Tagalog loanwords
Encyclopedia
The Tagalog language
, due to its history of connections with the rest of Asia, and the influence of European colonization, has developed a unique vocabulary since its inception from its Austronesian
roots. The influence of the Sanskrit, Arabic, Spanish, Greek, Latin, Arabic, English, Spanish, Malay, Chinese, Japanese, and Indian languages can be seen in the Tagalog language. According to the linguistic expert Jose Villa Panganiban, "of the 30,000 root words in the Tagalog language, there are close to 5,000 from Spanish, 3,200 from Malay, 1,500 from English, 1,500 from both Hokkien
(Min Nan
) and Yueh Chinese dialects, 300 from Sanskrit, 200 from Arabic, and a few hundred altogether from other languages". Some linguists claim that borrowings from Malay cannot be ascertained at this time, as words from the Old Austronesian language and those from Malay are still ambiguous and too similar to be distinguished, but some linguists studying the Malay language
came to recognize semantic cognates with other Austronesian words, thereby classifying some others to be of Malay provenance.
Spanish
Spanish has bequeathed the most loan words to Tagalog. According to linguists, Spanish (5,000) has even surpassed Malayo–Indonesian (3,500) in terms of loan words borrowed. About 40% of everyday (informal) Tagalog conversation is practically made up of Spanish loanwords. An example is the sentence below, wherein Spanish–derived words are italicized (original in parentheses):
"Puwede (Puede) ba akong umupo sa silya (cilla) sa tabi ng bintana (ventana) habang nasa biyahe (viaje) tayo sa eroplano (aeroplano)?"
("May I sit in the chair nearest the window in the duration of our voyage in the airplane?")
Most have retained at least their original spelling, pronunciation, and definition such as basura', delikadesa, and demokrasya.
Others have morphed like 'ku(ha)nin' (Sp.: 'coja' + Tag. '–nin'), which has inconspicuously developed into another pure Tagalog–sounding word. Another one is maamong kordero (from Sp. amo & cordero). Combined together, it conveys the description of a meek, tame, harmless human with Tagalog adjective prefix and suffix added. The compound word batya't palo–palo, a must word in the laundry business where many Spanish words proliferate. The words were taken from the Spanish batea for "washing tub" and palo for "stick" or "beater", something a typical Filipino might think had no Spanish provenance at all. Others are umpisa (empieza), pulubi (pobre), pader (pared).
Some have totally gained new meaning such as kursonada (corazonada, originally meaning '"hunch", has changed to "object of desire"); sospechoso, the "suspicious person" and not the "suspect" anymore as it originally means in Spanish; imbyerna (invierna), meant 'winter' became a word for 'bummer'; or 'insekto' – 'insect' transformed into a 'pesty clownish person'; or even 'sigue' a Spanish word for 'continue' or 'follow' now widely understood as the second or third to the last word when about to hang up the phone ('O sigue uhm, bye.').
Others use prefixes and/or suffixes, combined from Tagalog or other languages without which the word can not be completed and convey its meaning. For example, 'pakialamero' (from Tag. 'pakialam' and the Sp. suffix '–ero'); same as 'majongero' ('mahjong' an obviously Chinese word and the Sp. suffix '–ero'). 'Daisysiete' becomes a corrupted word from English 'daisy' and the Spanish 'decisiete' combining and overlapping to coin the term to mean a sweet and sexually desirable sounding female who is underaged (below 18 years old). And 'bastusing katawan' (Sp.: 'basto' & Tag.: 'katawan') combined to form a term for a bombshell body.
