Irish

From English Irish, from Middle English Irisce, from Old English Īras (“Irishmen”), from Old Norse Írar, from Old Irish Ériu (modern Éire (“Ireland”)), from Proto-Celtic *Īwerjū (“fat land, fertile”), from Proto-Indo-European *pi-wer- (“fertile”), from *peyH- (literally “fat”).

der

the Goidelic language indigenous to Ireland, also known as Irish Gaelic


Irish

pertaining to or originating from Ireland or the Irish people


flower

Unadapted borrowing from English flower.

someone who is allowed to participate in games but cannot become it; usually a younger sibling of a player who may or may not fully grasp the mechanics of the game

(mahjong) act of declaring and revealing a flower or season tile and in order drawing a replacement tile


granada

From Spanish granada, from Latin (mālum) granātum (literally “apple with many seeds”).


leche

(vulgar, offensive) Alternative spelling of letse


nada

(only in the phrase)
Wala'y nada. / Wa'y nada.
Without anything.
(idiomatic) useless


hanger

Borrowed from English hanger, from Middle English hanger, haunger, hangere, equivalent to hang + -er.


sine

Borrowed from Spanish cine, from Clipping of Spanish cinema, a reduction of Spanish cinematógrafo, from French cinématographe.

clipping

Spanish <i class="Latn mention" lang="es">cinema</i>


tuna

From Proto-Philippine *tuna, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tuna, from Proto-Austronesian *tuNa.

the name of a small, glossy-black, worm-like snake, deadly poisonous, found in moist places in grasses and weeds, possibly the blind snake


una

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *unah, from Proto-Austronesian *(q)uNah.

inh+

Mao ni ang pinakauna nakong sakay sa eroplano.


magnet

Borrowed from English magnet, from Old French magnete, Latin magnetum "lodestone" from Ancient Greek μαγνῆτις [λίθος] (magnêtis [líthos], “Magnesian [stone]”), either after the Lydian city Magnesia ad Sipylum (modern-day Manisa, Turkey), or after the Greek region of Μαγνησία (Magnēsía) (whence came the colonist who founded the city in Lydia).

der

μαγνῆτις 􂀿λίθος􂁀


rugby

From Rugby, (a brand of rubber cement by Bostik).


tip

to tip off (inform someone confidentially)


isa

From Proto-Bisayan *isa, *əsa, from Proto-Central Philippine *isa, *əsa, from Proto-Philippine *isa, *əsa, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *isa, *əsa, from Proto-Austronesian *isa, *əsa. Doublet of usa.


mil

Borrowed from Spanish mil, from Old Spanish mil, mill, from Latin mīlle.


William

From English William, from Anglo-Norman Willame, from Old High German Willahelm, from willo (“will”) + helm (“helmet”).

a male given name from English [in turn from the Germanic languages]


polis

a civil force granted the legal authority for law enforcement and maintaining public order


bula

From Proto-Austronesian *bujeq (via Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bujeq).


Bonbon

Reduplication of Bon, clipped from Bonito.

a diminutive of the male given names Bonito or Bonifacio

a diminutive of the male given names Yvonne or Shivonne


Bravo

From Spanish Bravo. Introduced through the Catálogo alfabético de apellidos, then as Brabo, since respelled to common form.

Catálogo alfabético de apellidos

a surname from Spanish, mostly found in Cebu


Charity

Borrowed from English Charity, from charity.


Faith

Borrowed from English Faith, from faith.


Lucy

Borrowed from English Lucy. Also a shortening of Lucia.


kingpin

(transport) axis where which steered wheels pivot; bolt that holds the pivot in place


call girl

Unadapted borrowing from English call girl.

ubor

(humorous) a woman who works as a call center agent (see usage notes)


modelo

Borrowed from Spanish modelo. Doublet of model.


jai alai

From English jai alai, from Spanish, from Basque jai (“festival”) + alai (“merry”).

an illegal lottery based on the scores of jai alai games


libo

From Proto-Philippine *ʀibu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ʀibu. Compare Indonesian ribu, Malay ribu.


adik

From English addict, from Latin addictus, past participle of addīcō (“deliver; devote; surrender”), from ad- (“to, towards, at”) + dīcō (“say; declare”).

an addict; a person who is addicted, especially a drug addict


kolor

Borrowed from Spanish color, from Latin colorēm, singular accusative of color, from Old Latin colos (“covering”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover, conceal”).


kaka

tar; a solid residual byproduct of tobacco smoke


dela

From Spanish dela, contraction of ‘de la.’

particle found in Spanish-derived surnames when originally spelled with de la, such as dela Cruz or dela Peña (from earlier de la Cruz and de la Peña)


pista

From Spanish fiesta, from Late Latin festa < Latin festa, plural of festum.


NSM

Nagalupad nga Spaghetti nga Mananap#Cebuano

Initialism of Nagalupad nga Spaghetti nga Mananap (“Flying Spaghetti Monster”).


Edison

a male given name from English [in turn transferred from the surname]


Santa Fe

Santa Fe (a municipality of Cebu, Philippines)


karton

Borrowed from Spanish cartón, from French carton.


buwa

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bujeq.
Sense "coconut apple", after its similarity to bubble foam.


korni

(colloquial) unfunny; silly (said of a joke)


lala

Several etymologies have been proposed:
* From Sanskrit लाला (lālā, “saliva”).
* From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *lajaq (“to sting, of a wound or spices in food”).


lamat

(folklore) magic spell cast by a supernatural being, to confuse, disorient or make people lose their way


lamat

(folklore) to disorient; to become lost (that's a lie)


padrino

(obsolete) sponsor at a wedding, baptism, confirmation, etc.


korona

Borrowed from Spanish corona, from Latin corōna.


ragbi

From English rugby, from Rugby, a brand of rubber cement by Bostik.

