Word Formation Processes Observed in Selected Common Pinoy Gay Lingo Terms

Tara Marnela A. Nadera

Agatha Mary Junitte P. Rollon
BA in English
(+63)9164742294 / (+63)9066343689
taramarnela@gmail.com / agathamaryjunitterollon@gmail.com

Introduction

Gay Lingo is a synthetic language created by the gay community. It is a modern and artistic play on
existing words – some taken from the English, Spanish, and Filipino lexicon; some were originally
formed by its original speakers – mostly utilized in spoken discourse. Currently, the terms formed by its
original speakers, the gay community, are undeniably evident even in the daily conversations of non-gay
people. The inventive processes involved in forming gay lingo terms and its‘ daily manifestation in
spoken discourse invited the researchers to embark on this investigation. Hence, this paper presents the
methods in constructing gay lingo terms used in daily conversations.

Specifically, it aims to answer the succeeding questions: (1) what are the word formation processes
involved in the construction of selected gay lingo terms, particularly the most frequent word formation
process utilized; (2) which part of speech do gay lingo terms usually belong, particularly the most
recurrent part of speech, and (3) what are the implications of the most frequent word formation process
and part of speech observed in gay lingo terms.

The data analyzed were gathered from a blog called Badingtionary in a 2010 article entitled ‗Common
Pinoy Gay Terms‘ by a blogger with a pen name ‗va.michaelangelo‘.

Review of Related Literature

According to Cayabyab (2013), gay lingo is nothing but a play of words. Adding or omitting something
from a Filipino root word, twisting words to fit a new meaning or rhyme it with popular names, brand or
streets. Most are just inventions to fill a gap in conversations like, ‗chuva‘ and ‗chenes‘ or describe an
indescribable event such as ‗ek-ek.‘

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Abaya and Hernandez shared the same observation when they made their study ―Salitang Bakla:
Makapangyarihan? Makapagpalaya?‖ For them, gay language is liberating and empowering. Moreover, as
people who used the gay language, they studied the language and highlighted its ‗veiling‘ trait which had
become the gays‘ strategy to fight against the cultural violence they were subjected to.

The first section of Abaya and Hernandez‗s study was focused on gay words used by the University of the
Philippines Babaylan where they were also members. They categorized their study into sounds, word-
formations, and simple sentence constructions. They found out that 29 (consonant and vowel) sounds are
present in their gay language. These are: [p], [t], [k], [b], [d], [g], [q], [f], [v], [ch], [j], [m], [n], [ng], [ny],
[s], [z], [s], [h], [x], [l], [r], [w], [y], [i], [e], [a], [o], and [u].

In terms of word-formation processes, they observed the following:

 Attaching Affixes (sightsung [sight + -sung])
 Borrowing (balay [bahay or house], borrowed from Cebuano)
 Acronyms (OPM or Oh promise me which means sinungaling or liar)
 Reduplicating (Chika Chika)
 Referring to how it looks like (bombilya for male sex organ)
 Clipping (ma for malay ko [I do not know])
 Metathesis (anda for daan as in money)
 Referring to what it sounds like (nose lift for knows)
 Using names of personalities and popular places (Baliwag for baliw or crazy)
 Onomatopoeia (krug for suntok [punch])
 Using metaphor (bukas na ang karenderya for ―someone with his legs spread wide open)

In terms of the structure, the researchers found out that there is a correspondence between gay language
and Filipino. Abaya and Hernandez attributed this to the idea that gays based their coinage of words on
their sounds and function.

Results and Discussion

In this section, the common pinoy gay terms were discussed. The word formation processes were
shown and explain on how these certain gay lingo terms were obtained. The gay lingo terms are

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transcribed in IPA as a guide for the correct pronunciation of the terms. Also, the meanings of
the gay lingo terms were from the blog titled Badingtionary. Moreover, some terms such as
‗beki‘ and ‗bekimond‘ were used in the discussion. These words mean gay and gay lingo
respectively. Furthermore, the word formation processes used in this paper are from the book by
Frank Parker and Kathryn Riley entitled ‗Linguistics for Non-Linguist‘.