Even after the Spanish colonists left, Tagalog is still being influenced by Spanish as new words are coined, albeit in its own terms, viz. 'alaskador' ('Alaska' + Sp. suffix '–ador'); 'barkada' (from Sp.: 'barca' or a 'boat' to a 'clique'); 'berde' ('green' nuanced to 'toilet joke'); which are not understood in Spain or any Latin American country. In a strange twist, even if Filipinos have a chance to Tagalized words using foreign words, currently English—their most accessible influence—they coin words in a uniquely Hispanizing way i.e. 'boksingero' (from Eng. 'boxing') instead of using the Spanish 'boxeador't. Or 'basketbolista' (from Eng. 'basketball'), instead of borrowing from Spanish 'baloncesto' to make it say 'baloncestista' or 'baloncestador' (although basketball is "básquetbol" in many Latin American countries).
Here are the examples of Spanish–derived Tagalog words in the following format:
Word (Etymology – Original Definition/s if different from Nuanced Definition. = Derivative Definition if Compound Words) – Nuanced Definition. Shared Definition precedes Nuanced Definition if both exist.
English
English has been used in everyday Tagalog conversation. This kind of conversation is called Taglish
. English words borrowed by Tagalog are mostly modern and technical terms, but English words are also used for short usage (many Tagalog words translated from English are very long) or to avoid literal translation and repetition of the same particular Tagalog word. English makes the second largest vocabulary of Tagalog after Spanish. In written language, English words in a Tagalog sentence are written as they are, but they are sometimes written in Tagalog phonetic spelling. Here are some examples:
Here are some examples:
Cognates with Malay
Tagalog is an Austronesian language and a close cousin of both Malay
varieties in Malaysia, Brunei
and Indonesia
. Because of this close relationship, there are many cognates between the two languages stretching back many millennia. Many cognates were re-borrowed into in the language when Old Malay became the official language of trade and documentation during the pre-Hispanic era of Philippine history, as evidenced by the Laguna Copperplate Inscription
of 900 AD and accounts of Pigafetta
at the time of the Spanish arrival in the country 5 centuries later. This is a small sample of the thousands of cognates present between Tagalog and Malay.
Sanskrit
Hindi
Gujarati
Min Nan
During the time when several Kingdoms existed in the area of what is now Luzon(in reference to the Luzon Empire or Kingdom of Tondo), diplomatic ties were established with the Ming dynasty. Contact also reached as far as the Sultan of Sulu. As a result, many Chinese loanwords were gained, some examples are:
Japanese
During the era of the several Kingdoms in the Luzon area, and even in the Visayas, trade was established between them and South East and East Asia(especially Japan and China). Word borrowings from Japanese were most likely from trade, some examples are:
Nahuatl
Tagalog gained Nahuatl words through Spanish and with the galleon trade with Mexico during the Hispanic era.
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...
, due to its history of connections with the rest of Asia, and the influence of European colonization, has developed a unique vocabulary since its inception from its Austronesian
Austronesian languages
The Austronesian languages are a language family widely dispersed throughout the islands of Southeast Asia and the Pacific, with a few members spoken on continental Asia that are spoken by about 386 million people. It is on par with Indo-European, Niger-Congo, Afroasiatic and Uralic as one of the...
roots. The influence of the Sanskrit, Arabic, Spanish, Greek, Latin, Arabic, English, Spanish, Malay, Chinese, Japanese, and Indian languages can be seen in the Tagalog language. According to the linguistic expert Jose Villa Panganiban, "of the 30,000 root words in the Tagalog language, there are close to 5,000 from Spanish, 3,200 from Malay, 1,500 from English, 1,500 from both Hokkien
Hokkien
Hokkien is a Hokkien word corresponding to Standard Chinese "Fujian". It may refer to:* Hokkien dialect, a dialect of Min Nan Chinese spoken in Southern Fujian , Taiwan, South-east Asia, and elsewhere....
(Min Nan
Min Nan
The Southern Min languages, or Min Nan , are a family of Chinese languages spoken in southern Fujian, eastern Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan, and southern Zhejiang provinces of China, and by descendants of emigrants from these areas in diaspora....
