Filipino Terms with No English Translations
Filipinos will always have a term for everything. Although it may seem and sound funny for foreigners; it has always been a knack to provide a term or phrase to something unexplainable. Some words vary in terms but totally mean the same thing, while some words are just made up by someone then passed through word of mouth.
Here are some of the terms that Filipinos use, and let us try to provide the closest definition for it so you can understand what it stands for.
1. Kilig
Photo grabbed from fanpop.com
The closest definition to that is to feel giddy whenever you see someone you like. It’s like the feeling of being in cloud 9 and being happily in love at the same time.
How to use in a sentence: I felt kilig the moment my crush talked to me!
2. Umay
Photo grabbed from vintage.johnnyjet.com
You get umay when you cannot take in any more food. It is not the same as “busog,” which means “full” in English, but umay is more closely related to “having more than enough.” Umay is not just about food, but it can also pertain to people like if you’ve been with a person for a long time and you want to say that you’ve had enough of his face–in a not-so-subtle way.
How to use in a sentence: “I don’t want to eat anymore because I’m umay.”
3. Sayang
Photo from 9gag.com
Sayang is closely translated to “you’ve almost had it.” It’s not the same as “almost,” because almost is “muntik” when translated to Tagalog. It is an interjection that you say when you are frustrated over something.
How to use in a sentence: “Sayang! I almost made it to the event but the traffic was horrible.”
4. Bangungot
Photo grabbed from igalilea.blogspot.com
Bangungot is described as a nightmare you get when you have a full stomach before sleeping that will cause death. According to scientists, it is called acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis or Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death.
How to use in a sentence: “Don’t eat too much before going to bed, you might get bangungot.”
So, did you find these words interesting? What other Filipino words do you know that are not included in the list? Share it with us!
