puti
/puˈtiʔ/
The Tagalog word for white is puti.
puti is used as a noun to refer to the color white. It can also be used as an adjective to describe something as being of or relating to Caucasians. Additionally, the word can serve as an adjective meaning bright and colourless.
Meaning: color (noun)
Which one should you use?
While puti can function as the noun for the color white, the form maputi is the more common way to describe the quality of being white.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to use a descriptive adjective meaning 'to be white', the prefix ma- is often added to puti to form maputi.
How do you pronounce it?
/puˈtiʔ/
Did you know?
- The word puti can be used in the phrase puting-puti, which sometimes describes a state of extreme pallor or shock. In this context, it describes a person looking ghostly rather than just the color white.
- In the Philippines, describing someone as maputi often refers to having fair or light skin rather than the literal color of an object. This is a common cultural compliment rooted in historical colonial preferences for lighter complexions.
- The Tagalog word puti is a cognate of the Malay word putih. Both languages descended from the same Proto-Malayo-Polynesian ancestor, showing a prehistoric linguistic link across Southeast Asia.
Examples in context
- Puti ang aso ko.My dog is white.This sentence is useful for saying that a dog is the color puti.Tatoeba #8635179 by artemio, translation #250774 by CK
- Puti ang mga aso ko.My dogs are white.This sentence is useful for saying that multiple dogs are the color puti.Tatoeba #8635180 by artemio, translation #250777 by CK
- Pula at puti ang kumot.The blanket is red and white.This sentence is useful for describing a blanket that is both red and puti.Tatoeba #6487362 by nonong, translation #8748749 by fishda
- Ang pader ay putî.The wall is white.
- 37 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Angela and Ricardo are discussing what color to paint a wall.
- AngelaGusto ko ng puti para sa pader.I want white for the wall.
- RicardoMasyado bang maliwanag ang puti?Is white too bright?
- AngelaHindi, malinis tingnan ang puti.No, white looks clean.
- RicardoSige, puti na lang ang piliin natin.Alright, let's just choose white.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “white” translations and entries puti, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries puti, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