(obsolete) rubber cement, contact cement


mamaw

Cognate with Tagalog mamaw (“monster; talented; intelligent”) and Hiligaynon mamaw (“Elf, goblin, sprite, fairy, ghost, etc.”).

cog

Ayawg kanáug sa sílung kay náay mámaw.

Don’t go out because there is a bogeyman.


ilong

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ijuŋ, *ujuŋ, from Proto-Austronesian *mujiŋ. First attested in Antonio Pigafetta's Relazione del primo viaggio intorno al mondo—detailing the first circumnavigation of the world between 1519 and 1522.

Pigafetta

Antonio Pigafetta
Magellan's circumnavigation


itikan

a duck farm; where ducks are kept and fed

a place where ducks are (commonly) found


white lady

Unadapted borrowing from English white lady.


iban

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ibah (“other”).

(arithmetic) the difference; the quantity obtained after subtracting numbers

a deduction; the amount or quantity taken away


El Cid

From Spanish El Cid, from el + Cid, from dialectal Arabic سِيد (sīd, “lord, master”).

a male given name from Spanish [in turn from Arabic]


karo

From Spanish carro (“cart”), from Latin carrus, from Gaulish *karros, from Proto-Indo-European *kr̥s-o-, from *k̑ers- (“to run”). Also short for karosa.

carriage used to carry images of saints during a procession


intriga

Borrowed from Spanish intriga (“intrigue”), from French intrigue, from Italian intricare, from Latin intrīcō (“I entangle, perplex, embarrass”).


balikawang

balikawáng (canonical)
baligkawang (alternative)


haligi

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *hadiʀi, from Proto-Austronesian *Sadiʀi.

pillar (strong member of an organization)


sari-sari store

From English sari-sari store, from Tagalog sari-sari + English store. Tagalog sari-sari is a reduplication of sari.


bayi

Alternative spelling of baye (“female, woman”)


peras

Borrowead from Spanish peras, plural of pera.


abukay

Cacatua haematuropygia
Cacatua haematuropygia#Translingual

red-vented cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia)


kodigo

Borrowing Spanish código, from Latin *codĭcus, regressive derivative of codicŭlus.


prismo

From prism + -o; from English prismo, Late Latin prisma, from Ancient Greek πρίσματος (prísmatos), from Ancient Greek πρίσμα (prísma, “something sawed”), from πρίζειν (prízein, “to saw”).


datu

From Proto-Philippine *datu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *datu (“lineage priest”). Uncertain. Related to Malay datuk, and Fijian ratu. The sense of being wealthy stemmed from the datus being prosperous members of pre-Hispanic societies.


rali

From English rally, from Old French ralier (French rallier), from Latin prefix re- + ad + ligare (“to bind; to ally”).


lusa

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *lisehaq, from Proto-Austronesian *liseqeS. Compare Tagalog lisa.


sinto

From Spanish ciento, from Latin centum, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱm̥tóm.


Tsekwa

Possibly reborrowed in from Tagalog Tsekwa, which was possibly originally from Cebuano as well, through univerbation of Intsik wakang.

Chekwa (alternative)
Chikwa (alternative)
Tsikwa (alternative)

(ethnic slur, slang, derogatory, offensive) the Chinese people, language, or culture; Chink


abentura

From Spanish aventura, from Latin adventura, from advenio.


Bong

From Spanish Bonito + -ng. Spanish bonito is a diminutive of Spanish bueno (“good”).

a diminutive of the male given names Bonito or Bonifacio


lamesa

From Spanish la mesa, from Vulgar Latin mēsa, from Latin mēnsa.

a table; an item of furniture with a flat top surface raised above the ground, usually on one or more legs

a desk; a table, frame, or case, in past centuries usually with a sloping top but now usually with a flat top, for the use of writers and readers; it often has a drawer or repository underneath


banting

to secure by fastening with rope or similar


igat

(often derogatory) a woman who flirts or plays with men's affections; a coquette, a flirt

(often derogatory) a pert, flirtatious or impudent young woman; a minx

(often derogatory) a slut; a sexually promiscuous woman or girl


igat

(often derogatory) of or resembling a slut; slutty


balut

Reborrowed from English balut, from Cebuano balut. Credited to Edgar Woolbright.


nanay

From Philippine Spanish nana (“mommy”) + -ay (“female diminutive suffix”).

an affectionate or honorific term for an older woman


bathala

bathalà (canonical)
Bathala (alternative)

From Sanskrit भट्टार (bhaṭṭāra, “revered, worshipful”). Likely related to Batara Guru.


siopao

From Philippine Hokkien 燒包 /烧包 (sio-pau), itself from Cantonese 叉燒包 /叉烧包 (caa¹ siu¹ baau¹). Compare siomai.

siopao; Chinese steamed stuffed bun; baozi (usually char siu bao, especially the Philippine variant)


ilog

to wrest; to obtain by pulling or violent force


batat

First attested in Antonio Pigafetta's Relazione del primo viaggio intorno al mondo—detailing the first circumnavigation of the world between 1519 and 1522.


baliti

balete (alternative)
balite (alternative)

various species of Philippine ficus trees, a number of which are strangler figs


Mendez

From Spanish Méndez from Mendo+-ez.
Introduced through the Catálogo alfabético de apellidos.

Catálogo alfabético de apellidos

a surname from Spanish [in turn originating as a patronymic]


pildi

Clipping of pildero or pildiro (“a loser”).


dehado

Borrowed from Spanish dejado (“left behind”).


holmigas

Borrowed from Spanish hormiga, hormigas.


boyoyoy

From the titular character of the 1990s Cebuano TV series Boyoyoy.

(informal, often humorous, of an adult male) simple-minded or oafish


adbentyur

From English adventure, from Middle English aventure, aunter, anter, from Old French aventure, from Late Latin adventurus, from Latin advenire, adventum (“to arrive”), which in the Romance languages took the sense of "to happen, befall" (see also advene).


iring-iring

an item resembling a cat (i.e. a statue or toy)


pasongan

From pasong + -an, from Sanskrit पशु (paśu, “cattle”).


katol-katol

to expose oneself to something that may cause irritation or itchiness


atsuete

From Philippine Spanish achuete, variant of Mexican Spanish achiote, from Classical Nahuatl āchiyōtl.

