Kulog

Kulog is the Tagalog word for thunder, the sound produced by a lightning discharge during a storm. In everyday Filipino, kulog is used as a noun to denote the audible phenomenon and is common in weather reports, storytelling, and conversation. It is distinct from kidlat, which denotes lightning.

Thunder is a shock wave created when a lightning bolt rapidly heats and expands the surrounding air. The resulting sound is heard after the flash is seen, with a delay that depends on distance and atmospheric conditions. Under typical conditions, sound travels about 343 meters per second, so kulog from a distant strike may take several seconds to be heard. The qualities of kulog—such as its volume, rumbling or sharp crack, and duration—vary with storm intensity and the path of the sound through the atmosphere.

Linguistically, kulog is a native Tagalog term and forms part of the broader Philippine lexicon for weather phenomena. It appears in various verb forms and phrases describing thunderous action, reflecting its regular use in describing weather patterns, storms, and rain onset. In cultural contexts, kulog is associated with storms and dramatic scenes in literature and media, and it often features in everyday language as a reminder of changing weather or approaching rain.