buhol-buhol
The Tagalog word for tangled is buhol-buhol.
buhol-buhol is an adjective used to describe things that are twisted together untidily or are matted. If you want to describe the act of getting involved or caught up in a complex situation, the formal term Nasasangkot is used.
Meaning: wisted together untidily, matted (adj)
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the state of being tangled in a sentence, you can use the verb form magkabuhol-buhol.
Did you know?
- The phrase nagkabuhol-buhol ang dila describes someone who is stuttering due to nervousness. It literally means the person's 'tongue' has become 'tangled' or 'knotted'.
- Tagalog distinguishes between a single knot buhol and a tangled mess buhol-buhol, but it uses a completely different root word gusot for wrinkled clothes or crumpled paper.
- The root word buhol means 'knot', and doubling it to buhol-buhol indicates a repetitive or chaotic state. This grammatical process is called reduplication and is used in Tagalog to intensify a quality or describe a plurality of objects.
Examples in context
- Buhol-buhol ang buhok niya.Her hair is tangled.
- Buhol-buhol ang buhok ng bata.The child's hair is tangled.
- Buhol-buhol ang mga wire sa likod ng TV.The wires behind the TV are tangled.
- Masyadong buhol-buhol ang mga tali.The ropes are too tangled.
Example conversation
Juan is trying to untangle Christmas lights in the living room.
- ChristinaJuan, bakit buhol-buhol ang mga ilaw?Juan, why are the lights tangled?
- JuanHindi ko alam, Christina. Napakagulo nito.I don't know, Christina. This is so messy.
- ChristinaTulungan kita para hindi na buhol-buhol.I will help you so they won't be tangled anymore.
- JuanSalamat, malaking tulong iyan.Thank you, that is a big help.
