tiBOK

Tibok is a Filipino term that most commonly refers to the heartbeat or pulse of a living being. In everyday speech, tibok ng puso describes the beating of the heart, and in medical contexts it may be used to talk about a patient’s pulse or cardiovascular status. Beyond its literal sense, tibok can also convey rhythm or tempo in a broader metaphorical sense.

In addition to referring to physical heartbeat, tibok is widely employed in literature, music, and everyday expressions to signify life, vitality, or emotional intensity. The phrase tibok ng puso is often used to express feelings such as love, longing, or anxiety, emphasizing inner emotion as something felt deeply and personally. Writers and songwriters may use tibok to evoke immediacy, urgency, or a soulful cadence.

Phonetically, tibok is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable, as ti-BOK. The word belongs to Tagalog, the basis of the Filipino language, and related expressions of heartbeat or pulse appear across Philippine languages, reflecting a common cultural emphasis on bodily sensation as a source of meaning.

See also: heartbeat, pulse, cardiac cycle, rhythm.