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.)