) and Yueh Chinese dialects, 300 from Sanskrit, 200 from Arabic, and a few hundred altogether from other languages". Some linguists claim that borrowings from Malay cannot be ascertained at this time, as words from the Old Austronesian language and those from Malay are still ambiguous and too similar to be distinguished, but some linguists studying the Malay language
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
came to recognize semantic cognates with other Austronesian words, thereby classifying some others to be of Malay provenance.
SpanishSpanish languageSpanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
Spanish has bequeathed the most loan words to Tagalog. According to linguists, Spanish (5,000) has even surpassed Malayo–Indonesian (3,500) in terms of loan words borrowed. About 40% of everyday (informal) Tagalog conversation is practically made up of Spanish loanwords. An example is the sentence below, wherein Spanish–derived words are italicized (original in parentheses):"Puwede (Puede) ba akong umupo sa silya (cilla) sa tabi ng bintana (ventana) habang nasa biyahe (viaje) tayo sa eroplano (aeroplano)?"
("May I sit in the chair nearest the window in the duration of our voyage in the airplane?")
Most have retained at least their original spelling, pronunciation, and definition such as basura', delikadesa, and demokrasya.
Others have morphed like 'ku(ha)nin' (Sp.: 'coja' + Tag. '–nin'), which has inconspicuously developed into another pure Tagalog–sounding word. Another one is maamong kordero (from Sp. amo & cordero). Combined together, it conveys the description of a meek, tame, harmless human with Tagalog adjective prefix and suffix added. The compound word batya't palo–palo, a must word in the laundry business where many Spanish words proliferate. The words were taken from the Spanish batea for "washing tub" and palo for "stick" or "beater", something a typical Filipino might think had no Spanish provenance at all. Others are umpisa (empieza), pulubi (pobre), pader (pared).
Some have totally gained new meaning such as kursonada (corazonada, originally meaning '"hunch", has changed to "object of desire"); sospechoso, the "suspicious person" and not the "suspect" anymore as it originally means in Spanish; imbyerna (invierna), meant 'winter' became a word for 'bummer'; or 'insekto' – 'insect' transformed into a 'pesty clownish person'; or even 'sigue' a Spanish word for 'continue' or 'follow' now widely understood as the second or third to the last word when about to hang up the phone ('O sigue uhm, bye.').
Others use prefixes and/or suffixes, combined from Tagalog or other languages without which the word can not be completed and convey its meaning. For example, 'pakialamero' (from Tag. 'pakialam' and the Sp. suffix '–ero'); same as 'majongero' ('mahjong' an obviously Chinese word and the Sp. suffix '–ero'). 'Daisysiete' becomes a corrupted word from English 'daisy' and the Spanish 'decisiete' combining and overlapping to coin the term to mean a sweet and sexually desirable sounding female who is underaged (below 18 years old). And 'bastusing katawan' (Sp.: 'basto' & Tag.: 'katawan') combined to form a term for a bombshell body.
Even after the Spanish colonists left, Tagalog is still being influenced by Spanish as new words are coined, albeit in its own terms, viz. 'alaskador' ('Alaska' + Sp. suffix '–ador'); 'barkada' (from Sp.: 'barca' or a 'boat' to a 'clique'); 'berde' ('green' nuanced to 'toilet joke'); which are not understood in Spain or any Latin American country. In a strange twist, even if Filipinos have a chance to Tagalized words using foreign words, currently English—their most accessible influence—they coin words in a uniquely Hispanizing way i.e. 'boksingero' (from Eng. 'boxing') instead of using the Spanish 'boxeador't. Or 'basketbolista' (from Eng. 'basketball'), instead of borrowing from Spanish 'baloncesto' to make it say 'baloncestista' or 'baloncestador' (although basketball is "básquetbol" in many Latin American countries).
