punong

Punong is a Filipino word that denotes leadership or prominence, meaning “head” or “chief.” It occurs as a standalone noun and as part of compound terms. In local government, punong barangay is the official title for the elected head of a barangay, the smallest administrative unit in the Philippines. In everyday use, punong kahoy refers to the upper or top part of a tree, commonly translated as the treetop.

The term also appears in geography and naming within the Philippines. Punong may be used as a locality name or as part of a place name in various provinces, reflecting historical associations with leadership, position, or geographic prominence. It can likewise function as a surname in Filipino communities.

Etymologywise, punong derives from the Tagalog root punò, meaning head, with the affix -ng forming a modifier that conveys leadership or primacy. The word's usage across language and places illustrates how a single root related to prominence can appear in government titles, descriptive phrases, and toponyms in the Filipino-speaking world.