uod
/ˈʔuʔod/
The Tagalog word for maggot is uod.
uod refers to the larva of a dipterous insect that feeds on decomposing organic matter.
Meaning: dipterous insect's larva that eats decomposing organic matter (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʔuʔod/
Did you know?
- In some Philippine cultural contexts, the appearance of uod on a piece of fruit is used as a colloquial signal that the fruit is perfectly ripe and sweet.
- The word 'uod' shares a common ancestor with the Malagasy word olitra, meaning 'larva', showing the linguistic connection between the Philippines and Madagascar.
- If you were looking for a 'caterpillar' specifically, a Filipino might still use uod, even though 'caterpillar' and 'maggot' are biologically distinct.
Examples in context
- Ang basura ay puno ng uod.The garbage is full of maggots.
- Maraming uod sa basurang ito.There are many maggots in this trash.
- May nakita akong uod sa karne.I saw a maggot in the meat.
- Ang uod ay kumakain ng nabubulok na bagay.The maggot eats decomposing matter.
Example conversation
Jose and Maria are inspecting the compost bin in the garden.
- JoseMaria, tingnan mo ang uod sa lupa.Maria, look at the maggot in the soil.
- MariaNaku, nakakadiri ang mga uod na iyan.Oh, those maggots are disgusting.
- JoseNormal lang ang uod sa compost.Maggots are normal in compost.
- MariaAyaw ko pa rin silang hawakan, Jose.I still don't want to touch them, Jose.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “maggot” translations and entries uod, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries uod, CC BY-SA 4.0.