Here are the examples of Spanish–derived Tagalog words in the following format:
Word (Etymology – Original Definition/s if different from Nuanced Definition. = Derivative Definition if Compound Words) – Nuanced Definition. Shared Definition precedes Nuanced Definition if both exist.
| Tagalog | Spanish | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Abante | Avante | Ahead, Forward |
| Ahensiya | Agéncia | Agency |
| Ambisyoso | Ambicioso | Ambitious |
| Bodega | Bodega | Warehouse |
| Colegio/Kolehiyo | Colegio | College |
| Diyos | Dios | God |
| Edukasyon | Educación | Education |
| Eskwela | Escuela | School |
| Guerra/Giyera | Guerra | War |
| Hustisya | Justicia | Justice |
| Hapon | Japón | Japan |
| Ingles | Inglés | English |
| Kalye | Calle | Street |
| Kapasidad | Capacídad | Capacity |
| Kultura | Cultura | Culture |
| Luho | Lujo | Luxury |
| Monarkiya | Monarquía | Monarchy |
| Mundo | Mundo | World |
| Nasyonalista | Nacionalista | Nationalist |
| Numero | Número | Number |
| Operasyon | Operación | Operation |
| Ordinansa | Ordinanza | Ordinance |
| Oras | Horas | Time Hour |
| Pamilya | Familia | Family |
| Pilipinas | Filipinas | Philippines |
| Probinsya | Provincia | Province |
| Realidad | Realidad | Reality |
| Republika | República | Republic |
| Reyna | Reina | Queen |
| Sabon | Jabón | Soap |
| Tableta | Tableta | Tablet |
| Teknolohiya | Tecnología | Technology |
| Yelo | Hielo | Ice |
EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
English has been used in everyday Tagalog conversation. This kind of conversation is called TaglishTaglish
Taglish is a portmanteau of the words "Tagalog" and "English" which refers to the Philippine language Tagalog infused with American English terms. It is an example of code-switching....
. English words borrowed by Tagalog are mostly modern and technical terms, but English words are also used for short usage (many Tagalog words translated from English are very long) or to avoid literal translation and repetition of the same particular Tagalog word. English makes the second largest vocabulary of Tagalog after Spanish. In written language, English words in a Tagalog sentence are written as they are, but they are sometimes written in Tagalog phonetic spelling. Here are some examples:
Here are some examples:
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
| Basketbol | Basketball |
| Biskwit | Biscuit |
| Byu | View |
| Direk | Director |
| Ekonomiks | Economics |
| Interbyu | Interview |
| Iskor | Score |
| Iskrin | Screen |
| Ispiker | Speaker |
| Isports | Sports |
| Istampid | Stampede |
| Catsup/Kechap | Ketchup |
| Keyk | Cake |
| Perpyum | Perfume |
| Websayt | Website |
Cognates with MalayMalay languageMalay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
Tagalog is an Austronesian language and a close cousin of both MalayMalay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
varieties in Malaysia, Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
and Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
. Because of this close relationship, there are many cognates between the two languages stretching back many millennia. Many cognates were re-borrowed into in the language when Old Malay became the official language of trade and documentation during the pre-Hispanic era of Philippine history, as evidenced by the Laguna Copperplate Inscription
Laguna Copperplate Inscription
The Laguna Copperplate Inscription is the earliest known written document found in the Philippines. The plate was found in 1989 by a sand laborer working on Lumbang River near the outlet to Laguna de Bay, in Barangay Wawa, Lumban, in the Laguna province.The inscription on the plate was first...
of 900 AD and accounts of Pigafetta
Pigafetta
Pigafetta is a genus of two palm species in the family Arecaceae. They are native to the Maluku Islands, Sulawesi, and Western New Guinea where they grow near rivers and in forest clearings up to 900 m in elevation. It is named for Antonio Pigafetta and is sometimes misspelled as Pigafettia...
at the time of the Spanish arrival in the country 5 centuries later. This is a small sample of the thousands of cognates present between Tagalog and Malay.
