Kalabog

Kalabog is a Filipino term used to denote a loud noise or impact, and by extension a state of tumult or disorder. It is an onomatopoeic word that conveys abrupt, heavy sounds such as banging, crashing, or thunder, and it can be used to describe both physical sounds and lively commotion.

In everyday language, kalabog describes tangible noises—for example, the sound of a plate shattering or a door slamming shut. It is also used figuratively to depict scenes of uproar or crowd movement, such as a kalabog in a crowded marketplace or during a heated argument. The term appears in spoken Filipino as well as in journalism and narrative writing to convey intensity and immediacy.

Etymologically, kalabog is part of Tagalog phonology as a natural onomatopoeic word. Like many sound-words in Filipino, its precise historical roots are not always documented, but it functions as a lexicalized representation of a sound event.

Related terms in Filipino include kalampag, which also refers to banging or knocking sounds, though with slightly different usage or nuance. Kalabog can be preferred when the emphasis is on a strong, abrupt noise or the ensuing commotion.

See also: onomatopoeia in Filipino, kalampag, sound symbolism in Filipino language.