Bixa orellana
Bixa orellana#Translingual

Bixa orellana, a tropical American evergreen shrub


dugho

a bedbug; a small nocturnal insect of the family Cimicidae that feed on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded hosts


baboy-baboy

to act like a pig, to imitate the sound of a pig


kandingkanding

any member of the genus Lantana of perennial verbenas with aromatic flower clusters


landang

the starch from the buri palm (Corypha) used as a food thickener


sagingsaging

any member of the genera Heliconia and Strelitzia


kamoteng kahoy

From kamote + -ng, from kamote + nga + kahoy.


tamatis

From Spanish tomate (“tomato”), from Classical Nahuatl tomatl.

Solanum lycopersicum
Solanum lycopersicum#Translingual

a widely cultivated plant, Solanum lycopersicum, having edible fruit


tiil

(zoology) any equivalent body part of an animal

a foot, in its senses as
any equivalent body part of an animal


sunog

a fire; the occurrence, often accidental, of fire in a certain place, causing damage and danger


pan burikat

a bread with a sticky and brightly colored paste filling


igsoon

Alternative spelling of igsuon (“sibling”)


gilok

Migilok ang akong ilong


kalamay

In many Visayan languages (particularly Hiligaynon), it is synonymous with 'sugar'.
The word is usually elided to kamay in modern Cebuano dialects. From kamay, a regional variation of the word kalamay ("sugar").
Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kalamay (sticky confection made of rice and coconut). Compare Iban kelami (a cake or pudding made of rice flour or sugar) and Malay kelamai (a type of Malay cake)

cog

dish of ground sticky rice, cooked in brown sugar and coconut milk


babayeng ikogan

(often offensive, humorous) a woman with mistakable transsexual facial or physical features


adidas

Borrowed from English adidas, a genericized trademark of the German company name Adidas, after its founder Adolf “Adi” Dassler. The sense is most likely due to the association made with chicken feet and Adidas shoes.


betamax

Borrowed from English Betamax, a genericized trademark of a video recording format. The food is named from their resemblance to the cuboidal videocassettes.

(informal) coagulated chicken blood that is boiled, cut in to cubes, skewered and grilled to be sold as a street food


bagolbagol

a game where two opposing players, usually girls, take turns attempting to hit the other player's flip-flop


bun-i

dermatophytosis; especially Tinea cruris


matrimonya

Pseudo-Hispanism, derived from English matrimony, created under a false assumption Spanish has *matrimonia (correct Spanish is matrimonio).


labakara

Borrowed from Andean Spanish lavacara (“washbasin”).


pilosopo

Borrowed from Spanish filósofo, from Latin philosophāri, from Ancient Greek φιλοσοφεῖν (philosopheîn).


iring sungkaban

a cat, often a stray, notorious for stealing or raiding food


berde og dugo

(dated, offensive) a male-to-female transgender, transvestite or transexual person


berde og dugo

(dated, idiomatic, offensive) effeminate


bagag nawong

ceb-adj

bagág nawong (Badlit spelling ᜊᜄᜄ᜔ ᜈᜏᜓᜅ᜔)

Contraction of baga og nawong, literally "thick-faced."


opensa

Borrowed from Spanish ofensa, from Latin offēnsā, from offēnsō (“I strike”).
Sports-related senses, semantic loan from English offense.

(team sports) offense (strategy and tactics employed when in position to score)

(team sports) offense (portion of a team dedicated to scoring)


Angeles

From Spanish Ángeles. The city is short for Spanish Pueblo de los Angeles (lit. Town of Angeles).


depinisyon

Borrowed from Spanish definición, from Latin dēfīnītiō, from dēfīniō.


industriya

industry (enterprise or a group of businesses)


grip juice

(informal, humorous) tap water. (see usage notes)


kwatro

From Spanish cuatro, from Latin quattŭor (“four”), from Proto-Italic *kʷettwōr, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷetwóres.


buwitre

Borrowed from Spanish buitre, from Latin vultur.


kwarenta

From Spanish cuarenta, from Latin quadrāgintā, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷetwr̥̄ḱomt, from earlier *kʷetwr̥-dḱomt (“four-ten”).


hagudila

hagudílà (canonical)
hagulila (alternative)
hagurila (alternative)
hagodila (alternative)


yabag

(music) off-key, out of tune, not harmonious

(music) something that is not tuned correctly


dalagang ulay

an old woman who has never married; an old maid; a spinster


kariton

Borrowed from Spanish carretón (“cart”).


yati

Possibly from Malay jati, from Old Javanese jati, from Sanskrit जाति (jāti).


eksena

Borrowed from Spanish escena, with influence from other words starting with eks.


kampilan

a type of single-edged longsword, traditionally used by various ethnic groups in the Philippines


Panglot nga Diyotay

(obsolete) November; the eleventh month of the Gregorian calendar, following October and preceding December


Panglot nga Dako

(obsolete) December; the twelfth and last month of the Gregorian calendar, following November and preceding the January of the following year


kariling

(proscribed) Alternative spelling of kaliring


Insek kwakang

Insek kwákang (canonical)
Insik wakang (alternative)
Intsik wakang (alternative)
Insik gwakang (alternative)
Inchik wakang (alternative)
Inchek kwakang (alternative)
Inchik gwakang (alternative)

From ellipsis of earlier limericks, such as Insik wakang, kaon, kalibang (literally “Chinese (laborer), I work, eat, and shit!”) or Insek kwakang baboy tikangkang (literally “Chinese (laborer), I work and pose like a pig!”), which were old racist derogatory visayan limericks repeatedly sang by children on the streets during the late 1800s, when opium dens were rampant and many overseas Chinese migrants worked as low-wage laborers. The words themselves are Insik (“Chinese”) + wakang (“ethnic slur expression used to tease Chinese”), both deriving from Hokkien 引叔 (ín-chek, “uncle”) and Hokkien 我工 (guá kang, “I work”) or 我空 (óa-khàng!, “my heavens!; OMG!; wow! (expletive)”).

