The Maranao people of the Philippines are known for their rich culture, colorful traditions, and deep love for wisdom. One of their most treasured traditions is the art of riddles. Maranao riddles are not just for fun; they are ways of passing knowledge, teaching values, and sharpening the mind. In this collection of 200+ Maranao riddles for 2025-2026, you’ll find a blend of humor, logic, and creativity that reflects the beauty of Maranao culture.
These riddles are designed to entertain, challenge, and inspire people of all ages. Whether you’re a student, a teacher, or someone who simply loves clever wordplay, this article will guide you through a treasure trove of riddles paired with their answers. Let’s explore the wisdom of the Maranao community in the simplest and most engaging way.
1. Traditional Maranao Riddles
- I have no mouth but I speak, I have no ears but I can hear. What am I?
- Answer: An echo
- The more you take from me, the bigger I become. What am I?
- Answer: A hole
- I fly without wings, I cry without eyes. What am I?
- Answer: Clouds
- I grow without water, I burn without fire. What am I?
- Answer: Anger
- I am always moving but never leave my place. What am I?
- Answer: A clock
- I hide in the dark but shine in the light. What am I?
- Answer: A shadow
- The more you share me, the less I am. What am I?
- Answer: A secret
- I am taken before you need me. What am I?
- Answer: A photo
- You break me before you use me. What am I?
- Answer: An egg
- I fall but never rise. What am I?
- Answer: Rain
- I am round but not always seen. What am I?
- Answer: The moon
- I am full of holes but hold water. What am I?
- Answer: A sponge
- I run without legs. What am I?
- Answer: A river
- I never ask questions but answer everything. What am I?
- Answer: A mirror
- I am always ahead but never behind. What am I?
- Answer: The future
- I am not alive but I grow. What am I?
- Answer: A crystal
- I have keys but no locks. What am I?
- Answer: A piano
- I carry people but I have no legs. What am I?
- Answer: A boat
- I make you cry when you cut me. What am I?
- Answer: An onion
- I am always on the table but never eaten. What am I?
- Answer: A plate
Read More: Kapampangan Riddles 2025-2026 That Will Spark Your Mind
2. Nature-Inspired Maranao Riddles
- I am green in the day and black at night. What am I?
- Answer: A tree
- I drink from the sky but feed the land. What am I?
- Answer: Rain
- I follow you everywhere but vanish in the dark. What am I?
- Answer: Shadow
- I move without feet and roar without a mouth. What am I?
- Answer: Thunder
- I touch the sky but live on earth. What am I?
- Answer: A mountain
- I am the blanket of the earth. What am I?
- Answer: Grass
- I shine but I am not the sun. What am I?
- Answer: Stars
- I disappear when the sun rises. What am I?
- Answer: Dew
- I move gently but can destroy cities. What am I?
- Answer: Wind
- I grow tall but never walk. What am I?
- Answer: Bamboo
- I carry light but I am not fire. What am I?
- Answer: Lightning
- I sleep in the soil but wake in the spring. What am I?
- Answer: A seed
- I roar but I am not a lion. What am I?
- Answer: Ocean waves
- I travel without moving. What am I?
- Answer: The sun
- I am a bridge made by nature. What am I?
- Answer: A rainbow
- I guard the forest silently. What am I?
- Answer: A tree
- I am bright at night but hide in the day. What am I?
- Answer: The moon
- I am white and cold but disappear with heat. What am I?
- Answer: Snow
- I am the music of the sky. What am I?
- Answer: Rainfall
- I can grow in stone but I am soft. What am I?
- Answer: Moss
3. Animal-Themed Maranao Riddles
- I have stripes but I am not a tiger. What am I?
- Answer: A zebra
- I hop but I am not a kangaroo. What am I?
- Answer: A frog
- I have a long neck but no legs. What am I?
- Answer: A snake
- I can fly but I am not a bird. What am I?
- Answer: A butterfly
- I bark but I am not a dog. What am I?
- Answer: A tree
- I swim in the sea but I am not a fish. What am I?
- Answer: A whale
- I am king of the jungle. What am I?
- Answer: A lion
- I carry my house on my back. What am I?
- Answer: A turtle
- I have a mane but I am not a lion. What am I?
- Answer: A horse
- I make honey but I am not a bear. What am I?
- Answer: A bee
- I hiss but I am not angry. What am I?
- Answer: A snake
- I have wings but cannot fly far. What am I?
- Answer: A chicken
- I live in the desert but I am not a cactus. What am I?
- Answer: A camel
- I howl at night but I am not a wolf. What am I?
- Answer: An owl
- I jump from tree to tree but I am not a monkey. What am I?
- Answer: A squirrel
- I have scales but I am not a fish. What am I?
- Answer: A pangolin
- I glow at night but I am not the moon. What am I?
- Answer: A firefly
- I swim silently but I am not a fish. What am I?
- Answer: A dolphin
- I can roar but I am not a lion. What am I?
- Answer: A tiger
- I am small but I carry a heavy load. What am I?
- Answer: An ant
4. Food & Everyday Life Maranao Riddles
- I am eaten but never swallowed. What am I?
