Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Cebuano or Filipino Words that You Think are Indigenous but Are Spanish in Origin

 

Most of Spain’s former colonies speak Spanish. The Philippines is an exception because although it adopted Filipino or Tagalog as its official language, Filipinos speak different languages or dialects according to the ethnic group they belong to. Spain’s long occupation of the Philippines has brought about an enduring influence over the Filipino’s culture, religion and languages. Cebuano, the second most widely spoken language in Philippines next to Filipino or Tagalog, has been enriched with the infusion of Spanish loan words. Most of them have found their niche into the native tongue so that they become part of the regular vocabularies of modern native speakers.

Below is list of words that are “naturalized’ into the Cebuano or Tagalog languages with their Spanish and English equivalent. I did not include words that are obviously Spanish in origin because there are multitude of them, and this will make my list a very lengthy one. A language such as Spanish may have some changes in spelling or addition or reduction in letters when adopted to another language, but its original meaning will remain the same.  There are some words though that may lose their original meaning with the passage of time.

Cebuano/Filipino

Spanish

English

 

Abante

Avante

Ahead

 

Abono

Abono

Fertilizer

 

Abswelto

Absuelto

Acquitted

 

Abunda

Abunda

Abounds

 

Agrabyado

Agraviado

Aggrieved

 

Agwanta

Aguantar

Endure

 

Alahas

Alhajas

Jewelry

 

Albularyo

Herbolario

Herbalist

 

Alibyo

Alleviar

Alleviate

 

Alkansiya

Alcancia

Piggy bank

 

Angkla

Ancla

Anchor

 

Antyohos

Anteojos

eyeglass

 

Anyel

Añil

Indigo

 

Aparador

Aparador

Sideboard

 

areglar

Arreglar

Arrange

 

Areglo

Arreglo

Arrangement

 

Asado

Asado

Roast

 

Asenso

Ascenso

Ascend

 

Asite

Aciete

Oil

 

Aspalto

Asfalto

Asphalt

 

Atras

Atras

Behind

 

Ayuda

Ayuda

Aid

 

Bacalao

Bacalao

Cod

 

Bahada

Bajada

Descent

 

Bala

Bala

Bullet

 

Baldado

Baldado

Cripple

 

Balde

Balde

Pail

 

Balsa

Balsa

Raft

 

Balyena

Ballena

Whale

 

Bangkò

Banco

Bench

 

Banyo

Baño

Bathroom

 

Bara

Barra

Rod

 

Barandelya

Barandilla

Railing

 

Barato

Barrato

Cheap

 

Barena

Barrena

Auger

 

Bastante

Bastante

Enough

 

Basura

Basura

Trash

 

Bayle

Baile

Dance

 

Biberon

Biberon

Feeding Bottle

 

Bentaha

Ventaja

Advantage

 

Berdugo

Verdugo

Executioner

 

Bibo

Vivo

Live

 

Bisagra

Visagra

Hinge

 

Bisyo

Vicio

Vice

 

Bola

Bola

Ball

 

Bombelya

Bombilla

Light Bulb

 

Bombero

Bombero

Fireman

 

Bosina

Bocina

Horn

 

Braso

Brazo

Arm

 

Bruha

Bruha

Witch

 

Kambyo

Cambio

Change

 

Camote

Camote

Sweet Potato

 

Delubyo

Diluvio

deluge

 

Destroso

Destroso

Disastrous

 

Duda

Duda

Doubt

 

Duwende

Duende

Elf

 

Embudo

Embudo

Funnel

 

Embutido

Embutido

Sausage

 

Empanada

Empanada

Patty

 

Enano

Enano

Dwarf

 

Ensigida

Enseguida

Right Away

 

Espiso

Espeso

Thick

 

Esplicar

Explicar

Explain

 

Ganansya

Ganancia

Gain

 

Garboso

Garboso

Jaunty

 

Golpe

Golpe

Blow

 

Goma

Goma

Rubber

 

Grahe

Graje

Garrage

 

Gripo

Grifo

Faucet

 

Guwantes

Guantes

Gloves

 

Habal (to copulate)*

Jabali

Boar

 

Henyo

Genio

Genius

 

Higante

Gigante

Giant

 

Hulmigas

Hormigas

Ants

 

Husga

Juzgar

To Judge

 

Idro

Idroplano

Hydroplane

 

Iguales

Iguales

Same

 

Imbis

En Vez

Instead

 

Impatso

Empacho

Indigestion

 

Ingrato

Ingrato

Ungrateful

 

Inodoro

Inodoro

Toilet

 

Intriga

Intriga

Intrigue

 

Irihis

Hereje

Heretic

 

Kabayò

Caballo

Horse

 

Kadena

Cadena

Chain, String

 

kalabasa

Calabaza

Pumpkin, Squash

 

Kalambre

Calambre

Cramp

 

Kalyo

Callo

Callus

 

Kama

Cama

Bed

 

Kaminero

Caminero

Roadman

 

Kanta

Cantar

Sings

 

Kapatas

Capataz

Foreman

 

karsel

Carcel

Prison

 

Karwahe

Carruaje

Carriage

 

Katre

Catre

Cot

 

Kolokar

Colocar

Place

 

Kombinser

Convincer

Convince

 

Kompra

Compra

Purchase

 

Kompromiso

Compromiso

Compromise

 

Kompyansa

Confianza

Confidence

 

Konsinter

Consenter

Consent

 

Kontador

Contador

Counter

 

kumpisal

Confesar

Confess

 

Kumusta?

Como Estas?

How are you?

