Filipino Word of the Day!

* asawa (genderless): spouse, husband, wife
* kabiyak (genderless): other half, significant other; deeper and more romantic version of “asawa”

If you want to literally translate “husband”, it is “asawang lalaki”; or “wife”, it's “asawang babae”; although it's rarely used/formed that way unless the context demands this level clarity.

Also, be careful pronouncing “asawang lalaki/babae", otherwise it might sound “aswang” which means “monster”, “ugly”, “scary”.

---

Use in a sentence!

Roberto: Ito nga pala ang aking pinakamamahal na kabiyak, si Lala. (This my lovely significant half, Lala.)

Lala (using higher level of speech politeness and formality): Kumusta sa inyo. Ako si Lala, ang butihing asawa ni Roberto. (How do you do. I am Lala, the good wife of Roberto.)

#Philippines #Pilipinas #Wika #Language #Filipino #BuwanNgWika #NationalLanguageMonth #Culture

@pilipinas @philippines

#YourOnlyOne #LearningFilipino #PagAralanAngFilipino #MagAralNgFilipino #Tourism #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines

If you visit the Philippines, you'll more likely encounter people say, “barangay”.

A “barangay” is the smallest political unit in the Philippines.

a. City > Districts > Zones > Barangays; or
b. City > Districts > Barangays

The closest in American context is a “town”. A gated village or subdivision is usually considered a separate barangay as well (but there are cases where it is not if the village/subdivision is too big to be a single “barangay”).

How do you pronounce the word “barangay”?

How do you pronounce the word “barangay”?

A. ba·ra·ngay
B. ba·rang·gay

If you chose A, because the Filipino language is syllabic, it is wrong, the correct answer is B.

The modern Latin-based spelling of “barangay” is the shortened form based on current Filipino language rules. Originally, it was written like so: “barang̃ay”, a tilde above the letter ‘g’. It was to signify to the reader that the pronunciation is actually “ba·rang·gay”.

There are actually two letters: “ng” and “g”, hence “ng̃” (with a tilde).

Prior to writing it with a tilde, it was originally written as “baranggay”. Which in the Philippines' native script called “Baybayin” or “Suyat” (both umbrella terms), it was written as “ba” + “ra” + “ng” + “ga” + ”y” (one syllable is one letter in Baybayin/Suyat script).

* ᜊᜍᜅ᜔ᜄᜌ᜔ = baranggay = barang̃ay = barangay

That is why “barangay” is pronounced as “ba·rang·gay” not “ba·ra·ngay”.

#Philippines #Pilipinas #Wika #Language #Filipino #BuwanNgWika #NationalLanguageMonth

@pilipinas @philippines

#YourOnlyOne #LearningFilipino #PagAralanAngFilipino #MagAralNgFilipino #Tourism #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines

Visiting the Philippines? Here are some words you should remember:

1. "Kumusta po" = How are you / How do you do. It's both a greeting and a real question. Since you're a foreigner, Filipinos will take it as a greeting.

It's polite and formal.

* "Kumusta po sila" : very very polite and formal
* "Kumusta po kayo" : very polite and formal
* "Kumusta po" : polite and formal (use this)
* "Kumusta" : formal
* "Kamusta po sila": very very polite but casual
* "Kamusta po kayo" : very polite but casual
* "Kamusta po" : polite and casual
* "Kamusta" : very casual
* "Hoy", etc. : very very casual (don't use this unless you're close friends)

2. "Saan po ito?" Or "S'an po ito?" = Where is this?

3. "Paano po pumunta dito?" = How do you go here? (Pa-a-no)

4. "Magkano po ito?" Or "Magkano po dito?" = How much is this?

Using "ito" is casual. While "dito" makes it formal. Either is fine since you used "po", it's both polite/respectful. But "dito" is preferred for new learners of Filipino or visiting foreigners.

Oh, it's "di-to" not "ditto". "Di" as in "did", "to" as in "Tom". "Di-to".

5. "Magkano po?" = How much?

6. "Kailan po aalis?" Or "Kailan po tayo aalis?" = When are we leaving.

The former is generic, the context is usually understood if used correctly. For example, you asked a ferryman, "Kailan po aalis?" The context is understood you're referring to when the ferry will leave, so you can remove "tayo" ("we") to simplify your sentence.

7. "Masarap" in reference to food = good, delectable.

8. "Malinamnam" = umami (savory); rich in flavor.

9. "Mahal" = expensive; love (depends on context/usage)

10. "Wala na bang tawad?" = No more discounts?

11. "Tulong!" Or "Saklolo!" = Help!

12. "Tawag" = call

13. "Telepono" = Telephone

Vowel pronunciations are:
* A as in "ah". It's "ah-pple" not "ey-pple"
* E as in "eh", like "bed".
* I as in "in", like "indigo" or "fin".
* O as in "or", like "Oreo".
* U as in "hu" or "ru". "Rudimentary".

Note: simplest and basic form, and examples only.

Words are also syllabic. If there are two vowels or continents together, those are generally pronounced separately in syllables.

Mata = ma-ta = eye
Pilipinas = pi-li-pi-nas = Philippines
Maganda = ma-gan-da

There are other pronunciation considerations but those are level 2 or level 3 already. If you're only visiting, it's fine if you don't know those.

Like: "baba" and "basa". Depending on how you pronounce it, the meaning can change.

baba = down, go down; or chin
basa = wet; or read

And there are regional meanings to consider too, but again, higher level language learning.

Yes, many Filipinos can communicate in English. But, there are times when it's hard for some, they tend to switch or mix Filipino words without realizing it.

😃

#Philippines #Pilipinas #Wika #Language #Filipino #BuwanNgWika #NationalLanguageMonth

@pilipinas @philippines

#YourOnlyOne #LearningFilipino #PagAralanAngFilipino #MagAralNgFilipino #Tourism #ItsMoreFunInThePhilippines