Philippine Embassy Celebrates Filipino Loan Words in the Oxford English Dictionary
In 1884, the very first Filipino word was officially added to the English language: abaca. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it is “a kind of banana plant, Musa textilis, native to the Philippines, the petioles of which yield a strong fiber. Also: the fiber itself, used for making paper, ropes, matting, etc.; Manila hemp.”
Since then, the Philippines has added more and more words to the English language. On June 14, 2019, the Philippine Embassy in London celebrated these Filipino loan words to the English language, including English words that have been Filipinized to have new meaning (even Filipinized is an added word to the OED), such as comfort room (other countries refer to it as restroom), bold (sexually explicit film, AKA pornography), gimmick (night out), and high blood (angry, agitated). Together, these words and more make up the rich and colorful vocabulary of Philippine English.
Interestingly, upon perusing the dictionary, we discovered that jeepney, a word added in the dictionary in 1986, is a derivative of the word jitney, which means a small bus that carries passengers over a regular route on a flexible schedule. In the 1950s, the word jitney was combined with jeep to form a new word, jeepney, which refers to a converted bus from a jeep.
Over 200 Words Added from the Philippines
“Filipinos have enriched the English vocabulary since the language was first introduced to the country on a wide scale at the turn of the 19th century. Since then, Filipinos have not only contributed new words but have also expanded the meanings of existing ones,” said Ambassador Antonio M. Lagdameo. Since 1884, there have been 206 Filipino words added to the dictionary.
Dr. Danica Salazar, OED’s World English editor, said the OED will continue to welcome Filipino words into the English language. “The dictionary is committed to making space for words from the Philippines, as by doing so, we recognize how its Filipino speakers contribute to the richness and diversity of English,” she said.
“It is quite noticeable that many of the Philippines’ contributions to the Oxford English Dictionary are words related to food and pop culture,” said Lagdameo.
Below is a list of some Filipino loan words and Filipinized English words added in the Oxford English Dictionary in the last 30 years.
abaca (noun): A kind of banana plant, Musa textilis, native to the Philippines, the petioles of which yield a strong fiber. Also: the fiber itself, used for making paper, ropes, matting, etc.; Manila hemp.
accomplish (verb): to add the required information to (a form or questionnaire); to fill in, to complete
adobo (noun): in Filipino cookery: a spicy stew, typically consisting of pork, poultry, or seafood cooked in a vinegar-based sauce, seasoned with garlic, soy sauce, bay leaves, and peppercorns
advanced (adjective): of a clock or watch: indicating a time ahead of the correct time; = fast
Aling (noun): a title of courtesy or respect prefixed to the first name of an older woman
arnis (noun): any of various forms of self-defense and martial arts traditionally practiced in the Philippines, characterized by the use of sticks, bladed weapons, and bare hands in combat
ate (noun): an elder sister. Also used as a respectful title or form of address for an older woman
baby back rib (noun): a rib of pork cut from the upper portion of the back, which is shorter than a spare rib; usually in plural, as baby back ribs (sometimes with singular agreement)
bagoong (noun): in Filipino cookery: a sauce or paste made from fermented or salted fish, used as an ingredient in dishes or as a condiment
bahala na (noun): expressing an attitude of optimistic acceptance or fatalistic resignation, especially in acknowledging that the outcome of an uncertain or difficult situation is beyond one's control or is preordained; ‘que sera sera’; hence also as noun: an approach to life characterized by this attitude
balikbayan (noun): a Filipino visiting or returning to the Philippines after a period of living in another country
balikbayan box (noun): a carton shipped or brought to the Philippines from another country by a Filipino who has been living overseas, typically containing items such as food, clothing, toys, and household products
balisong (noun): a folding pocket knife having a handle consisting of two parts which divide and pivot round to enclose the blade, typically used as a weapon
balut (noun): a fertilized duck's egg boiled and eaten in the shell while still warm, a traditional dish in parts of South-East Asia, and regarded as a delicacy in the Philippines
baon (noun): money, food, or other provisions taken to school, work, or on a journey
barangay (noun): in the Philippines: a village, suburb, or other demarcated neighborhood; a small territorial and administrative district forming the most local level of government
barkada (noun): a group of friends
baro’t saya (noun): a traditional Philippine costume for women, consisting of a collarless blouse and a long wrap-around skirt
barong (noun): barong Tagalog
barong Tagalog (noun): a lightweight, embroidered shirt for men, worn untucked and traditionally made of piña or a similar vegetable fiber
Batangas knife (noun): a folding pocket knife with a handle consisting of two parts which divide and pivot round to enclose the blade, typically used as a weapon
batchmate (noun): a member of the same graduation class as another; a classmate; also in extended use
bayanihan (noun): a traditional system of mutual assistance in which the members of a community work together to accomplish a difficult task; in later use also: a spirit of civic unity and cooperation among Filipinos
bihon (noun): In Filipino cookery: very long, thin noodles made with rice flour; also: a dish made with such noodles.