| Tagalog | Malay | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ako | Aku | I (first person) |
| Balik | Balik | Return |
| Bansà | Bangsa | Country |
| Daán | Jalan | Street, road |
| Hangin | Angin | Wind |
| Itik | Itik | Duck |
| Itim | Hitam | Black |
| Kalapatî | Merpati | Pigeon |
| Lalaki | Lelaki, Laki–laki | Male |
| Langit | Langit | Sky, Heaven |
| Sakit | Sakit | Ill |
| Mura | Murah | Cheap |
| Pangulo | Penghulu | President |
| Pulà | Merah | Red |
| Putî | Putih | White |
| Saksi | Saksi | Witness |
| Sarap | Sedap | Delicious |
| Sulat | Surat | Letter |
| Tamis | Manis | Sweet |
| Taon | Tahun | Year |
| Utak | Otak | Brain |
| Mahal | Mahal | Expensive |
| Sintá | Cinta | Love (Possessive) |
| Anak | Anak | Child |
| Kanan | Kanan | Right |
| Guntíng | Gunting | Scissor |
| Lima | Lima | Five |
| Ikaw | Kau | You |
| Durián | Durian | Durian |
| Tulong | Tolong | Help |
| Pulò | Pulau | Island |
| Rambután | Rambutan | Rambutan |
| Batík | Batik | Spot, speckle |
| Batò | Batu | Stone |
| Lahat | Lalat | All |
| Mulâ | Mula | From |
| Radyo | Radio | Radio |
| Medya | Media | Media |
| Sanggol | Sanggul | Infant |
| Dagat | Darat | Sea |
| Payong | Payung | Umbrella |
| Kita | Kita | We (1st person dual, i.e. "you and I") |
| Kami | Kami | We (excludes Clusivity In linguistics, clusivity is a distinction between inclusive and exclusive first-person pronouns and verbal morphology, also called inclusive "we" and exclusive "we"... addresee) |
| Dingding | Dinding | Wall |
| Mangga | Mangga | Mango |
| Halagâ | Harga | Price |
| Babae | Bibi | Female |
| Timog | Timur | South |
| Ulan | Hujan | Rain |
| Buwaya | Buaya | Crocodile |
| Bawang | Bawang | Garlic |
| Apat | Empat | Four |
| Ánim | Enam | Six |
| Salitá | Cerita | Word |
| Balitá | Berita | News |
| Kambing | Kambing | Goat |
| Tahanan | Tahanan | House |
| Halaman | Halaman | Plant |
| Kapag | Kapan | When |
| Ulat | Ulat | Report |
| Bakit | Bukit | Why |
| Buwan | Bulan | Month |
| Laban | Lawan | Oppose (v.), Opposition (n.) |
| Langka | Nangka | Jackfruit |
| Balimbing | Belimbing | Starfruit |
| Aprikot | Aprikot | Apricot |
| Lemon | Lemon | Lemon |
| Papaya | Pepaya | Papaya |
| Bunga | Bunga | Fruit |
| Lawa | Rawa | Lake |
| Helikopter | Helikopter | Helicopter |
| Balakáng | Belakang | Hip |
| Libo | Ribu | Thousand |
| Utang | Utang | Debt |
SanskritSanskritSanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
| Tagalog | Sanskrit | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Alak | Arak | Wine |
| Bahala | Bahala | Fate |
| Bathala | Bathala | Almighty |
| Bahagi | Bhag | Part Portion |
| Budhî | Bodhi | Conscience |
| Diwa | Jiwa | Spirit, Consciousness |
| Diwata Diwata In Philippine mythology, a Diwata , also known as Encantada, is a mythological figure similar to fairies or nymphs. They are nature spirits and live one with mother earth... |
Devanta | Fairy/Nymph |
| Dukha | Dukkha | Destitute |
| Guro | Guru Guru A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the... |
Teacher, Mentor |
| Karma Karma Karma in Indian religions is the concept of "action" or "deed", understood as that which causes the entire cycle of cause and effect originating in ancient India and treated in Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh philosophies.... |
Karma | Karma |
| Kathâ | Katha | Creation |
| Mahárlika | Mahardhikka | Nobility |
| Mukhâ | Mukha | Face |
| Sutlâ | Sutra | Silk |