(offensive, ethnic slur) a person with Chinese-like facial features; a Chinese person or Filipino of Chinese descent


batikulon

a portion of the esophagus of either a bird or an annelid that contains ingested grit and is used to grind up ingested food before it is transferred to the stomach; the gizzard


alingagngag

[ɐ.lɪ.ˈŋʌɡ.ŋʌɡ]


ikog sa pagi

tail of a stingray, dried and used as a whip, often believed as a weapon that could wound an ungo


senakulo

Borrowed from Spanish cenáculo, from Latin cēnāculum (“dining room”), from cēna (“dinner”).

passion play (play depicting the Passion of Christ)


Lovely

Borrowed from English Lovely, from lovely.


talisay

Compare magtalisay, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *talisay.

Terminalia catappa
Terminalia catappa#Translingual

a Malabar almond tree (Terminalia catappa); a large tropical tree in the leadwood tree family, Combretaceae


Soriano

From Spanish, from soriano (“demonym for people living in Soria”).


sekreto para bibo

Literally, “(I'll keep it a) secret for fun”.

lit

used to refuse to answer a question or to divulge details


paunaha ko para dili ka bungoton

Literally, “let me go first so you don't grow a beard”.

lit

said to allow older people to go before younger ones


Maguindanao

From Spanish Maguindánao, from Maguindanao Magindanaw, from a blend of maginged (“resident”) + danaw (“lake”). Compare Ilocano danaw, Cebuano danaw, Maguindanao lanaw, Maranao ranaw, Malay danau, English Lanao, English Maranao, English Iranun. Generally translated to "people of the flood" or "people of the lake".


patuka

From pa- (“do something for something to”) + tuka (“to peck; eat”).

prefix

feed fowls (chickens, turkeys, partridges, etc.)


Dumlao

a surname from Ilocano, most common among residents of Ilocano descent in Mindanao.


aplaya

From Spanish a (“by (the); to (the); at (the)”) + Spanish playa (“beach”).


butho

to arrive suddenly and unannounced; to plump in


sipilis

(medicine) to be infected by or suffer from syphilis


kumpisal

Borrowed from Early Modern Spanish confesar (“to confess”).


molave

Unadapted borrowing from Spanish molave, from Tagalog mulawin.

molave (tree, Vitex parviflora or Vitex cofassus species, and its wood)


pobreng kahoy

From pobre nga kahoy. Literally, “poor tree”.


mumo

to hit or bump one's mouth against something


kawos

(Metro Cebu, Bohol, Southern Leyte) Alternative spelling of kalos


sadsad

to dance with the feet (rather than with the hands or some other part of the body)


kamandag

From Proto-Philippine *kamandag (“venom of a poisonous snake or insect”).


dagitungin

From dagitab + tuyok + hangin coined by Marcelo A. Geocallo.


boang

idiotic; having the quality of idiocy; very foolish; stupid; nonsensical


problema ni papa

Ellipsis of unsay problema ni papa? (literally “what is dad's problem?”). To tease or annoy the parent, the gesture is usually taught to young children. When a child is asked about his/her parent's problem, the child will show the gesture.

ellipsis

(humorous, often offensive) penetrating sex hand gesture, formed by making an OK sign with one hand and inserting another finger, usually the index finger, into the ring


temporaryo

Pseudo-Hispanism, derived from English temporary.


teritoryo

Borrowed from Spanish territorio, from Latin territorium.


Banilad

A barangay of Mandaue, Cebu, Philippines

A barangay of Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines

A barangay of Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines


Macalinao

From maka- + linaw. Introduced through the Catálogo alfabético de apellidos.


Dela Cruz

Alternative letter-case form of dela Cruz


Delos Santos

Alternative letter-case form of delos Santos


buwawan

(Metro Cebu, Bohol, Southern Leyte) Alternative form of bulawan


parokyano

patron; regular customer, as of a certain store or restaurant

frequenter; person who frequents; regular visitor


kawhaan

(Metro Cebu, Bohol, Northern Leyte, Southern Leyte) Alternative form of kaluhaan


magtagay sa kalipay

(euphemistic) to have sexual intercourse


pingki

(of a person or animal) suffering from genu valgum (or tibia valga)


lisod pukawon ang gamata

Literally, “it's difficult to wake someone who is awake”

lit

used to tell the waker or someone who refuses to wake


irong bisaya

the mongrel dogs of the Philippines; an aspin


Del Castillo

Alternative letter-case form of del Castillo


pulong hinuwaman

pulong hinulaman
pulong hinulaman#Cebuano

(Metro Cebu, Bohol, Leyte) Alternative form of pulong hinulaman


walay bilatasan

(colloquial, humorous) disrespectful; lacking respect; impertinent; insolent; impudent


nawili ang patay

the occurrence of heavy rain or a thunderstorm on the day of a dead person's burial


Yamakawa

Borrowed from Japanese 山川 (やまかわ, Yamakawa).


dautan

Deprecated, pre-2014 spelling of daotan.


imigrasyon

Borrowed from Spanish inmigración. Spelling reflects the change of /n/ before /m/ into [m].


kwestiyonable

(obsolete) Nonstandard form of kwestyonable.


eksplanasyon

eksplanasyón (canonical)
eksplinasyon (alternative)

Pseudo-Hispanism, from English explanation, and influenced by Spanish -ción.


konstitusyon

Borrowed from Spanish constitución, from Latin cōnstitūtiō, cōnstitūtiōnem.


hulga

Hulga sa pag-ulbo sa bulkan


hulga

head

hulgà (imperative hulgaa, reciprocal hulgaanay, hulgaay)

hulgà (canonical)
hulgaa (imperative)
hulgaanay (reciprocal)
hulgaay (reciprocal)


pensyonado

Borrowed from Spanish pensionado (“pensioned”), from pensionar.

