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.