AdjectiveAdjectives

tambok in Bisaya

The Cebuano/Bisaya word tambok means “fat / chubby / plump”. Pronounced TAM-bok, it is used as an adjective across Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, and much of Mindanao. This guide covers what tambok means in Bisaya, how to pronounce it, when to use it, common example sentences, and how it compares to similar Cebuano words.

What Does “tambok” Mean in Bisaya?

In Bisaya (Cebuano), tambok translates to “fat / chubby / plump”. The word covers closely related meanings — fat, chubby, plump — the right one depends on context.

Bisaya word

tambok

English meaning

fat

Part of speech

Adjective

How to Pronounce “tambok”

TAM-bok

Capital letters mark the stressed syllable — say it louder and slightly longer.

Bisaya stress is phonemic, meaning the wrong stress can change a word's meaning or make it unrecognisable to native speakers. For tambok, put the main stress on the uppercase syllable in TAM-bok. Practice by saying it slowly first, then gradually speed up to natural conversational pace.

“tambok” in a Sentence — 1 Example

Tambok na ang iro namo, busog kaayo.

Our dog is already fat, very well-fed.

Related Bisaya Words

niwang

thin / skinny / slender

Busog na ko

I'm full

Frequently Asked Questions About “tambok”

What does "tambok" mean in Bisaya?

"tambok" means "fat / chubby / plump" in Bisaya (Cebuano). It is used as an adjective in the Adjectives category.

How do you pronounce "tambok" in Bisaya?

"tambok" is pronounced "TAM-bok" in Bisaya. Capital letters in the phonetic spelling mark the stressed syllable. Bisaya stress is generally strong and clear — say the highlighted syllable louder and slightly longer than the rest.

Is "tambok" Bisaya or Tagalog?

"tambok" is a Bisaya (Cebuano) word. Bisaya and Tagalog are separate languages — the same word can mean something different, or nothing at all, in the other language. "tambok" (fat) is used in the Cebuano-speaking regions: Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, and much of Mindanao. Some Bisaya words share a Tagalog cognate through shared Spanish borrowings, but "tambok" should be treated as Bisaya-specific unless verified in a Tagalog source.

Can "tambok" be used in formal Bisaya?

Yes, "tambok" is used in both everyday conversation and more formal settings. As an adjective, it appears frequently in spoken Bisaya across all registers.

How do I use "tambok" in a sentence?

Example: "Tambok na ang iro namo, busog kaayo." — "Our dog is already fat, very well-fed.".

Learn More Bisaya

Browse the full dictionary771+ Bisaya words A–Z Common Bisaya phrases300+ real-use expressions Practice flashcardsTest your vocabulary English → Bisaya translatorWord-by-word lookup

Browse Dictionary Practice Flashcards