List of Tagalog loanwords

The Tagalog language has developed a unique vocabulary since its inception from its Malayo-Polynesian roots. The influence of the Spanish, Nahuatl, Sanskrit, Arabic, English, Chinese, Japanese, and Indian languages can be seen in the Tagalog language. According to the linguistic expert Jose Villa Panganiban, "of the 30,000 root words in the Tagalog language, there are close to 5,000 from Spanish, 3,200 from Malay and Chamorro, 1,500 from English, 1,500 from both Hokkien (Min Nan) and Yueh Chinese dialects, 300 from Sanskrit, 200 from Arabic, and a few hundred altogether from other languages"^{[citation needed]}. Some linguists claim that borrowings from Malay and Chamorro cannot be ascertained at this time, as words from the Old Austronesian language and those from Malay and Chamorro are still ambiguous and too similar to be distinguished.

Spanish

Spanish has bequeathed the most loan words to Tagalog. According to linguists, Spanish (5,000) has even surpassed Malayo–Indonesian (3,500) in terms of loan words borrowed. About 40% of informal conversational Tagalog is practically made up of Spanish loanwords. An example is the sentence below, wherein Spanish–derived words are in italics (original in parentheses):

"Puwede (Puede) ba akong umupo sa silya (cilla) sa tabi ng bintana (ventana) habang nasa biyahe (viaje) tayo sa eroplano (aeroplano)?" ("May I sit in the chair near the window during our voyage in the aeroplane?")

Most have retained their original spelling, pronunciation, and definition such as basura, delikadesa, and demokrasya, or as in the examples, a close, indigenised variant.

Others have morphed like 'ku(ha)nin' (Sp.: 'coja' + Tag. '–nin'), which has inconspicuously developed into another pure Tagalog–sounding word. Another one is maamong kordero (from Sp. amo & cordero). Combined together, it conveys the description of a meek, tame, harmless human with Tagalog adjective prefix and suffix added. The compound word batya't palo–palo, a must word in the laundry business where many Spanish words proliferate. The words were taken from the Spanish batea for "washing tub" and palo for "stick" or "beater", something a typical Filipino might think had no Spanish provenance at all. Others are umpisa (empieza), pulubi (pobre), pader (pared).

Some have acquired an entirely new meaning, such as kursonada (corazonada, originally meaning '"hunch"), which means "object of desire"; sospechoso is the "suspicious person" and not the "suspect" as in the original; imbyerna (invierna) once meant 'winter' but is now a word for "bummer"; insekto, which still means "insect" but also refers to a "pesty clownish person"; or even sigue, a Spanish word for "continue" or "follow", which is now widely understood to mean "all right" or "go ahead".

Others use Spanish prefixes and/or suffixes, combined from Tagalog or other languages, without which the word can not be completed and convey its meaning. For example, pakialamero (from Tag. pakialam, "to meddle" and the Sp. suffix –ero, masculine subject); same as majongero ("mahjong", a Chinese word and the Sp. suffix –ero). Daisysiete is a corruption and portmanteau of the English "daisy" and the Spanish decisiete ("seventeen"), now meaning a sweet and sexually desirable underaged (below 18, hence the number) female. Bastusing katawán (Sp.: basto & Tag.: katawan) is an example of a two-word term for a bombshell body.

Even after the Spanish era, Tagalog is still being influenced by Spanish as new words are coined, albeit along its own terms, viz., alaskadór ('Alaska' + Sp. suffix '–ador'); barkada (from Sp.: barca,"boat" to "clique"); bérde ("green", nuanced to "toilet humour" or "blue joke"); which are not readily understood in Spain or any Latin American country. In a strange twist, even if Filipinos have a chance to Tagalized words using foreign words, currently English—their most accessible influence—they coin words in a uniquely Hispanizing way i.e. 'boksingero' (from Eng. 'boxing') instead of using the Spanish 'boxeador't. Or 'basketbolista' (from Eng. 'basketball'), instead of borrowing from Spanish 'baloncesto' to make it say 'baloncestista' or 'baloncestador' (although basketball is "básquetbol" in many Latin American countries).

Here are the examples of Spanish–derived Tagalog words in the following format: Word (Etymology – Original Definition/s if different from Nuanced Definition. = Derivative Definition if Compound Words) – Nuanced Definition. Shared Definition precedes Nuanced Definition if both exist.