Aga Muhlach /əgə/ /mulək/ - (adj) early; not late

The name ‗Aga Muhlach‟, is a proper noun. In the gay lingo, it is an adjective suggesting that someone or
the person is early (from the Taglog word, ‗aga‟ or „maaga‟ which means punctual or early, not late). The
two lexical morphemes, which are nouns, became an adjective in the gay lingo through category
extension.

Word Formation Process: Category Extension

Aga Muhlach [N] Aga Muhlach [Adj]
(Original definition) (gay lingo definition)

Aida Macaraeg /aIdə/ /məkərəεg/ - (n) the MOST feared sexually transmitted disease
The name ‗Aida Macaraeg‟, is a proper noun for it is a name of a person. In the gay lingo, it is still a noun
but with a different meaning which is a sexually transmitted disease. The term was taken from the
acronym, AIDS which was then made more common by clipping the s and the addition of a + the lexical
morpheme, ‗Macaraeg‟ hence, ‗Aida Macaraeg‟.

Word Formation Process: Category Extension

AIDS [N] [AID]a Macaraeg [N]
(Acronym) (P roper Name)

Atak /ətək/ - (v) to go; to proceed

The term was taken from the English word; ‗attack‟ (a verb which means to undertake vigorously or to
begin acting upon harmfully). In the gay lingo, it is used as a signal or a go sign to start doing something,
not necessarily harmful but any activity. The word formation process involved is folk etymology or

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borrowing because it was taken from a foreign language but changed into a different spelling but same
pronunciation.
Word Formation Process: Folk Etymology or Borrowing
Attack [V] Atak [V]
(Original definition) (gay lingo definition)

Aura /aʊrə/ - (v) to be a scene stealer.

The word ‗aura‟ is originally a noun which means an invisible atmosphere supposedly arising from and
surrounding a person or thing. But in the gay lingo, the lexical morpheme was transformed into a verb
which is still also considered as a lexical morpheme.

Word Formation Process: Category Extension

Aura [N] Aura [V]
(Original definition) (gay lingo definition)

Balaysung /bəlaIsuᶇ/ - (n) habitat; a place where one resides

The Gay lingo term ‗balaysung‟ was taken from the word ‗balay‟, an Ilocano term for house.

Word Formation Process: Derivational

Balay [N] + sung = Balaysung [N]
(a derivational ‗ gay‘ affix)

Bet/bεt/ - (n) a special kind of feeling when one is really inclined in liking a person, a thing, or anything.
The term ‗bet‟ originally means the outcome, fact or contestant that something is staked on. Only the
definition changes when used in the ‗bekimon‘ context. Coming from our analysis, the word formation
process used is just referential meaning.

Word Formation Process: Referential Meaning

Bet [N] Bet [N]
(Original definition) (gay lingo definition)

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Booking /bukiᶇ/ - (n) a one-night stand.
The term ‗booking‟ originally means an engagement to perform. But, in the gay lingo context, it has an
additional shade of meaning to it. Only the definition changes, the spelling is not affected nor its
syntactical category. Hence, coming from our analysis, the word formation process involved is referential
meaning.

Word Formation Process: Referential Meaning

Booking [N] Booking [N]
(Original definition) (gay lingo definition)

Botswana /bətswənə/- (n) a type of shoes which usually extends up to the legs.
Botswana is a proper noun because it is a country‘s name but in the bekimon context, it is actually ‗boots‟
which is a type of shoe.

Word Formation Process: Affixation

Boots [N] + wana = Botswana [N]

Chabelita /tʃəbεlitə/ - (n.) fat/obese girl or female trying hard to be sexy but not
The term ‗chabelita‟ is actually taken from the English word, ‗chubby‟, which is an adjective, then–lita, a
derivational affix was added making it sound Spanish-like. Hence, we believe the word formation process
involved were borrowing and derivation.

