Tunog

Tunog is the Tagalog and other Philippine languages word for “sound” or “noise.” It is a common noun that refers to any auditory stimulus produced by vibration of matter. In standard Filipino dictionaries, tunog is defined as “the audible perception of the vibration of an object.” The term is used broadly, from natural sounds such as the honk of a car or the chirping of birds to human-made noises like music and speech.

The etymology of tunog is rooted in Proto‑Austronesian *tuno- or *tuno-, which is associated with the act of producing sound or singing. Many Philippine languages that share this root use similar terms. For instance, in Cebuano tunog also means sound, and in Taglish it is sometimes humorously paired with the word tugon, meaning “reply,” creating the popular meme “tunog tugon.” The word appears in everyday speech and literature, often combined with adjectives to describe texture or quality, such as tunog malumanay (soft sound) or tunog matapang (strong sound).

In Filipino literature, tunog often symbolizes atmosphere or emotion. Poets use it to evoke specific vibrational qualities in scenes, while writers describing urban noise might combine it with words like kumikislap (shimmering) for a cityscape. In popular culture it is also used as a title: “Tunog ng Pag-ibig” is the name of a widely known Filipino song that reflects the theme of love through sound.

The word is not bound to any particular frequency range; it covers everything from bass thuds to high-frequency whistles. Technical terms such as frequency, amplitude, or decibel are often used in scientific or engineering contexts, but the everyday Filipino speaker will simply refer to these phenomena as tunog. In radio and media broadcasting, tunog also appears in the term “tunog na kabel” for “audio cable.” Overall, tunog remains an integral part of everyday Filipino expression, conveying a simple yet essential sensory experience.