(historical) Filipino scholar who studied in the United States during the American colonial era


Isang

a diminutive of the female given names Luisa or Marisa


nuybe

From Spanish nueve, from Old Spanish nuef, from Latin novem, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁néwn̥.


siyen

From Spanish cien, from ciento, from Latin centum, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱm̥tóm.


teknolohiya

Borrowed from Spanish tecnología, from Ancient Greek τεχνολογία (tekhnología, “systematic treatment (of grammar)”), from τέχνη (tékhnē, “art”) + -λογία (-logía).


eksaherasyon

Borrowed from Spanish exageración, from Latin exaggeratio.


manerismo

Pseudo-Hispanism, derived from English mannerism (correct Spanish is manierismo).


alumahan

the Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta)


Insik

University of Santo Tomas#Libraries and archives

Borrowed from Hokkien, possibly 引叔 (ín-chek, “uncle”) or 𪜶叔 (in chek, literally “his/her/their uncle”). Compare with Tagalog Intsik, Malay encik, Indonesian encek, Thai เจ๊ก (jék).

Intsik (alternative)
Inchik (alternative)
Insek (alternative)

the Chinese people, language, or culture

(informal, potentially offensive) a nickname for someone who looks Chinese (see usage notes)


sensitibo

From Spanish sensitivo, English sensitive.


lapulapu

Named after Lapu-Lapu, the 16th century datu of Mactan.

the brown-marbled grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus)


lalong

the spotfin lionfish (Pterois antennata)


potostat

Borrowed from English photostat, a genericized trademark brand, Photostat.

a photostat; a photocopy made using a Photostat machine


potostat

to make a copy using a Photostat machine


akwamarina

Pseudo-Hispanism, derived from English aquamarine, influenced by Spanish aguamarina. Compare akwamarin, which is an English borrowing. Doublet of agwamarin, agwamarina, and akwamarin.


agwamarin

From English aquamarine, partially influenced by Spanish aguamarina. Doublet of agwamarina, akwamarin, and akwamarina.


agwamarina

Borrowed from Spanish aguamarina. Doublet of agwamarin, akwamarin, and akwamarina.


kinaunahan

From kina- (“most, very”) + una (“first”) + han (“place”).

af

Sa Limasawa nahitabo ang kinaunahang misa sa Pilipinas.

It was in Limasawa where the first mass in the Philippines was held.


pangitik

From pang- (“of; for (the); (to be) like (the)”) + itik (“(slang) pimp”).

prefix

clothes worn by (or like those of) pimps


Bacolod

Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental#English

Negros Island Region
Negros Island Region#English

Bacolod (a city, the provincial capital of Negros Occidental, Negros Island Region, Philippines)


bibihan

From bibi (“duck”) + -han (“(-an) place of”).

ducks' habitat; where ducks are commonly found


Habagat

a surname from Cebuano, an indigenized spelling of Jabagat


sikatulo

From sika- (“prefix denoting a number as denominator”) + tulo (“three”).

shortened form of usa ka sikatulo;
(rare) one third; 0.33..., ⅓

shortened form of usa ka sikatulo;
one third; 0.33..., ⅓


duha ka sikatulo

From duha ("two") + ka + sikatulo ("third (denominator of a fraction)").


upat ug duha ka sikatulo

From upat ("four") + ug ("and") + duha ka sikatulo ("two-thirds").

(fraction) four and two-thirds (4⅔); represents the real number 4.66..


usa ka sikatulo

From usa ("one") + ka + sikatulo ("third (denominator of a fraction)").

(fractional number) one-third (⅓); represents the real number 0.33..


tulo ka sikatulo

Literally, “three linker thirds (denominator of a fraction)”}.

lit

Tulo ka sikatulo tumbas sa usa.

three-thirds (³⁄₃); represents the number 1


pagpuno

From pag- (“the act of; process of”) + puno (“to increase in amount”).

prefix

(arithmetic) addition; the process of adding

pagdugang, pagpuno (addition or summation)


tigdugang

From tig- (“one that does”) + dugang (“to add”).

(arithmetic, addition) addend; a number that is added to the augend


tigpuno

From tig- (“one that does”) + puno (“to increase in amount”).

(arithmetic, addition) addend; the number that is added to another number (the augend)


pagkuha

From pag- (“the act of; process of”) + kuha (“to subtract, take away”).

(arithmetic) subtraction; the process of subtracting numbers


pag-iban

From pag- (“the act of; process of”) + iban (“to deduct; reduce”).

(arithmetic) deduction, reduction; the process of deducting or reducting numbers


pagpilo-pilo

From pag- (“the act of; process of”) + pilo-pilo, reduplication of pilo ("to multiply").

(arithmetic) multiplication; the process of adding a number by a specified number of times

pagpilo-pilo (multiplication); multiplier: pil-anan


pagbahin-bahin

From pag- (“the act of; process of”) + bahin-bahin, reduplication of bahin ("to divide").

(arithmetic) division; the process of dividing a number by the divisor

pagbahin-bahin (division); dividend: bahinanan


pil-anan

From pilo (“to multiply”) + -anan (“one that is {verb}ed”).

suffix

(arithmetic) multiplier; the number being multiplied by the multiplicand


tigpilo

From tig- (“one that does”) + pilo (“to multiply”).

prefix

Duha ang tigpilo sa upat para mahimong walo.

Two is the multiplicand of four to become eight.

(arithmetic) multiplicand; the number that multiples the multiplier


Dela Cerna

Alternative letter-case form of dela Cerna


tigbahin

From tig- (“one who does”) + bahin (“to divide”).

Sa "12 ÷ 2", 2 ang tigbahin.

