Lost words and phrases | Lifestyle.INQ

OCTOBER 27, 2022

I’m thankful when somebody points out an error in what I’ve written. At least I’m sure there’s someone still reading me.

Here are some more Tagalog lessons from an English teacher (which means they’re not quite reliable).

Hitik—bent due to weight. “Ang punò ng santol namin ay hitik ng bunga.”

Humagulgol—sobbed uncontrollably

Balo—widow; widower

Tigib—overburdened; overloaded; filled. As in the first line of the song “Anak Dalita”: “Ako’y anak ng dalita at tigib ng luha…”

Gumanap—performed; took the role of

Babalâ—warning. Road closed.

Regadera—sprinkler. Used to refer to a manual tin sprinkler with a spout like a shower head

Pabugsô bugsô; panakâ-nakâ—sporadic, as in rain showers

Ngawâ ng ngawâ—nagging

Tilî—shrieking; shrill shouting. “Si Tonyang ay tili ng tili sa kanyang mga anak buong araw.”

Bagong tao— young man

Kimî—shy; timid

Kembot or kimbot—movement of the hips while walking

Mabagót—to be annoyed

Pukawin—to wake up someone

Bangaw—big fly; a big eater

Pulutóng—crowd

Am—broth of boiling rice

Pumanaw—died; lost

Pahabol—postscript

Suecos—old term for bakya or wooden shoes.

Bakya—also refers to wooden shoes but has gained a more popular meaning. Bakya refers to the CD crowd that watched Tagalog movies. Bakya today has gotten to mean baduy, or banal, commonplace, promdi, corny.

Pumuti na ang mata; pumuti na ang uwak—a long, long wait

Inabot na ng siyam-siyam—as above. Refers to endless monsoon rain

Kawanihan—bureau

Kawani—employee or assistant

Maykapal—God; the all powerful

Makipot—narrow

Pakipot—pretending not to want something. Ex: “Katakutakot na pakipot gusto naman palang sumama.”

Nahirinan—a block or obstacle in the throat. Nahirinan siya dahil sa bilis ng pagkain ng pulburon.

Lalawigan—probinsya; province, rural area

Matunog—resounding. Matunog ang pangalan ni Grace Poe sa mga ibig siyang kumandidato

Sulipat—duling or banlag. Cross-eyed; squint-eyed

Sukdulan—maximum. Ex: “Tapat na ang presyo niyan; sukdulan na ang tawad ninyo.”

Peryodismo—journalism

Mabatid—matuto; understand

Batibot—sturdy; robust—used to describe children. Also refers to a sturdy bamboo and later metal chair often rented for big fiestas or dinners

Dalisay—pure. Often refers to food, although some girls in the old days were named Dalisay (also Ligaya, Luzviminda, Tagumpay)

Sugpuin —pawalang saysay; to quash

Lipi; lahi; angkan—race

Tagapagsalaysay—story-teller; raconteur

Matabil; madaldal—talkative; chatterbox

Nagbuhát ng kamay—beat up. “Pinagbuhatan ng kamay ang asawa kaya umalis.”

Lumikas—left; avacuated.

Lumaklak—to drink in big gulps. “Magugulat ka kung lumaklak ng ginebra yang mabait mong mayor.”

Lupalop—continent

Mabagoong—bagoong is a sauce of fermented fish or small shrimps. Mabagoong, metaphorically, is to be left to rot. Ex: “Nabagoong na ang project namin sa katagalan.”

Nagbingi-bingihan; pasok sa isang tainga labas sa kabila—pretending to be deaf. “In one ear, but out the other.”

Pumapalagpag ang tainga—pleased about being complimented

Nagpanting ang tainga—Blood rushed to the ears in anger

Padaan sa ilong—an insincere invitation

Tumangos ang ilong—(nose grew tall) became swell-headed

Bukambibig—an often repeated word, name or expression. As in “Susmariosep”

Nakagat ang dila—remembered someone

Nahulog ang kutsara/kutsilyo—the belief is that a visitor (male or female) is about to come.

Magdilang anghel—a well wisher whose good wishes, one hopes, come true. “Siguradong panalo ang pelikula mo.” “Magdila ka sana ng anghel.”

Tulo laway—envious

Dinikit ng laway— flimsily made product. In the old days called “Made in Japan.” Now Japanese products are superior and expensive. China is the new (prewar) Japanese producer of cheap dinikit ng laway products.

Ngipin sa ngipin—a tooth for a tooth

Sira ang bakod; bungi—gap toothed, some teeth missing

Kabagang—bosom pal

Pili ng pili natapat sa bungi—an extremely choosy person ends up with a toothless or worthless inferior partner.

Bungal—also means toothless

Bingi—epithets for the hard of hearing: bingengot, bingalot, tengang kawali

Kalbo, duling and other physical defects were made fun of in children’s counting rhymes.

Isa, dalawa, tatlo, ang tatay mong kalbo

Umakyat sa mabolo, inabot ng bagyo

Apat, lima, anim, ang tatay mong duling

Nanghuli ng pating sa balon na malalim

Pito, walo, siyam, malaki ang tiyan

Humigop ng sabaw siyam na tapayan

Negro—(dark) nognog; egoy

Bulutonggo—before smallpox (not chicken pox) was eradicated by vaccination, many people had pockmarked faces. They became the butt of cruel riddles like “taong buhay, inaanay.”

Butusin—big bellied

Lalaugan; lalamunan—throat (from which the word lamon—to eat voraciously—was extracted.)

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

MOST VIEWED STORIES