Manong
Encyclopedia
Manong is an Ilocano
term principally given to the first-born male in a Filipino nuclear family. However, it can also be used to title an older brother, older male cousin, or older male relative in an extended family. The feminine "manang" is a term given to an older sister. It is a term of respect, similar but secondary to Dad or Mom, but not comparable to Mister or Ma'am, which expresses no elevated affection. A hierarchal marker, it is used to refer to any male who is older than the speaker within his or her family but it could also be used for men outside the family to convey respect.
Additionally, the male partner of an older sibling may be referred to as a manong irrespective of the speaker's age relative to the partner (i.e., a male younger than the speaker may be called manong by virtue of status and not by age difference) although this is not always necessary.
In traditional Filipino families, the manong acts as a third "parent" in the nuclear family and as one of the leaders in the extended family.
Manong/manang is arguably the derivative of the Spanish word for brother/sister - "hermano" and "hermana". The addition of "ng" and loss of "her" could have been for a variety of reasons such as regional slang.
The Tagalog
equivalents are the masculine kuya
(koo-yah) and the feminine ate (ah-teh).
Filipino language
This move has drawn much criticism from other regional groups.In 1987, a new constitution introduced many provisions for the language.Article XIV, Section 6, omits any mention of Tagalog as the basis for Filipino, and states that:...
term principally given to the first-born male in a Filipino nuclear family. However, it can also be used to title an older brother, older male cousin, or older male relative in an extended family. The feminine "manang" is a term given to an older sister. It is a term of respect, similar but secondary to Dad or Mom, but not comparable to Mister or Ma'am, which expresses no elevated affection. A hierarchal marker, it is used to refer to any male who is older than the speaker within his or her family but it could also be used for men outside the family to convey respect.
Additionally, the male partner of an older sibling may be referred to as a manong irrespective of the speaker's age relative to the partner (i.e., a male younger than the speaker may be called manong by virtue of status and not by age difference) although this is not always necessary.
In traditional Filipino families, the manong acts as a third "parent" in the nuclear family and as one of the leaders in the extended family.
Manong/manang is arguably the derivative of the Spanish word for brother/sister - "hermano" and "hermana". The addition of "ng" and loss of "her" could have been for a variety of reasons such as regional slang.
The Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
equivalents are the masculine kuya
Kūya
Kūya was an itinerant Japanese priest who, along with Genshin and Jakushin, was an early promoter of the practice of the nembutsu amongst the common people in order to attain salvation and entry into the Pure land of Amida...
(koo-yah) and the feminine ate (ah-teh).
| Gender | Ilocano & Cebuano | Tagalog |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | Manong | Kuya |
| Feminine | Manang | Ate |