Kawalay

absence; lacknoun / nominal form

Pronunciation

kah-WAH-lie

Root and affixes

Kawalay is formed from wala, which expresses there is none, nothing, or absence. With ka-, it can nominalize the idea of lack or absence.

Meaning and usage notes

Use kawalay for absence as lack or deficiency: absence of support, money, peace, or resources. For absence from class, work, or a meeting, absensya or wala siya may sound more natural.