bodega (noun): a storehouse or storeroom
bold (adjective): of a film, scene, etc.: having sexual content; erotic, risqué; also of an actor: appearing in sexually explicit films; having a sexually provocative image
bongga (adjective): extravagant, flamboyant; impressive, stylish; also as a more general term of approbation: excellent, great
calamansi (noun): the fruit of the calamondin
calamondin (noun): more fully calamondin orange. A small, tart-fleshed citrus fruit with orange skin, produced by a dwarf tree thought to be a natural hybrid between the mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata) and the kumquat (Citrus japonica); also: the tree itself, which is native to the Philippines and Indonesia, and is sometimes grown as a houseplant
carinderia (noun): a food stall with a small seating area, typically in a market or at a roadside, selling cooked food at low prices
carnap (verb): to steal a motor vehicle
carnapper (noun): a car thief or a person who steals a motor vehicle
comfort room (noun): (originally) a room in a public building or workplace furnished with amenities such as facilities for resting, personal hygiene, and storage of personal items (now rare); (later) a public toilet (now chiefly Philippine English)
despedida (noun): more fully, despedida party. A social event honoring someone who is about to depart on a journey or leave an organization; a going-away party
dine-in (noun and adjective): The serving or consumption of food on the premises of the shop or restaurant in which it was bought. Of, relating to, or providing food for consumption on the premises
dirty ice cream (noun): in Filipino cookery: ice cream of a type that is typically made from coconut milk, sold from handcarts by street vendors
dirty kitchen (noun): a kitchen where everyday cooking is done by household staff, as distinct from a kitchen that is purely for show or for special use by the owner of the house
duende (noun): in the folklore of the Philippines: a supernatural being or spirit, typically short in stature and resembling a pixie or imp
ensaimada (noun): In Filipino cookery: a spiral-shaped pastry made with sweet yeast dough
estafa (noun): criminal deception, fraud; dishonest dealing gimmick (noun): a night out with friends (e.g., “We have a gimmick tonight at QC.”)
go down (verb): to alight from a vehicle (e.g., “I need to go down at EDSA.”)
halo-halo (noun): a dessert made of mixed fruits, sweet beans, milk, and shaved ice, typically topped with purple yam, crème caramel, and ice cream
high blood (adjective): angry, agitated (e.g., “Don’t be so high blood!”)
jeepney (noun): a jitney bus converted from a jeep
kare-kare (noun): in Filipino cookery: a stew of oxtail, tripe, meat, and vegetables, cooked in a thick, peanut-based sauce and colored with annatto (atsuete)
kikay (noun and adjective): n. a flirtatious girl or woman; a girl or woman interested in beauty products and fashion; adj. belonging to or characteristic of a kikay; of a girl or woman: interested in beauty products and fashion; stylishly feminine
kikay kit (noun): A soft case in which a woman's toiletries and cosmetics are stored
kilig (noun and adjective): n. exhilaration or elation caused by an exciting or romantic experience; an instance of this, a thrill; adj. 1. of a person: exhilarated by an exciting or romantic experience; thrilled, elated, gratified; 2. causing or expressing a rush of excitement or exhilaration; thrilling, enthralling, captivating
KKB (interjection and adjective): ‘Kaniya-kaniyang bayad,’ literally ‘each one pays their own,’ used esp. to indicate that the cost of a meal is to be shared. Also as adjective (e.g., “Let’s eat out, KKB!”)
kuya (noun): An elder brother. Also used as a respectful title or form of address for an older man
lechon (noun): a whole pig roasted on a spit, usually over coals; a dish or portion of this
Mang (noun): a title of courtesy or respect prefixed to the first name of an older man
monkey-eating eagle (noun): The great Philippine eagle, Pithecophaga jefferyi, a very large eagle native to the Philippines
palay (noun): unhusked rice
pan de sal (noun): a yeast-raised bread roll made of flour, eggs, sugar and salt, widely consumed in the Philippines, especially for breakfast
pancit (noun): in Filipino cookery: noodles; (also) any of various Filipino dishes made with noodles
panciteria (noun): an inexpensive restaurant, typically serving noodle dishes
pasalubong (noun): a gift or souvenir given to a friend or relative by a person who has returned from a trip or arrived for a visit
pom-pom (noun): general attributive, in relation to prostitutes and prostitution, chiefly in the Philippines, Japan, and adjacent regions
salvage (verb): to apprehend and execute (a suspected criminal) without trial
sari-sari store (noun): a small neighborhood store selling a variety of goods
sinigang (noun): in Filipino cookery: a type of soup made with meat, shrimp, or fish and flavored with a sour ingredient such as tamarind or guava
sisig (noun): in Filipino cookery: a dish consisting of chopped pork, onions, and chilies, usually served on a hot plate, seasoned with calamansi and topped with an egg
sorbetes (noun): in Filipino cookery: ice cream of a type that is typically made from coconut milk, sold from handcarts by street vendors
tabo (noun): a dipper used to scoop up water from a pail or bucket while washing, traditionally made of coconut shell or bamboo but now more commonly made of plastic
teleserye (noun): a television soap opera
tita (noun): an aunt; also used as a respectful title or form of address for an older woman
tito (noun): an uncle; also used as a respectful title or form of address for an older man traffic (adjective): marked by slow movement of vehicles; congested
trapo (noun): a politician perceived as belonging to a conventional and corrupt ruling class
turon (noun): in Filipino cookery: sliced bananas or other fruit rolled in a thin layer of pastry and deep-fried, served as a dessert or snack.
ube (noun): a variety of yam (species name, Dioscorea alata) producing tubers with purple or white flesh, esp. used in Filipino cookery. Also: a tuber of such a plant
utang na loob (noun): a sense of obligation to return a favor owed to someone
viand (noun): meat, seafood, or vegetable dish that accompanies rice in a typical Filipino meal
yaya (noun): woman employed by a family to look after a child, or a sick or elderly person; also as a familiar form of address
