wala
/waˈlaʔ/
The Tagalog word for "ola" is wala.
wala is a phrase used to indicate that something is missing or does not exist.
How do you pronounce it?
/waˈlaʔ/
Did you know?
- The root of wala is also found in the Kapampangan word uala, which surprisingly means a 'voyage to the sea or deep bay'.
- In Tagalog, saying wala can sometimes be used to politely decline an offer, effectively saying 'there is nothing [for me to take]'.
- The word wala can be used to describe a person who is 'lost' or 'gone', extending the concept of non-existence to a physical state of being missing.
Examples in context
- Wala kaming naririnig na ingay.We do not hear any noise.
Example conversation
Jasmine and Mark are looking for a remote control in the living room.
- JasmineMark, nasaan ang remote?Mark, where is the remote?
- MarkWala rito sa sofa.It's not here on the sofa.
- JasmineNawala ba ito?Is it lost?
- MarkBaka wala talaga rito.Maybe it's really not here.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry wala, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries wala, CC BY-SA 4.0.
