to describe a variety of different evolutionary forms.Tatoeba #11669894 by nonong, translation #10587808 by nonong
- Bakit may limang binti ang butiking ito?Why does this lizard have five legs?This sentence is useful for asking a question about a specific butiki.Tatoeba #2771540 by mervert1, translation #2771556 by mervert1
- Ang bayawak na iyan ay malaki!That monitor lizard is huge!
- Madaming butiki dito!There are a lot of lizards here!
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maria and Jose are in the living room.
- MariaJose, tingnan mo yung butiki sa dingding!Jose, look at the lizard on the wall!
- JoseNasaan? Hindi ko siya makita.Where? I can't see it.
- MariaNagtago na yata yung butiki sa likod ng picture.I think the lizard hid behind the picture.
- JoseHayaan mo na siya, Maria.Just leave it alone, Maria.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lizard” translations and entries butiki, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
