Philippi

ne
English
 INTRODUCTION
“Language is wine upon the lips”-Virginia Woolf.
Language is an integral part for every human being.
Whether it be through speech, written works, or signages,
its function in our lives is essential. One of the main uses of
language, is as a mean of communication. We use symbols
and structures to convey our thoughts. But learning and
understanding a language does not unlock you to other
languages completely.
There are roughly 6,500 spoken languages in the
world today. Each using their symbols, structures and
words in their own conventional way. One of the most
popular languages worldwide is English. When English is
used as a lingua franca (bridging language) which is
commonly used in business, trade and diplomacy, it refers
to World English.

Though English has its own grammar and rules, more

often than not, people use it in a way that are both
conventional and comprehensive to them. When this
phenomenon happens, it would mean a melding of English
to both the culture and language of the non-native English
speakers.
When this occurs, an English-based creole develops
and becomes a variety of English. English-based creoles
are referred to as World Englishes. There are plenty of
varieties of English and one of them is Philippine English.
This booklet contains 20 words that are used in the
Philippine English creole to avoid confusion when in the
Philippines.

BANANA CUE
noun
/bəˈnɑːnə/ /kju/

DEFINITION

Is a popular snack or
street food in the
Philippines

EXAMPLES

The students
 WALEY
adjective, slang
\’walē\

DEFINITION
An expression commonly
used by Filipinos that
denotes disapproval, bad
turnouts, failure or anything
relevant to negativity.
It directly means "no" or
denoting a lack or “don’t
have”
z EXAMPLES
Her test score in
 HAVEY
adjective, slang
\’havē\
DEFINITION
An expression commonly
used by Filipinos that shows
a sign of approval, good
work, pleasant happenings,
or anything relevant to
positivity.
It directly means "yes" or
denotes acquisition,
possession, or “to have”
EXAMPLES
SIMBAKO
interjection
\sim-ba’ko\

DEFINITION
- Wishing something
would not happen
- Also, roughly it means
'God Forbid'
EXAMPLES
Simbako! I hope
there’ll be no test
today, I didn’t study!
TALIKODGENIC
adjective
\ta-li-kod-ge-nic\

DEFINITION
- A person who only
looks good only with
his back

EXAMPLES
My classmate is so
talikodgenic.
CHIKA
noun, slang
\’chee-ka\
DEFINITION
- means
something that’s not
entirely true.
:-new
information that
friends talk about.
EXAMPLES
We have heard about
TOKHANG
noun
\’tok-han\
DEFINITION
-to knock on a suspected
drug trafficker or drug
addict's home to persuade
them to surrender and stop
their illegal activities.
EXAMPLES
The police officers
visited the neighbor’s
house to tokhang.
DINE-IN
adjective
\’dai-in\
DEFINITION
- relating to or offering
food that is eaten in the
restaurant where it is
ordered rather than
being taken out
EXAMPLES
Customers have a dine-
in option.
SYNONYMS
consume, eat, taste and
BLOOMING
adjective
\blu-min\

DEFINITION
A person giving off a
positive/healthy vibe
often because of a
good lifestyle change.

EXAMPLES
My sister, who usually
is shy, was blooming
at the party!
INTERNET CAFE
noun
/ˈɪntəˌnɛt ˈkæfeɪ/
DEFINITION
a café in which
customers pay to use
computer terminals to
access the Internet.
EXAMPLES
In some countries they
have camera in internet
cafe to track
every happening.
SYNONYMS
wireless-internet,
SARI-SARI STORE
noun, slang
/sɑ-ri sɑ-ri stɔr/
DEFINITION
-A small family run
convenient store
usually attached to a
house.

EXAMPLES
I bought snacks at the
sari-sari store nearby.

ORIGIN
"Sari-sari" is a
COMFORT ROOM
noun
\’com-fort room\
DEFINITION
a room in a public
building or workplace
furnished with
amenities such as
facilities for resting,
personal hygiene, and
storage of personal
items
EXAMPLES
The child pee in the
comfort room.
JOWA
noun, slang
\’jo-wah\
DEFINITION
-means a lover or a
partner in a romantic
or sexual relationship.
-a boyfriend or
girlfriend
EXAMPLES
I need to hurry.
My jowa is waiting
for me SYNONYMS
over, boyfriend/
girlfriend, partner
CHAROT
interjection
\’cha-rot\
DEFINITION
-Added in the last part
of statement to imply
that you are just
kidding or bluffing.
EXAMPLES
When I grow up I’m
going to be the
president, Charot!
ORIGIN
the term “CHAROT”
came from
KABABAYAN
noun
\’ka-ba-ba-yan\
DEFINITION
- A person who shares
the same nationality
you have
- Fellow countrymen
EXAMPLES
In America, I have so
many kababayans.
ORIGIN
“Bayan” is a Tagalog
word which means
country
GIGIL
noun
\’gi-gil\
DEFINITION
a response to a
suppressing an
overwhelming
emotion, such as
eagerness, pleasure,
thrill, anger, or
fondness.
EXAMPLES
The gigil that the
mother feels for her
cute baby is
MAMSER
noun, slang
\’mam-ser\

DEFINITION
-Normally used in the
service industry as the
default way to greet
people.

EXAMPLES
Good morning,
Mamser!

ORIGIN
BASTA
imterjection
\’bas-ta\
DEFINITION
-Relating to or giving an
indirect explanation, used to
signify cutting long story
short, concluding or
summarizing a conversation
and or showing refusal to
provide a full answer to a
question.

EXAMPLES
Basta! Take good care
of my friend.
WALWAL
noun, slang
\’wal-wal\

DEFINITION
-Is a Filipino slang
word that means
being drunk or wasted
from having alcoholic
drinks.

EXAMPLES
Our class ended early.
Come and join in
our walwal tonight.
KARAOKE
noun
\’ kerēˈōkē\
DEFINITION
-A form of recreation,
offered typically by
bars and clubs, in
which people take
turns to sing into a
microphone
EXAMPLES
A karaoke bar opens
every weekend
SYNONYMS
videoke, sing-along
APPEAR
noun
\’a-pir\
DEFINITION
-A gesture of agreeing
or having the same
good result or thought
about something.

EXAMPLES
They gave each other
an extravagant appear
for passing the exam.

SYNONYMS
BEEP
noun
\’Bip\

DEFINITION
- A public vehicle
similar to a bus but
smaller in size.

ORIGIN
Amalgamation of Bus
and Jeep

EXAMPLE
I'm waiting for a beep
today.
NAPKIN
noun, slang
\’nap-kin\
DEFINITION
-A sanitary pad, used
for feminine hygiene,
during that time of the
month.

EXAMPLES
I have a red spot on
my jeans, I forgot my
napkin.

SYNONYMS
Hygienic pad,
feminine care pad,
absorber
COWBOY
noun
\’kaw-boi\

DEFINITION
- Referring to the
attitude of someone
who is willing to do
anything.

EXAMPLES
Mary Jean is an
obedient daughter,
she’s a cowboy.

SYNONYMS
Accommodating,
simple, high
maintenance
Cebu Normal University