Word Formation Process: Borrowing and Derivation

Chubby [adj] + -lita = Chabelita [N]
(derivational affix [suffix])

Cheapangga /tʃipəᶇgə/- (n) cheap, low class, substandard, social climber.

The term ‗cheapangga‟ was taken from the English term, ‗cheap‟ [adj]. The word formation processes
involved were borrowing and derivation.

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 Word Formation Process: Borrowing and Derivation
Cheap [adj.] + -angga = Cheapangga [N]
(derivational affix [suffix])

Continent /kəntinεnt/ - (adj) few; less; not enough

Originally, ‗continent‟ is a noun but since the bekimons are creative, they took the Filipino word, ‗konti‟
which really means ‗few‟, and then they added a suffix to it therefore, coming up with an existing word.
Only the definition changed, not the spelling. Based on our analysis, the word formation processes were
borrowing and derivation.

Word Formation Process: Borrowing and Derivation

Konti + -nent = Continent
(derivational affix [suffix])

Crayola /kraIɔlə/ - (v) to cry.

The word ‗crayola‟ is from the English brand name and it is a noun and due to added bekimon shades of
meaning and creativity, it became a verb which is still a lexical morpheme.

Word Formation Process: Borrowing and Derivation

Cry [V] + -ola = Cr[a]yola
(derivational affix [suffix])

Dilemma /dilεmə/- (adj) darkness; the absence of light

The word ‗dilemma‟ [N] originally means problem. Also, it may come from the Tagalog word ‗dilim‟ or
in the Tagalog sentence ‗Ang dilim ah‘ (It is dark or It‘s dark in here) that has the same meaning in the
gay lingo lexicon of dilemma that means dark. Only the meaning changes.

Word Formation Process: Borrowing and Category Extension

Dilim [adj.] + ma = Dilemma
(derivational affix [suffix])

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Douglas MacArthur /dɔgləs/ /məkərtur/- (n) a vicious four-legged animal, unfriendly, hostile and
extracts fear most of the time.
The syntactic category and the spelling are still the same except for the meaning.

Word Formation Process: Borrowing

Dog [N] + las MacArthur = Do[u]glas MacArthur [N]

Egyptian Airlines /idʒipʃən/ /εrlaIns/ - (n) Jeep.

The /gyp/ in Egypt sounds like the name for the most ubiquitous transportation in The Philippines which
is the ‗jeep‟. Hence, the creation of E[gyp]tian Airlines.

Word Formation Process: Borrowing

E[gyp]tian Airlines [N]

Jeep /gyp/ [N]

Francia /frənʃə/ - (adj) crazy

A derivative of the Tagalog word „praning‟ or „Praning s‟ya‟ which, in turn, means ‗paranoid.‘ And
because ‗francia‟ sounds close to ‗praning‟, hence the term „francia‟ was coined.

Word Formation Process: Borrowing

Praning s‘ya = Pran- [-ing] + s‘ya = Pransya Francia [Adj]

Gelli de belen/dʒεli/ /dε/ bεlεn/ - (adj) - a feeling of insecurity over someone; envy
And because ‗Gelli‟ [N] sounds close to jealous [V], hence, the beki term ‗Gelli de Belen‟ was made. The
bekis just attached the surname to hide the real meaning of the word.

Word Formation Process: Category Extension

Gelli de Belen [N] Gelli de Belen [Adj]
(Original definition) (gay lingo definition)

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Getchicola/gεtʃIkɔlə/ - (v) to understand
The term was derived from the English word „get‟ or the phrase „Na-gets ko‟, „I get/understand you.‟

Word Formation Process: Borrowing and Affixation

Get[V] + chicola = getchicola
(a ‗ beki‘ suffix)

Gorabels /gərəbεls/ - (v) To go.