 

Kuna

Cuna

Cradle

 

Laba

Lava

Wash

 

Labandera

Lavandera

Laundry Woman

 

Lamano

Estrechar La Mano

Shake Hand

 

Lastiko

Elastico

Elastic

 

lata

Lata

Can

 

Liha

Lija

Sand Paper

 

Limos

Limosna

Alms, Handout

 

Linti

Lente

Lens

 

Lugar

Lugar

Place

 

Mais

Maiz

Maize, Corn

 

Maldito

Maldito

Cursed

 

Maleta

Maleta

Bag

 

Maligno

Maligno

Evil One

 

Mani

Mani

Peanut

 

Manibela

Manivela

Handle, Crank

 

Maniobra

Maniobra

Maneuver

 

Manteca

Manteca

Butter

 

Mantiner

Mantener

Keep

 

Martilyo

Martillo

Hammer

 

Mas

Mas

More

 

Maselya

Masilla

Putty

 

Maseta

Maceta

Flower Pot

 

Maton

Maton

Bully

 

Menudo

Menudo

Small

 

Minos

Menos

Less

 

Mirisi

Mereces

Deserve

 

Mismo

Mismo

Selfsame

 

Mohon

Mojon

Boundary Stone

 

Molestya

Molestia

Bother

 

Monyeka

Muñeca

Doll

 

Multa

Multa

Fine

 

Negosyo

Negocio

Business

 

Nerbyoso

Nervioso

Nervous

 

Pala

Pala

Shovel

 

Palanggana

Palangana

Basin

 

Palito

Palito

Little Stick

 

Palo

Palo

Stick

 

Palso

Falso

Fake

 

Palyar

Fallar

Fail

 

Pan

Pan

Bread

 

Pantalla

Fantalla

Screen

 

Para

Para

For

 

Parol

Farol

Lantern

 

Pasio

Paseo

Walk, Stroll

 

pastol

Pastor

Shepherd

 

Pareha

Pareja

Pair

 

Payaso

Payaso

Clown

 

Periko

Perico

Parakeet

 

Perya

Feria

Fair

 

Peste

Peste

Pest

 

Pilde

Perder

Lose

 

Pilyo

Pillo

Rogue

 

Pintor

Pintor

Painter

 

Pitaka

Petaca

Cigarette Case

 

Plaka

Placa

License Plate

 

Plangka

Palanca

Lever

 

Pomada

Pomada

Pomade

 

Posas

Esposas

Handcuffs

 

Poso

Pozo

Well

 

Preno

Freno

Brake

 

Priso

Prision

Prison

 

Prito

Frito

Fried

 

Pulgada

Pulgada

Inch

 

Pulgas

Pulgas

Fleas

 

Pulido

Pulido

Polished

 

Pulseras

Pulseras

Bracelets

 

Punyeta

Puñeta

Damn

 

Punyete

Puñetazos

fisticuff

 

Purwesyo

Perjuicio

Damage

 

Pursiger

Persiguer

Pursue

 

Pusil

Fusil

Rifle

 

Puta

Puta

Bitch, Prostitute

 

Pwesto

Puesto

Place, Position, Market Stall

 

Pwes

Pues

Then

 

Pyansa

Fianza

Bail

 

Rebansen

Revancha

Rematch

 

Rehas

Rejas

Bars

 

Remate

Remate

Auction

 

Resiko

Reseco

Parched

 

Retaso

Retazo

Remnant

 

Ripa

Rifa

Raffle

 

Sabon

Jabon

Soap

 

Salbabida

Salvavida

Lifesaver

 

Salbahes

Salvaje

Wild

 

Salsa

Salsa

Sauce

 

Santilmo

Fuego de San Telmo

Saint Elmo's Fire

 

Sartin

Sarten

Pan

 

Sastre

Sastre

Tailor

 

Sebo

Sebo

Tallow

 

Seda

Seda

Silk

 

Selda

Celda

Cell

 

Serin

Serrin

Sawdust

 

Siboyas

Sebolla

Onion

 

Sili

Chile

Chili Pepper

 

Sini

Cine

Movie Theater

 

Sirado

Cirrado

Closed

 

Solda

Soldar

Weld

 

Subasta

Subasta

Auction

 

Subida

Subida

Ascent

 

Suborno

Suborno

Bribe

 

Sundalo

Soldado

Soldier

 

Sustener

Sustener

Sustain

 

Swabe

Suave

Smooth

 

Swerte

Suerte

Luck

 

Talyer

Taller

Workshop

 

Tampulano

Tal Fulano

Such a Guy

 

Tapalodo

Tapalodo

Mud Flap

 

Taro

Tarro

Tin

 

Tela

Tela

Cloth

 

Terno

Terno

Suit

 

timon

Timon

Rudder

 

Tinda

Tienda

Store

 

Torta

Torta

Cake

 

tsaliko

Chaleco

Vest

 

Tsikiting

Chiquitita

Tiny

 

Tsinelas

Chinelas

Slippers

 

Tsupa*

Chupar

Suck

 

Tukar

Tocar

Play

 

Tukayo

Tocayo

Namesake

 

Tuwalya

Tualla

Towel

 

Umento

Aumentar

Increase

 

Yabi

Llave

Key

 

Yate

Yate

Yacht

 

Yelo

Hielo

Ice

 

Yero

Hoja de Hierro

Iron Sheet

 


 

 

 

 


*”Habal” in Cebuano means to copulate which is different from Spanish Jabali which means boar. In the past it was the practice of locals to lend their “jabali” or boar to those with sow in order for the animals to breed. The act of mating was called “habal”, thus, “jabali” completely lose its original Spanish meaning. The term “habal” is not used to refer to sexual acts between people. Its use is limited to animals especially pigs.

*”Tsupa” in the Philippines is an indecent word used to refer to oral sex between two males. It is never used in serious or formal conversations.

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