5 Filipino Words That You Should Include in Your Vocabulary

Filipino is the official national language of the Philippines. It is also the term for the country’s citizen. Like me. I am a Filipino. My parents are Filipinos.

But did you know that dozens of Filipino words are now officially in the Oxford English Dictionary? Yes. The list is getting longer.

Here are five from the list:

1. Kuya –a term used as a sign of respect to an older male relative such as a brother, cousin, or family friend. It can also be used to address an older man even if they’re just an acquaintance or a stranger.

• If you have a biological brother, you can call him kuya apart from calling him bru or bhaee.

Example: My kuya John is three years older than me. He is an engineer.

2. Suki –a term used to refer to a customer who purchases products or services from the same provider.

Example: I own Kumar’s store and Mr. And Mrs. Negi are my suki. They only buy their groceries from my shop.

3. Baon –money, food, or other provisions taken to work, school, or on a long journey.

• If you’re working and you take food for lunch from home to eat at lunch break, then that food is called baon. The same applies to the money that parents give to their children when they go to school.

Example: “Don’t forget your baon, else you’ll starve at lunch,” Mrs. Rana reminded her daughter who is in fifth grade.

Baon to school for two kids
(photo credit: vegan friend, DK)

 

4. Yo-yo –is a toy consisting of an axle connected to two disks, and a string looped around the axle. (See photo).

• In many countries around the world, a yo-yo competition is being held every year. This competition normally consists of two parts, a set of compulsory tricks and a freestyle, where points are scored for each and the winner is the yo-yo player who scores the most points. Compulsory tricks, also known as a trick ladder, are a set of tricks that have been chosen before the contest, and the competitor must successfully complete each trick on their first or second attempt to score points.

Yo-yo toy that children and adult enjoy.

5. Halo-halo –("mixed together") is a popular dessert made of mixed fruits, boiled sweet beans, sago, agar jelly, evaporated milk, and shaved ice, typically topped with purple yam, and ice cream. It is served in a tall or wide-brimmed bowl. Yum!

So which of these words would you use first?