The term was derived from the English word ‗go‟ which is a signal to start something and –bels which is
a ‗beki‘ suffix was just attached to it. The syntactic category remains the same.

Word Formation Process: Affixation and Borrowing

Go [V] + -rabels = Gorabels

HaggardoVersoza /həgərdɔ/ /bεrsɔsə/ - (adj.) haggard or tired-looking.

„Gardo Versoza‟ is a proper noun for it is a name of an actor. In the gay lingo, it shifts into an adjective
by adding a prefix to it.

Word Formation Process: Borrowing, Clipping and Blending

[Ha]ggard [adj] + Gardo Versoza [N] = Haggardo Versoza

Hipon /hipɔn/ - (n) to describe somebody who has a great body but a ‗not-so-great‘ face.
The syntactic category of the word ‗hipon‟ (shrimp) remains the same - only the meaning changes. So
why „hipon‟? Whenever we eat shrimps we use to eat only the body of it and leave the head. Meaning, the
only advantageous thing to a person described as „hipon‟ is their body. Therefore, we consider that the
word formation process involved is referential meaning.

Word Formation Process: Referential Meaning

Hipon [N] Hipon [Adj]
(Original definition) (gay lingo definition)

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Keri /kεri/ - (adj) use to describe something/someone that is in the middle of being bad and being good;
The term was derived from the English word, ‗carry‟ [V]which means to handle. But in the Gay lingo, it
shifts into an adjective and changes it spelling as to how it is pronounced by the native speakers. The
word formation process involved is borrowing.

Word Formation Process: Borrowing

Carry [V] Keri [Adj]

Missy Elliott /misi/ /εljɔt/ - (v) to miss something.

Missy Elliot is a proper noun for it is a name of a female rapper in the United States. But in the gay lingo,
it shifts into a verb and ‗beki‘ affixes are attached to ‗miss‟ hence, the formation of an existing word,
‗Missy Elliot‟.

Word Formation Process: Borrowing and Derivation

[Miss]y + Elliot = Missy Elliot
V

Morayta /mɔraItə/ - (adj) costing very little; relatively low in price; inexpensive
The term was taken from the Filipino word, ‗mura‟ [adj.] which means low in price then changes in
spelling and affixes are attached to it thus, forming an existing word, ‗Morayta‟.

Word Formation Process: Borrowing and Affixation

Mura + -yta = Morayta

Narcisa /nərsisə/ - (n) a person educated and trained to care for the sick or disabled
The term originated from the English term, ‗nurse‟ [N] and from the Tagalog word ‗nars‘.When attached
with affixes, it only changed the spelling, not the syntactic category it belongs to.

Word Formation Process: Affixation

Nurse/Nars + -cisa = Narcisa

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Portugal /pɔrtʃugəl/ - (adj) too long; synonymous to another gay lingo term „48 years‟; extending over a
considerable time
The word ‗portugal‟ is a proper noun for it is a name of a country but it shifts its syntactic category in the
gay lingo. Moreover, the evolution of the word came from the Tagalog word „tagal‟ (too long).

Word Formation Process:

Referential Meaning, Category Extension and Borrowing
Port + tagal = port[a]gal= Port[u]gal

Rampage /rəmpedʒ/ - (v) an art of presenting and marketing yourself in front of other people in a certain
area or even.
The word means rushing violently about. It doesn‘t change its syntactic category. Also, the Tagalog word
‗rampa‘ is to be considered as well. The meaning only changes depending on the situational context.
Therefore, we believe that the word formation process is referential meaning.

Word Formation Process: Referential Meaning and Affixation

Rampa + -ge = Rampage

Russia /rəʃə/ - (v) to hurry up; to move forward or act with too great haste or eagerness.
Originally, ‗Russia‟ is a proper noun because it is a country‘s name but it shifts into a verb in the Gay
lingo. From the English word ‗rush‟ meaning to hurry up.

