LANSONES (LANZONES)
A fruit tree belonging to the family Meliaceae. In English, Lansium domesticum is known as langsat or lanzones. In Thailand, they are known as longkong. Scientific name: Lansium domesticum According to...
View ArticleBALUT
balut duck egg with a developed embryo Sometimes, the embryo past 17 days of incubation is so developed you can feel the feathers and the crunch of its bones in your mouth. Balut is a native delicacy...
View ArticleADIDAS
adidas chicken feet In the Philippines, adidas is the slang term for chicken feet, which are usually grilled and each skewered on a thin wooden stick. It’s a popular street food. Why is it called...
View ArticlePULBURON
Fondly known as “Filipino crack” to young FilAms, polvoron is a sweet molded treat whose basic ingredients are toasted flour, margarine or butter, sugar and powdered milk. Polvoron now comes in various...
View ArticleOPO
This is the polite version of the Tagalog word for ‘yes.’ Oo. Yes. (casual) Opo. Yes. (respectful) The word po is often used when talking to someone much older than you. Compare the following...
View ArticleDOON
doon there dumoon to go there naroon, naroroon, nandoon is there paroroonan destination kinaroroonan whereabouts Nakita ko siya doon. I saw her there. / I saw him there. Ang kasalungat ng salitang...
View ArticleHELMET
In the Philippines, the English word “helmet” not only refers to the protective headgear worn by motorcyclists and the like — it’s also Filipino slang for grilled chicken heads, sold as a snack by...
View ArticleMASIBA
root word: sibà (gluttony) masiba voracious taong masiba glutton masiba sa pagkain gluttonous with food Huwag kang makikisama sa mga lasenggo at sa masiba sa pagkain. Do not join drunkards or those who...
View ArticleTAKAW
takaw greed matakaw greedy takaw-mata “greedy with the eyes” = passing fancy matakaw ang mata wanting to eat more than one can handle Ang takaw mo! You’re eating like you’re ravenous. Matakaw usually...
View ArticleMASANGIT
root word: sangít sangít / masangít to get hooked onto while falling This is not that common a word in contemporary Tagalog conversations. The Cebuanos have their own meaning for it in their language....
View ArticleBAKAW
This word has multiple meanings in standard dictionaries, though not that widely used. bakáw heron bakáw crane isang uri ng ibong kumakain ng isda a type of bird that eats fish It’s more common to use...
View ArticleHUWAG
huwag don’t Huwag na. Never mind. Huwag kang matakot. Don’t be afraid. Huwag kang mag-selos. Don’t be jealous. Huwag kang magalit. Don’t be angry. Huwag kang umalis. Don’t leave. (Don’t go.) Huwag mo...
View ArticleSIOMAI
Siomai is the Filipino term for steamed Chinese dumplings that are usually filled with pork, occasionally shrimp. It’s what Americans call “siumai” (siu mai) or “shumai” (shu mai). In the Mandarin...
View ArticleGUWAPO
from the Spanish guapo guwapo / gwapo Guwapo ba ako? Am I handsome? Ang guwapo mo! You’re handsome! Ang guwapo mo talaga. You’re really so handsome. Ang gwapo n’ya! He’s so handsome! Ang gwapo n’ya...
View ArticlePOGI
Pogi. Handsome. Hey, pogi! Hey, good-looking! Pogi ka. You’re handsome. Ang pogi n’ya! He’s so handsome! Ang pogi n’ya talaga. He’s really so handsome. Pogi ba ako? Am I good-looking? Ang pogi mo!...
View ArticleSAAN
Saan? Where? Saan ang punta mo? Where you going? Saan ka pupunta? Where are you going? Saan ang daan papuntang Maynila? Where is the way to Manila? Saan sila nakatira? Where do they live? Saan sila...
View ArticleSHING-A-LING
Shingaling is a deep-fried flour snack that has the shape of fat string beans. Shing-a-ling is often mistaken for deep-fried chicken intestines! This crunchy Filipino snack reportedly originated from...
View ArticleKAPAMPANGAN
Kapampangan = Capampan͠gan referring to the language and people of Pampanga province also known as Pampango or Pampangueño a woman from Pampanga is called a Pampangueña Kapampangan ka ba? Are you a...
View ArticleTSITSARON
Chicharon! Yes, it’s more often spelled as chicharon, due to the word being derived from the Spanish chicharrón. But in native Tagalog orthography, it’s spelled tsitsaron. A few people gloss over the...
View Article