| Visayas | Vijaya | Major islands group in central Philippines. Main islands are: Samar Samar Samar, formerly and also known as Western Samar, is a province in the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Catbalogan City and covers the western portion of Samar as well as several islands in the Samar Sea located to the west of the mainland... , Leyte Leyte Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran... , Cebu Cebu Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands... , Bohol Bohol Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of and a coastline long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines... , Negros Negros Negros is an island of the Philippines located in the Visayas, at . It is the third largest island in the country, with a land area of 13,328 km²... , and Panay Panay Panay may refer to*Panay Island*Panay *Panay, Capiz*Panay River*Panay Gulf* USS Panay *Panay incident... . |
HindiHindiStandard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
| Tagalog | Hindi | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Achara | Achar | Pickled Pickles |
| Tsaa | Chai | Tea |
| Beranda | Veranda | Roofed open gallery porch |
| Mahal | Mahal | Beloved Sweetheart |
| Sabón | Saboon | Soap |
| Syampu | Champo | Shampoo |
GujaratiGujarati languageGujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
- Bumbay (Gujarati: Bombay) – Term used for people of South Asian descent.
Arabic
- Alam (Arabic: Alham) – Knowledge, understanding.
- Hiyâ (Arabic: Hayaa) - to feel shame, blush.
- Hukum(Arabic: Hukum) - Judge
Min NanMin NanThe Southern Min languages, or Min Nan , are a family of Chinese languages spoken in southern Fujian, eastern Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan, and southern Zhejiang provinces of China, and by descendants of emigrants from these areas in diaspora....
(HokkienHokkienHokkien is a Hokkien word corresponding to Standard Chinese "Fujian". It may refer to:* Hokkien dialect, a dialect of Min Nan Chinese spoken in Southern Fujian , Taiwan, South-east Asia, and elsewhere....
), Yueh (Cantonese), and Mandarin Chinese
During the time when several Kingdoms existed in the area of what is now Luzon(in reference to the Luzon Empire or Kingdom of Tondo), diplomatic ties were established with the Ming dynasty. Contact also reached as far as the Sultan of Sulu. As a result, many Chinese loanwords were gained, some examples are:- Apo (Hokkien: 阿公/A–kong) – Grandfather (the word 'apo' means grandchild/ren in Tagalog).
- Ate (Hokkien: 阿姊/A–chí) – Eldest sister.
- Bakya (Hokkien: 木屐/ba̍k-kia̍h) – Native wooden sandals.
- BatchoyBatchoyBatchoy is a noodle soup made with pork organs, crushed pork cracklings, shrimp, vegetables, chicken stock, chicken breast, beef loin and round noodles. Its origins can be traced to the district of La Paz, Iloilo City in the Philippines, hence it is oftentimes referred to as La Paz...
(Hokkien: 肉水/bah-chúi) – Pork in soup. - Bihon (Hokkien: 米粉/bí-hún) – Rice vermicelliRice vermicelliRice vermicelli are thin noodles made from rice and are a form of rice noodles. They are sometimes referred to as rice noodles or rice sticks, but they should not be confused with cellophane noodles, which is another type of vermicelli....
- Bitsin (Hokkien: 味精/bī-cheng) – monosodium glutamateMonosodium glutamateMonosodium glutamate, also known as sodium glutamate or MSG, is the sodium salt of glutamic acid, one of the most abundant naturally occurring non-essential amino acids....
. - Chekwa (Slang/corruption for Intsik, see ‘intsik’.)
- Daw/Raw (Mandarin: TaoTaoDao or Tao is a Chinese word meaning 'way', 'path', 'route', or sometimes more loosely, 'doctrine' or 'principle'...
, Originally meant "God", "Way", or "God's Way") – He said/she said/they said/it was said/reportedly/supposedly. - Ditse (Hokkien: 二姊/Dī–chí) – Second eldest sister.