- Answer: A plate
- I am sweet but I am not sugar. What am I?
- Answer: Honey
- I am hot but not fire. What am I?
- Answer: Soup
- I am white but not milk. What am I?
- Answer: Rice
- I grow in a garden but I am not a flower. What am I?
- Answer: Vegetables
- I melt but I am not snow. What am I?
- Answer: Butter
- I can be cracked but I am not a joke. What am I?
- Answer: An egg
- I am baked but not bread. What am I?
- Answer: Cake
- I am round but not a ball. What am I?
- Answer: A donut
- I am yellow and bendy. What am I?
- Answer: A banana
- I am sour but not lemon. What am I?
- Answer: Vinegar
- I am eaten in the morning but not breakfast. What am I?
- Answer: Toast
- I am ground but not dirt. What am I?
- Answer: Coffee
- I am cold but not ice. What am I?
- Answer: Yogurt
- I am sticky but not glue. What am I?
- Answer: Honey
- I can be peeled but I am not a sticker. What am I?
- Answer: An orange
- I am small but make you strong. What am I?
- Answer: Nuts
- I can be boiled but I am not water. What am I?
- Answer: Eggs
- I come from cows but I am not cheese. What am I?
- Answer: Milk
- I am round and eaten with sauce. What am I?
- Answer: Pizza
5. Household & Objects Maranao Riddles
- I open but I am not a door. What am I?
- Answer: A window
- I hold your clothes but I am not a person. What am I?
- Answer: A closet
- I shine but I am not the sun. What am I?
- Answer: A lamp
- I am soft but I am not a pillow. What am I?
- Answer: A blanket
- I have pages but I am not a notebook. What am I?
- Answer: A book
- I spin but I am not dizzy. What am I?
- Answer: A fan
- I have hands but cannot clap. What am I?
- Answer: A clock
- I can be pressed but I am not a button. What am I?
- Answer: A key
- I have a face but no eyes. What am I?
- Answer: A clock
- I keep you warm but I am not a person. What am I?
- Answer: A heater
- I can be hung but I am not a picture. What am I?
- Answer: Clothes
- I am cut but not alive. What am I?
- Answer: Paper
- I am filled with water but I am not a pond. What am I?
- Answer: A glass
- I can roll but I am not a wheel. What am I?
- Answer: Dough
- I am full of color but I am not a rainbow. What am I?
- Answer: Paint
- I am used to write but I am not a pen. What am I?
- Answer: Chalk
- I have teeth but cannot bite. What am I?
- Answer: A comb
- I protect you from rain but I am not a roof. What am I?
- Answer: An umbrella
- I can carry things but I am not alive. What am I?
- Answer: A bag
- I am small but I hold fire. What am I?
- Answer: A match
6. Mystery & Mind-Teaser Maranao Riddles
- I am always coming but never arrive. What am I?
- Answer: Tomorrow
- I am full of holes but still hold water. What am I?
- Answer: A sponge
- I am heavy forward but backward I am not. What am I?
- Answer: Ton
- I am seen in the morning and disappear at night. What am I?
- Answer: Dew
- I have keys but no doors. What am I?
- Answer: A piano
- I am taken from a mine and shut in a wooden case. What am I?
- Answer: Pencil lead
- I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. What am I?
- Answer: An echo
- I am always moving but never touch the ground. What am I?
- Answer: Time
- I have a neck but no head. What am I?
- Answer: A bottle
- I am broken when you say my name. What am I?
- Answer: Silence
- I am light as a feather but cannot be held. What am I?
- Answer: Breath
- I fly forever but have no wings. What am I?
- Answer: Time
- I am found in a book but not in pages. What am I?
- Answer: Knowledge
- I hide but never run. What am I?
- Answer: A shadow
- I get wetter as I dry. What am I?
- Answer: A towel
- I go up but never come down. What am I?
- Answer: Age
- I am always ahead yet never behind. What am I?
- Answer: The future
- I can be cracked but never opened. What am I?
- Answer: A joke
- I can be long or short but never move. What am I?
- Answer: A line
- I can be caught but never thrown. What am I?
- Answer: Cold
7. Ocean & Water-Themed Maranao Riddles
- I move but have no legs. What am I?
- Answer: A wave
- I fall from the sky but I am not rain. What am I?
- Answer: Snow
- I am wet but never drown. What am I?
- Answer: A fish
- I am deep and blue but never speak. What am I?
- Answer: The ocean
- I roar but have no mouth. What am I?
- Answer: Waves
- I am salty but not tears. What am I?
- Answer: Sea water
- I shine in the sky and guide sailors. What am I?
- Answer: The moon
- I am soft but can erode rocks. What am I?
- Answer: Water
- I am clear but not air. What am I?
- Answer: Water
- I flow forever but never rest. What am I?
- Answer: A river
- I move silently and carry ships. What am I?
- Answer: A current
- I am found in tides but not in ponds. What am I?
- Answer: The sea
- I am big but can fit in a shell. What am I?
- Answer: The ocean
- I disappear but leave land behind. What am I?