(arithmetic, division) divisor; number that divides the dividend


moduwa og laing team

Literally, “to play in a different team”.

lit

modulag laing team (alternative)
modulag lain nga team (alternative)
modula og laing team (alternative)
modula og lain nga team (alternative)
moduwag laing team (alternative)
moduwag lain nga team (alternative)
moduwa og lain nga team (alternative)

(idiomatic) to cheat; to be unfaithful to one's spouse or partner


Dela Fuente

Alternative letter-case form of dela Fuente


Del Rosario

Alternative letter-case form of del Rosario


San Fernando

Borrowed from Spanish San Fernando, named after King Ferdinand III of Castile.

named-after

Several locations in the Philippines named after Ferdinand III of Castile

San Fernando (a city, the provincial capital of La Union, Ilocos Region, Luzon, Philippines)


mura og uhong nga nanubo

mura og uhong nga nananubo (canonical)
murag uhong nga nanubo (alternative)

Literally, “to spring up like mushrooms”.

lit

(idiomatic) to increase in number suddenly and rapidly


wala kadama

Literally, “unable to be crowned king”. Likened to crowning, in a game of checkers.

(idiomatic) to fail in sexual intercourse


Dela Peña

Alternative letter-case form of dela Peña


Delos Reyes

Alternative letter-case form of delos Reyes


kiyaw

Palawan hill mynah (Gracula religiosa palawanensis)


Abubakar

Moro (Filipino Muslim) patronymic surname from Arabic أَبُو بَكْر (ʔabū bakr).

a Moro surname from Arabic [in turn originating as a patronymic]


yuhong pula

Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
Ixobrychus cinnamomeus#Translingual

the cinnamon bittern (Ixobrychus cinnamomeus)


ekspresyon

Borrowed from Spanish expresión, from Late Latin expressiō, expressiōnem (“a pressing out”).


bayaw nga lalaki

a brother-in-law
a husband of one's sibling


pilamento

Borrowed from Spanish filamento, from Medieval Latin fīlāmentum, from Late Latin fīlō (“to spin, draw out in a long line”), from Latin fīlum (“thread”).


bolang kristal

a crystal ball; a globe of glass or crystal used to foretell the future


kondominyum

Borrowed from English condominium, from Latin condominium.

condominium (building in which each unit is owned individually, but the grounds is jointly owned)


pentel pen

English Genericized trademark from Pentel pen.

genericized trademark
genericized trademark

(genericized trademark) marker; felt-tip pen


sentensya

(law) sentence (judicial order for punishment, conviction)

(law) sentence (punishment imposed on a person convicted of a crime)


sentensya

to sentence (declare a sentence on a convicted person)


gugmang tiunay

true love; the form of romantic affection that is considered pure and wholly positive, not just based on feelings of lust


intrigera

woman who likes to gossip and create intrigues


Badjao

Uncertain. There are various hypotheses on the etymology of the term, such as:
* It is a corruption of Malay berjauh which means "getting further apart"
* It is derived from Brunei Malay bajaul which means "to fish"


Dipolog

Zamboanga del Norte
Zamboanga del Norte#English

Zamboanga Peninsula
Zamboanga Peninsula#English

Dipolog (a city, the provincial capital of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Peninsula, Mindanao, Philippines)


pagbuak og plato

the act of breaking a plate on the way to internment so as to prevent a chain of deaths


puwas

(Metro Cebu, northern Cebu, Bohol, Leyte) Alternative spelling of pulas


Pit-os

Pit-os (a barangay of Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines)


bahad

head

báhad (imperative bahara, reciprocal baharanay, baharay)

báhad (canonical)
bahara (imperative)
baharanay (reciprocal)
baharay (reciprocal)

to threaten; to make a threat against someone; to use threats


Kanor

a diminutive of the male given name Nicanor


usa ka dako

(money) a centavo; one-hundredth of a peso


Asyong

a diminutive of the male given names Ignacio, Nicasio, or Horacio, etc.


Donya Agatha

an unfriendly or disparaging way of addressing such woman or girl


murag langaw nga nakatugdon sa kabaw

murag langaw nga nakatugdón sa kabáw (canonical)

Literally, “like a fly who has sat on top a carabao”. Inspired by the fable, "The Gnat and the Bull."

lit

(simile, idiomatic) nouveau riche; new money; upstart


dobleg suwab ang dila

dobleg suwag ang dila (canonical)
doble og suwab ang dila (alternative)

Literally, “having a double-edged tongue”.

(idiomatic, of a person) inclined to use harsh or hurtful words


miulbo ang kaspa

Literally, “to have one's dandruff burst”.


magpalapad og papel

(idiomatic) to take credit of other people's work


ander de saya

(colloquial) henpecked husband or boyfriend


Rody

a diminutive of the male given names Rodelio, Rodolfo, or Rodrigo


parlyamento

Pseudo-Hispanism, derived from English parliament with sounded i (correct Spanish is parlamento).


bise presidente

Borrowed from Spanish vicepresidente, reinterpreted as compound of bise + presidente from influence of English vice president.

deputy to a president, often empowered to assume the position of president on his death or absence

executive in a business in charge of a department or branch


bise gobernador

Borrowed from Spanish vicegobernador, reinterpreted as compound of bise + gobernador.

vice governor; deputy governor; lieutenant governor


resolusyon

Borrowed from Spanish resolución, from Latin resolūtiō (“a loosening, solution”), from resolvō (“I loosen”), itself from the intensive prefix re- + solvō (“I loosen”).

a resolution; a formal statement adopted by an assembly, or during any other formal meeting


Islaw

a diminutive of the male given names Estanislao or Israel


dangkal

Ultimately from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *zaŋkal.


makalasa

(chiefly Negros) Chisocheton cumingianus


karibal

From ka- + ribal, root word from Spanish rival.

a rival; a competitor (person, team, company, etc.) with the same goal as another, or striving to attain the same thing


otopsiya

Borrowed from Spanish autopsia, from New Latin autopsia, from Ancient Greek αὐτοψῐ́ᾱ (autopsĭ́ā, “seeing with one's own eyes”).