- Hikaw (Hokkien: 耳鉤/hī–kau) – Earrings.
- Jusi (Hokkien: 富絲/hù-si) – Cloth made from pineapple fibers.
- Impo (Hokkien: 阿媽/A–má) – Grandmother.
- Ingkong (Hokkien: 阿公/A–kong) – Grandfather.
- Intsík (Hokkien: Din Tiak) – Chino.
- Kuya (哥哥; Cantonese: ko–ko; Hokkien: keh–ya) – Eldest brother.
- LumpiaLumpiaLumpia are pastries of Chinese origin similar to fresh popiah or fried spring rolls popular in Southeast Asia. The term lumpia derives from Hokkien lunpia , which is an alternate term for popiah...
(Hokkien: 潤餅/jūn-piáⁿ) – lumpia/spring rolls. - Mami (Hokkien: 肉麵/bah-mī) – Meat and noodles in soup.
- Pati (Hokkien: ) – Including.
- PancitPancitPancit or pansit is the term for noodles in Filipino cuisine. Noodles were introduced into the Philippines by the Chinese and have since been adopted into local cuisine. The term pancit is derived from the Hokkien pian i sit which means "something conveniently cooked fast." Different kinds of...
(Hokkien: 便ê食/piān-ê-si̍t) – Noodles with sauce. - Petsay (Hokkien: 白菜/pe̍h-chhài) – Chinese cabbageChinese cabbageChinese cabbage can refer to two distinct varieties of Chinese leaf vegetables used often in Chinese cuisine. These vegetables are both related to the Western cabbage, and are of the same species as the common turnip...
. - Pesa (Hokkien: 白sa̍h) – Plain boiled.
- Santse (Hokkien: 三姊/San–chí) – Third eldest sister.
- Sitsit (Hokkien: ) – Pssst...
- Siyansi (Hokkien: 煎匙/chian-sî) – Spoon-like kitchen turner/spatulaSpatulaThe term spatula is used to refer to various small implements with a broad, flat, flexible blade used to mix, spread and lift materials including foods, drugs, plaster and paints...
. - Siyopaw/siopaoSiopaoSiopao is a Hokkien term for bāozi , literally meaning "steamed buns". It has also been incorporated in to Thai cuisine where it is called salapao ....
(Hokkien: 燒包/sio-pau) – Dough ball filled with pork/beef/carabao meat. - Sotanghon (Hokkien: 苏冬粉/so-tang-hun) – Cellophane noodlesCellophane noodlesCellophane noodles are a type of transparent noodle made from starch , and water.They are generally sold in dried form, boiled to reconstitute, then used in soups, stir fried dishes,...
- Suki (Hokkien: 主客/chu–khe) – Regular Customer.
- Sungki (Hokkien: 伸齒/chhun-khí) – Malocclusion.
- Susi (Hokkien: 鎖匙/só–sî) – Key.
- Tikoy (Hokkien: 甜粿/Tih–ke) – Chinese New Year's cake Nian gaoNian gaoNiángāo, Year cake or Chinese New Year's cake is a food prepared from glutinous rice and consumed in Chinese cuisine. It is available in Asian supermarkets and from health food stores. While it can be eaten all year round, traditionally it is most popular during Chinese New Year...
. - Tingi (Hokkien:) – Selling at retail.
- Tokwa (Hokkien: 豆干/tāu-koaⁿ) – Soybean curd
- Totso (Hokkien: 豆油醋魚/tāu–iû-chhò͘-hî) – Sauteed fish.
- Toyo (Hokkien: 豆油/tāu–iû) – Soy sauceSoy sauceSoy sauce is a condiment produced by fermenting soybeans with Aspergillus oryzae or Aspergillus sojae molds, along with water and salt...
. - Tausi (Hokkien: 豆豉/tāu-si; 'beans fermented/in brine') – Fermented black beans.