- Answer: Waves
- I make beaches but I am not sand. What am I?
- Answer: Waves
- I hide treasures but can be deadly. What am I?
- Answer: The sea
- I am wet and slippery but not a snake. What am I?
- Answer: A fish
- I crash but do not fall. What am I?
- Answer: Waves
- I reflect the sun but am not a mirror. What am I?
- Answer: Water
- I am home to creatures but not land. What am I?
- Answer: The ocean
8. Cultural & Tradition Maranao Riddles
- I am carried in ceremonies but never walk. What am I?
- Answer: A gong
- I have colors but am not a rainbow. What am I?
- Answer: A tapestry
- I tell stories but cannot speak. What am I?
- Answer: A painting
- I shine during celebrations but am not the sun. What am I?
- Answer: Lanterns
- I am worn but not for warmth. What am I?
- Answer: Jewelry
- I mark a new year but not a calendar. What am I?
- Answer: Fireworks
- I guide rituals but never move. What am I?
- Answer: An altar
- I protect your head but am not a helmet. What am I?
- Answer: A headdress
- I bring people together but I am not a bridge. What am I?
- Answer: A festival
- I honor the past but I am not a book. What am I?
- Answer: A monument
- I make music but I am not a singer. What am I?
- Answer: A drum
- I shine in processions but I am not the sun. What am I?
- Answer: Candles
- I decorate homes but I am not furniture. What am I?
- Answer: Banners
- I tell time but I am not a clock. What am I?
- Answer: A sundial
- I am colorful but never fade in stories. What am I?
- Answer: Art
- I am passed down generations but I am not a name. What am I?
- Answer: Tradition
- I bring luck but am not money. What am I?
- Answer: Amulet
- I fly in celebrations but I am not a bird. What am I?
- Answer: Kite
- I make noise but I am not a person. What am I?
- Answer: Drum
- I tell history but I do not speak. What am I?
- Answer: Sculpture
9. Time & Seasons Maranao Riddles
- I am faster than you can see but cannot move. What am I?
- Answer: Time
- I am cold in winter but hot in summer. What am I?
- Answer: Weather
- I come once a year but last forever in memory. What am I?
- Answer: Birthday
- I change but never die. What am I?
- Answer: Seasons
- I rise but never fall. What am I?
- Answer: The sun
- I fall but never rise. What am I?
- Answer: Night
- I am first in the morning but last at night. What am I?
- Answer: Dawn
- I am bright and short in summer. What am I?
- Answer: Daylight
- I mark the end but I am not a conclusion. What am I?
- Answer: Sunset
- I move in cycles but never tire. What am I?
- Answer: Clock hands
- I bloom but not forever. What am I?
- Answer: Flowers
- I fall gently and cover the ground. What am I?
- Answer: Snow
- I am hidden but arrive on time. What am I?
- Answer: Night
- I awaken life but am not a person. What am I?
- Answer: Spring
- I shorten days but not nights. What am I?
- Answer: Winter
- I am endless yet counted. What am I?
- Answer: Time
- I make shadows long but not permanent. What am I?
- Answer: Sunlight
- I move slowly but never stop. What am I?
- Answer: Seasons
- I am high and cold but never melt. What am I?
- Answer: Mountain peak
- I change faces but stay the same. What am I?
- Answer: Moon
10. Fun & Light-Hearted Maranao Riddles
- I run but never walk. What am I?
- Answer: A river
- I have a face but cannot smile. What am I?
- Answer: Clock
- I am loud but not alive. What am I?
- Answer: Thunder
- I fly without wings. What am I?
- Answer: Time
- I am small but make a big difference. What am I?
- Answer: A seed
- I shine but I am not gold. What am I?
- Answer: The sun
- I am round and roll but never walk. What am I?
- Answer: Wheel
- I am soft but can hurt. What am I?
- Answer: Pillow
- I sleep during the day and awake at night. What am I?
- Answer: Owl
- I am always hungry but never eat. What am I?
- Answer: Fire
- I can be broken but never moved. What am I?
- Answer: Promise
- I make a house shine but I am not a lamp. What am I?
- Answer: Cleaning
- I come once in a lifetime but remembered forever. What am I?
- Answer: Wedding
- I am bright and vanish quickly. What am I?
- Answer: Lightning
- I am small but can jump high. What am I?
- Answer: Frog
- I have ears but cannot hear. What am I?
- Answer: Corn
- I am white and fall from the sky. What am I?
- Answer: Snow
- I have legs but cannot walk. What am I?
- Answer: Table
- I am sticky and sweet. What am I?
- Answer: Honey
- I am round, full, and bright at night. What am I?
- Answer: The moon
Final Thought
Maranao riddles are more than just playful questions—they are a window into the creativity, culture, and wisdom of the Maranao people. By solving these riddles, you engage your mind, learn about traditions, and embrace a heritage that has been passed down for generations. This collection of 200+ riddles for 2025-2026 is perfect for teachers, students, families, and anyone who loves a fun mental challenge. Dive in, share with friends, and keep the Maranao tradition alive through laughter, learning, and curiosity.