Word Formation Process:

Referential Meaning, Borrowing and Category Extension
Rush – [-h] + [-sia] = Russia

Thundercats / thunder /təndзrkəts/ ; /təndзr/ - (n) one who is AGING.

„Thundercats‟ is a proper noun and what makes it a beki term is that the sound of the word ‗thunder‟ and
the Tagalog word, ‗tanda‟ is close to each other. Hence, the term ‗thundercats‟. And ‗cats‟ served as
another lexical morpheme to the word hence, creating the existing word.

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 Word Formation Process: Borrowing and Compounding
Tanda /təndз/ = Thunder /təndз/ + cats = Thundercats

Tom Jones / Tommy Hilfiger /tɔm/ /dʒons/; /tɔmi/ /hilfigзr/ - (adj) a feeling of extreme starvation
The word formation processes involved were clipping because ‗Tom‟ was taken from the Taglog word,
‗gutom‟which means starving. Then, the bekimons just added Jones or Hilfiger, which are two lexical
morphemes that fall under Proper Nouns, to make it sound ‗beki-ish‘. And also, there is derivation and
borrowing.

Word Formation Process: Derivation and Borrowing

Gu[tom] + Jones/Hilfiger = Tom Jones / Hilfiger

To clearly perceive which word processes are mostly used in producing gay lingo terms the following
table displays the frequency of the word formation processes found in common pinoy gay lingo terms and
the frequency of the obtained gay lingo terms in terms of parts of speech.

Frequency Distribution of Word Formation Processes

Found in Common Pinoy Gay Lingo Terms
Table 1
Word Formation Process f
Derivation 7
Category Extension 5
Compound 1
Root Creation -
Clipped Form 3
Blend 1
Acronym -
Abbreviation -
Proper Name -
Folk Etymology -
Back Formation -
Affixation 8
Borrowing 18
Referential Meaning 6

Table 1 show the frequency distribution of word formation processes found in gay lingo terms.
Borrowing has a frequency of 18 followed by derivation that got 7, and category extension and affixation

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that got 8. However, root creation, acronym, abbreviation, proper name, folk etymology and back
formation got the lowest frequency.

Frequency Distribution of Parts of Speech

Found in Common Pinoy Gay lingo Terms
Table 2
Parts of Speech f
Nouns 11
Pronouns -
Verbs 7
Adverbs -
Adjectives 11
Conjunctions -
Prepositions -

Table 2 show the frequency of distribution of parts of speech found in gay lingo terms. Nouns and
adjectives got the same frequency of 11 and verbs got a frequency of 7. On the other hand, pronouns,
adverbs, conjunctions and prepositions did not appear in any of the gay lingo terms.

Conclusion

In conclusion, most gay lingo terms is produced with the use of borrowing process followed by derivation
and, category extension and affixation. Through these word processes, common words were transformed
into a different level of understanding and meaning—gay lingo. It also changed the real part of the speech
of the word that brings us to an inference that most of converted words fall under nouns and Adjectives
followed by verbs. Furthermore, words may go through two or more processes in order to attain the
anticipated word. Hence, the word processes involved affects the produced words‘ part of speech. And
that most of the words that go through a borrowing process produced a noun in terms of gay lingo.

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References

Cayabyab, Ana Cordero. “Chuva, Chenes Atbp: A Beginner”. Web. 14 March 2013.

Abaya, Eufracio and Jesus Federico C. Hernandez. “Salitang Bakla: Makapangyarihan?

Mapagpalaya?”. University of the Philippines-Diliman, 1997. Quezon City: UP Diliman Press,
2013. Print.

Gay Lingo Terms. Retreived from http://badingtionaryphoenix.blogspot.com/2010/10/common-pinoy-

gay-terms.html

Padilla, Mely M. et al.. ―Speak Right!” pp. 44-52. Mutya Publishing House. Potrero, Malabon City. 2011.

Parker, Frank and Kathryn Riley. “Linguistics for Non-Linguist: A Primer Exercise”.5th
Edition.2009

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