Negative Character Traits in Tagalog
Learn the most common negative character traits in Tagalog with clear English meanings, explained in a way that actually feels natural and easy to use. This lesson is ideal for Filipino language learners, students, writers, or anyone who needs the right Tagalog words to describe personality in everyday situations.
You’ll see how to express traits like selfishness, laziness, arrogance, stubbornness, and other negative behaviors in real conversations or writing. Each term is presented in practical, everyday context so you can describe actions, emotions, and personality clearly and accurately in Tagalog.
With this list, you can build stronger Filipino vocabulary for personal descriptions, improve your phrasing in stories or conversations, and understand how native speakers talk about negative traits in a natural, realistic way.
Watch this Tagalog lesson and learn common negative personality and character traits in Filipino with clear English translations and proper pronunciation. This video introduces useful Filipino words to describe unfavorable qualities, such as tamad (lazy), mayabang (arrogant), mainitin ang ulo (short-tempered), madamot (selfish), and more, explained in a beginner-friendly way.
List of Tagalog Words for Bad Attitudes and Behavior
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
| salbahe | unkind |
| masama | evil |
| tamad | lazy |
| sinungaling | dishonest / liar |
| bastos | rude / disrespectful |
| maramot | selfish |
| makasarili | self-centered |
| bobo | unintelligent |
| mayabang | boastful |
| mapagmataas | arrogant |
| matapobre | condescending |
| matakaw | greedy |
| pabaya | negligent |
| makakalimutin | forgetful |
| iresponsable | irresponsible |
| magulo | disorganized |
| kuripot | stingy |
| mahina | weak |
| marupok | weak-willed |
| madaldal | talkative |
| mainitin ang ulo | short-tempered |
| manloloko | deceitful |
| duwag | coward |
| mahina ang loob | lacks courage |
Take the short quiz below and see how many Filipino words for bad attitudes you remember.
| Ang bastos ng taxi driver kanina. |
| (The taxi driver was so rude earlier.) |
| Tamad ang ate ko, lagi lang nakahiga. |
| (My sister is lazy and just lies around.) |
| Salbahe ‘yung anak ni Marnel. |
| (Marnel’s son is mean.) |
| Madaldal siya kahit nasa library. |
| (She’s talkative even in the library.) |
| Sinungaling ang taong laging may palusot. |
| (A person who always makes excuses is a liar.) |
| Madamot siya kahit na sagana ang buhay niya. |
| (He’s selfish even though he has a comfortable life.) |
| Mayabang siya kahit wala pa namang nararating. |
| (He’s arrogant even though he hasn’t achieved much yet.) |
Do you know the Tagalog words for negative character traits? Test your knowledge with this quiz! From being lazy to being rude, try to say the correct Filipino adjective before clicking the toggle to check your answer. This is a great way to expand your Tagalog vocabulary for describing undesirable traits!
1. What do you call someone who enjoys being mean, disobedient, or causes trouble on purpose?
Answer: salbahe (mean)
2. What do you call someone who always brags, shows off, and thinks they’re better than everyone else?
Answer: mayabang (boastful)
3. What is the word for a person who avoids doing work, lacks motivation, and prefers to just rest all the time?
Answer: tamad (lazy)
4. What do you call someone who speaks or acts without manners and often disrespects others?
Answer: bastos (rude)
5. What is the Tagalog word for a person who doesn’t like sharing and keeps everything for themselves?
Answer: madamot (selfish)
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