JapaneseJapanese languageis a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
During the era of the several Kingdoms in the Luzon area, and even in the Visayas, trade was established between them and South East and East Asia(especially Japan and China). Word borrowings from Japanese were most likely from trade, some examples are:- Dahan–dahan (Nihongo: だんだん dandan) – Slowly, gradually.
- Haba (Nihongo: 幅 haba) – Width or Breadth.
- Kaban (Nihongo: 鞄 kaban – Bag, satchel.) – Sack of rice.
- Kampay (Nihongo: 乾杯 kanpai) - Cheers!
- Katol (Nihongo: 蚊取線香 katori-senkou) – Mosquito coil.
- Jack-en-poy (NIhongo: じゃんけんぽん jankenpon) - Rock-paper-scissors
- Tamang-tama (Nihongo: 偶々 tama-tama) - coincidentally
- Toto (Nihongo: おとうと otōto) - younger brother
- KaraokeKaraokeis a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
(Nihongo: カラオケ karaoke) – A form of musical entertainment, usually social in nature where one sings from a selection of songs with the aid of an audio–video guide that provides the instrumental accompaniment and flashes the scripts of the lyrics for the player to read.
NahuatlNahuatlNahuatl is thought to mean "a good, clear sound" This language name has several spellings, among them náhuatl , Naoatl, Nauatl, Nahuatl, Nawatl. In a back formation from the name of the language, the ethnic group of Nahuatl speakers are called Nahua...
(AztecAztecThe Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
MexicanMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
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Tagalog gained Nahuatl words through Spanish and with the galleon trade with Mexico during the Hispanic era.- Akuwete (Nahuatl: Achiotl via Mex. Sp.: Achiote) – Annatto seeds.
- Kamatsile/Kamatsili/Camachile (Nahuatl: Cuanhmochitl via Mex. Sp.: Guamáchili) – Sweet tamarind or Manila tamarind.
- Kamote (Nahuatl: Camotli via Mex. Sp.: Camote) – Sweet potato.
- Pitaka (Nahuatl: Petlacalli via Mex. Sp.: Petaca) – Suitcase) – Coin purse.
- Sayote (Nahuatl: Chayotli via Mex. Sp.: Chayote) – A Mexican squash.
- Singkamas (Nahuatl: Xicamatl via Mex. Sp.: Jicama) – A sweet root crop (water chestnut).
- Sukil (Nahuatl: Xochitl via Mex. Sp.: Suchil) – A flower.
- Tatay (Nahuatl: Tatl) – Father.
- Tiangge/Tiyangge (Nahuatl: Tianquiztli via Mex. Sp.: Tianguis) – Seasonal markets.
- Tsokolate (Nahuatl: Xocolatl or Chocolatl via Mex. Sp.: Chocolate) – Chocolate.
- Tsonggo (Nahuatl via Mex. Sp.: Chango) – Monkey.
- Sapote (Nahuatl: Tzapotl via Mex. Sp.: Chico sapote) – Sapodilla, now called Chico or Tsiko. However the word Zapote remained in the minds of Filipinos as a place i.e. Zapote, Cavite.
Arawak–Taíno–Caribbean/Central American
- Bayabas (Always Plu.) (Arawak: Guayabo via Mex. Sp.: Guayaba) – Guava.
- Kasikwe/Cacique (Arawak via Mex. Sp.: Cacique) – Chief, boss.
- Kaimito/Caimito (Unknown but somewhere in Caribbean/Central American via Mex. Sp.: Caimito) – Star fruit.
- Mani (Always Sing.) Taíno: Maní via Mex. Sp.: Maní) – Peanut. Slang for clitoris.
- Mais (Taíno: Maíz via Mex. Sp.: Maíz) – Maiz.
- Papaya (Arawak: Papáia via Mex. Sp. Papaya) – Papaya.
- Patatas (Always plu.) (Taíno: Batata via Mex. Sp.: Patata) – Potato.