karaang damang

(idiomatic) having had long experience, practice, or service


dosentos

From Spanish doscientos, from Old Spanish dozientos.


tresentos

From Spanish trescientos, from Old Spanish trezientos.


kinyentos

From Spanish quinientos, from Latin quīngentōs, accusative of quīngentī, from quīnque (“five”).


trese

From Spanish trece, from Old Spanish treze, tredze, from Latin trēdecim.


desisayis

From Spanish dieciséis, from Old Spanish dizeseis, diezeseis, from Latin sēdecim.


desinuybe

From Spanish diecinueve, from Old Spanish dizenuef.


sayis

From Spanish seis, from Latin sex, from Proto-Indo-European *swéḱs.


kwarentay kwatro

kuwarentay kuwatro
kuwarentay kuwatro#Cebuano

Alternative spelling of kuwarentay kuwatro


singkwentay tres

singkwentay kwatro (canonical)
singkuwentay kuwatro (alternative)


Mabolo

Named after mabolo. The tree was supposedly abundant in the area.

A barangay of Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines


kuwarentay dos

kuwarentay tres (canonical)
kwarentay tres (alternative)


pirmahan

ceb-verb

pirmahán (inchoative gipirmahan, imperative pirmaha)

pirmahán (canonical)
gipirmahan (inchoative)
pirmaha (imperative)

Gipirmahan sa presidente ang bag-ong balaod.

to sign (make (a document) official by writing one's signature)


ka- -an

ceb-head

ka- -an (Badlit spelling ᜃ ᜀᜈ᜔ or ᜃ ᜀᜈ᜔)

From Proto-Austronesian *ka- -an, compare kina- -an, Tagalog ka- -an, Malay ke- -an. Compare ka-, and -an.

Bisaya (“Visayan people”) + ka- -an → Kabisay-an (“Visayas region”)

forms proper nouns indicating a domain of a people or place

duha (“two”) + ka- -an → kaluhaan (“twenty”)

forms numerals that are multiples of ten

tawo (“human”) + ka- -an → katawhan (“people”)

dagat (“sea”) + ka- -an → kadagatan (“seas (collectively)”)

batan-on (“young”) + ka- -an → kabatan-onan (“youth”)

husay (“orderly”) + ka- -an → kahusayan (“peace, resolution”)

daog (“to win”) + ka- -an → kadaogan (“victory”)

(added to adjectives or verbs) forms abstract nouns


ginoo

Possibly from Proto-Bisayan *gin- (cf. Cebuano gi- and Hiligaynon gin- prefixes) + Greater Central Philippine *túʔuh (“believe; give credence to”) (cf. Tagalog totoo, Cebuano tuo), from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *tuqu (“true”). Compare Kapampangan ginu, Bikol Central ginoo, Hiligaynon ginoo, Tagalog ginoo.


Moro Province

From English Moro Province, from Spanish Provincia Mora.

Moro Province (a former province of the Philippines)


Negros del Norte

Negros del Norte
Negros del Norte#English

(historical) the province of Negros del Norte


dahong pula

the waffle plant (Hemigraphis alternata)


New Bataan

a municipality of Compostela Valley, Philippines


dili ingon nato

dilî ingon natò (canonical)
di ingon nato (alternative)

(mythology, folklore) elemental; nature spirit


Cagayan de Oro

Misamis Oriental
Misamis Oriental#English

Northern Mindanao
Northern Mindanao#English

Cagayan de Oro (a city, the provincial capital of Misamis Oriental, Northern Mindanao, Philippines)


Anonang Norte

Compare Anonang Sur. Ultimately from anonang.


Anonang Sur

Compare Anonang Norte. Ultimately from anonang.


La Purisima Concepcion

Ultimately from Spanish La Purísima Concepción (“Immaculate Conception”).


Pahina Central

From pahina + central, to differentiate itself from Pahina San Nicolas.


plakard

Borrowed from English placard, from Middle English placard (“official document”), from Middle French placard, placart, plaquart (“a placard, a writing pasted on a wall”), from The Old French verb plaquer, plaquier (“to stick or paste, roughcast”), from Middle Dutch placken, plecken (“to glue or fasten, plaster, patch”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *plaggą (“a piece of cloth, patch”).


poblacion

From Spanish población, from Late Latin populātiō, populātiōnis, from Latin populus (“people”).


konstituwente

Pseudo-Hispanism, derived from English constituent, created under a false assumption Spanish has *constituente Compare konstituyente (from constituyente).


paltik

someone who sneaks into a cinema or concert without a ticket


Digong

a diminutive of the male given name Rodrigo


talianak

Compare mantiyanak. Also from tali- + anak.

(folklore) ghost of a woman with an open slit in the belly, where her unborn child can be seen, believed to attack men and rip off their penises


Camputhaw

Camputháw (canonical)
Kamputhaw (alternative)


Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao#English

the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao


arnibal

From Spanish almíbar, from Arabic المَيْبَة (al-mayba), from Persian می به (may beh, literally “quince nectar”).


Andoy Purdoy

(humorous) a diminutive of the male given names Andres, Andrew, or Andy


KBL

(slang) Initialism of kasal, bunyag, ug lubong: someone, especially a Roman Catholic, who is not very religious


kulilas

kulílas (canonical)
kurilas (alternative)


balak-ang

balák-ang (canonical)
balat-ang (alternative)
bak-ang (alternative)


buolbuol

Reduplication of buol (“area where a bone bulges”)


langangag

langángag (canonical)
langagngag (alternative)


lutaluta

(anatomy) the antecubital fossa; the part opposite of the elbow


El Filibusterismo

Named after the novel El Filibusterismo.


papasiya

Pseudo-Hispanism, derived from English papacy, from Medieval Latin papatia (correct Spanish is papado).


tangke de gera

ceb-noun

tangke de gera (Badlit spelling ᜆᜅ᜔ᜃᜒ ᜇᜒ ᜄᜒᜇ)

armored personnel carrier
armored personnel carrier


butagtok

(anatomy) the human backbone; spinal column


wala nahilig

Literally, “not fond of”. Short for wala nahilig og babaye.

any man uninterested in committed relationships


Langitnong Amahan

From langitnon + nga + amahan.
* semantic loan from Spanish padre celestial or semantic loan from English heavenly father.


