kuya
/ˈkuja/
The Tagalog word for "older brother" is kuya.
kuya is used to refer to an older brother. In casual settings, it can also be used as a standalone vocative to address a male stranger, such as a driver or a shopkeeper, as a way to show politeness.
Meaning: single-word translations (noun)
Which one should you use?
While kuya refers to an older brother, the term ate is the equivalent honorific used for an older sister.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the term plural, the marker mga is placed before the word to form mga kuya.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkuja/
Did you know?
- The word kuya shares a linguistic root with the Hokkien Chinese term ko-iá, meaning 'older brother'.
- While kuya is used for older brothers, calling your own older brother by his first name without the title is often considered disrespectful in traditional households.
- Calling a male professional, like a doctor or lawyer, kuya is generally avoided as it may be seen as too casual or a demotion of their professional status.
Examples in context
- Nasaan ang kuya mo?Where's your older brother?This sentence is useful for asking about the location of someone's kuya.Tatoeba #10027520 by mar_vin_kaiser, translation #9821235 by CK
- Mukha kang mas bata kaysa sa kuya mo.You look younger than your older brother.This sentence is useful for comparing someone's appearance to their kuya.Tatoeba #11797338 by qwertzu, translation #9777945 by helloroto
- Kamukhang-kamukha ni Tom ang kuya niya.Tom looks a lot like his older brother.This sentence is useful for describing a physical resemblance to a kuya.Tatoeba #11963084 by qwertzu, translation #5510725 by CK
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mark and Angela are talking about their family at a cafe.
- MarkMay kasama ka ba?Are you with someone?
- AngelaOo, kasama ko ang kuya ko.Yes, I am with my older brother.
- MarkAh, kaya pala masaya ka.Ah, that's why you're happy.
- AngelaOo, mabait talaga siya.Yes, he is really kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “older brother” translations and entries kuya, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kuya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