Maribago

A barangay of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, Philippines


motorkada

Pseudo-Hispanism, derived from English motorcade, created under a false assumption Spanish has *motorcada.


walay mahay nga gauna

what's done cannot be undone
what's done cannot be undone


ceb-head

unaha usa og silhig ang imong tugkaran, ayha manghinlo sa uban

Literally, “clean your lawn first before you clean others' lawns”

lit

put one's house in order
put one's house in order

put one's house in order before criticizing others for their mistakes


bayrus

(electronics, computing) computer virus, malware


bayrus

(electronics, computing) infecting computers with computer virus or malware; making something malicious intent or destructive using malware


Masbate City

Masbate City (a city, the provincial capital of Masbate, Bicol Region, Luzon, Philippines)


piskoting yamat

(minced oath, derogatory) expletive intensifier, similar to firetruck!


korbata

Borrowed from Spanish corbata (“necktie”).


banhod

From Proto-Philippine *baŋ(ə)həʀ (“numb”).


rekisitos

Borrowed from Spanish requisitos, from requisito. Doublet of rekisito.


sentenaryo

Borrowed from Spanish centenario, from Latin centenarius.


seremonya

Borrowed from Spanish ceremonia, from Latin caerimōnia. Doublet of seremonyas.


kulob pa ang kaldero

"The pot is still drying", literally "The pot is still turned over itself." This gives the sense of not being able to prepare any meal, hence not being able to live comfortably.


(text messaging) Alternative spelling of adto: to go


hatay

Kadakò na ba nimo karon! Mihátay (nahátay) ka mag maáyo.

How big you are now. You have grown tall!


imnanan

From inom + -anan, see etymology for imnon.


bilatnanay

bilat nanay (canonical)
bilatsimongina (alternative)
latnanay (alternative)
latinanay (alternative)
latsimongina (alternative)

bilat (“vagina”) + -ng (adjectival suffix) + nanay (“mother”).

Bilatnanay ka! kinabugoang way pulos nga mayor sa tibuok kalibutan!

You fuckstick! You're the dumbest most useless mayor in the planet.

Yawa, ma'y gani nakaikyas pa ko, hapit ko tikloa's mga bilatnanayng animal.

Shit, good thing I managed to escape, those shithead motherfuckers almost dropped me!


colasisi

Obsolete spelling of kulasisi (“Philippine hanging parrot”).


gibati og kaanyag

(idiomatic) prima donna; entitled person


bantay pari

(idiomatic) to keep a close watch on somebody/something.


kwaon

(text messaging) Alternative form of kuhaon


mat-an pa sa pukot

Literally, “has more eyes than a fishing net has holes”.


Nagalupad nga Spaghetti nga Mananap

Flying Spaghetti Monster
Flying Spaghetti Monster


nibalik sulod ang tai

(idiomatic) to be extremely shocked and terrified


uwahi ra sa duyan

Literally, “to come to the hammock last”.


Dela Torre

Alternative letter-case form of dela Torre


napulo'g duha

Deprecated, pre-2014 spelling of napulog duha.


napulo'g lima

Deprecated, pre-2014 spelling of napulog lima.


napulo'g pito

Deprecated, pre-2014 spelling of napulog pito.


napulo'g walo

Deprecated, pre-2014 spelling of napulog walo.


napulo'g siyam

Deprecated, pre-2014 spelling of napulog siyam.


hapila

Derived from Sanskrit पिपील (pipīla, “ant”)


kinawboy

From kawboy + -in-, literally, "in the way of a cowboy"


kabayohon

to sit or ride on something like riding a horse


dungguanan

Deprecated, pre-2014 spelling of dunggoanan.


duwaan

(Metro Cebu, northern Cebu, Bohol, Leyte) Alternative form of dulaan


pactol

Cebuano: paktol


gilakangan sa buwan

gilakangan sa bulan
gilakangan sa bulan#Cebuano


babayeng pak-an

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see babaye, pak-an.


maluluy-on

Deprecated, pre-2014 spelling of maluloy-on.


Bien Unido

Borrowed from Spanish Bien Unido, from bien + unido.


-nhon

Ultimately from -anon, through the variant -hanon used when the root word ends in a vowel. The /a/ in the latter elides and the /n/ and /h/ metathesize (switch places), forming -nhon.


-n-on

From -anon with an epenthetic glottal stop. The /a/ in -anon elides, followed by metathesis of the /n/ and the glottal stop /ʔ/, forming -n-on.


mao nay laki

ceb-head

mao nay laki (Badlit spelling ᜋᜂ ᜈᜌ᜔ ᜎᜃᜒ)

Alternative form of mao nay lalaki (“attaboy!”)


mao nay lalaki

mao nay lalaki (Badlit spelling ᜋᜂ ᜈᜌ᜔ ᜎᜎᜃᜒ)


mura og tai sa kanding

(idiomatic) for things to be in a disorganized scattered mess.


Ducusin

a surname from Ilocano, most common among residents of Ilocano descent in Bukidnon and Davao Region.


murag korek

ceb-adj

murág korek (Badlit spelling ᜋᜓᜇᜄ᜔ ᜃᜓᜇᜒᜃ᜔)

From murag "seemingly" + English correct.

Nagsayaw-sayaw ang bata murag korek.

The kid is dancing as if he's doing right.

(informal) used to indicate that the performer thinks he's correct; like correct


atras boy

(informal) a person who gives unsolicited and unwelcomed assistance to people in parking their vehicles at public places and almost always expects to be tipped.