Tagalog	Spanish	Meaning
Abante	Avante	Ahead, Forward
Ahensiya	Agéncia	Agency
Ambisyoso	Ambicioso	Ambitious
Bodega	Bodega	Warehouse
Colegio/Kolehiyo	Colegio	College
Diyos	Dios	God
Edukasyon	Educación	Education
Eskwela	Escuela	School
Guerra/Giyera	Guerra	War
Hustisya	Justicia	Justice
Hapon	Japón	Japan
Ingles	Inglés	English
Intindi	Entiende	Understand
Kalye	Calle	Street
Kapasidad	Capacídad	Capacity
Kultura	Cultura	Culture
Luho	Lujo	Luxury
Monarkiya	Monarquía	Monarchy
Mundo	Mundo	World
Nasyonalista	Nacionalista	Nationalist
Numero	Número	Number
Operasyon	Operación	Operation
Ordinansa	Ordinanza	Ordinance
Oras	Horas	Time Hour
Pamilya	Familia	Family
Pilipinas	Filipinas	Philippines
Probinsya	Provincia	Province
Realidad	Realidad	Reality
Republika	República	Republic
Reyna	Reina	Queen
Sabon	Jabón	Soap
Tableta	Tableta	Tablet
Teknolohiya	Tecnología	Technology
Yelo	Hielo	Ice

English

English has been used in everyday Tagalog conversation. This kind of conversation is called Taglish. English words borrowed by Tagalog are mostly modern and technical terms, but English words are also used for short usage (many Tagalog words translated from English are very long) or to avoid literal translation and repetition of the same particular Tagalog word. English makes the second largest vocabulary of Tagalog after Spanish. In written language, English words in a Tagalog sentence are written as they are, but they are sometimes written in Tagalog phonetic spelling. Here are some examples:

Here are some examples:

Tagalog	English
Basketbol	Basketball
Biskwit	Biscuit
Byu	View
Direk	Director
Ekonomiks	Economics
Interbyu	Interview
Iskor	Score
Iskrin	Screen
Ispiker	Speaker
Isports	Sports
Istampid	Stampede
Catsup/Kechap	Ketchup
Keyk	Cake
Perpyum	Perfume
Websayt	Website

Cognates with Chamorro

Filipino language and culture is very similar to that of Guam and Micronesia. Filipino languages are very similar to Chamorro, the spoken language in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. The Chamorro people are closely related to Filipinos and there are many similar words in the languages. The majority Austronesian people of the Philippines are culturally closer to the Chamorro people, rather than Ethnic Malays, although the Filipinos have received influence from India and Arabia (because the Philippines is geographically closer to Asia) which also links them with Malaysia and Indonesia. However, Filipino and Chamorro also have thousands of loanwords from Spanish which add more cognates and bring the cultures closer. The close relationship between Filipinos and Guamanians was expressed by governor of Guam: Ricardo Boradallo who said: "The Filipinos are akin to the Guamanians historically, culturally and linguistically, more so than any other people in Asia". These are only a few words from the thousands of cognates between the two languages.

Filipino	Chamorro	English
Abo	Apu	Ash
Abugado	Abugadu	Lawyer
Aga	Maga	Early
Agila	Agila	Eagle
Alahas	Alahas	Jewelry
Alambre	Alamle	Wire
Alkalde	Atkadi	Mayor
Alpombra	Atformbra	Carpet
Anino	Anineng	Shadow
Apelyido	Apiyidu	Family name
Apog	Afok	Lime
Apura	Apura	Hurry
Araro	Aruru	Arrowroot
Araw	Atdao	Sun
Areglado	Areklao	Orderly
Armas	Atmas	Weapon
Asawa	Asagua	Wife/husband
Aso	Asu	Smoke
Asukal	Asukat	Sugar
Ataul	Ata'ut	Casket
Atip	Atof	Roof
Atis	Ates	Sugar Apple
Ayuno	Ayunu	Fast
Baba	Ebaba	Low
Baboy	Babuy	Pig
Bagyo	Pakyo	Storm
Balsa	Batsa	Raft
Bapor	Bapot	Ship
Baraha	Balaha	Playing cards
Barkilan	Barakilan	Rafter
Baston	Baston	Cane
Nigipin	Nifen	Teeth
Bayabas	Abas	Guava
Agwat	Achago	Distance
Baba	Babas	Chin
Pagaw	Afagao	Husky voice
Unan	Alunan	Pillow
Gamot	Amot	Medicine
Kamay	Kanai	Hand
Baka	Baka	Cow
Palanggana	Palanggana	Basin
Bangko	Banko	Bench
Suso	Susu	Breast
Tulay	Tolai	Bridge
Mantikilya	Mantikiya	Butter

Cognates with Malay

Tagalog is an Austronesian language and a close cousin of both Malay varieties in Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. Because of this close relationship, there are many cognates between the two languages stretching back many millennia. Many cognates were re-borrowed into in the language when Old Malay became the official language of trade and documentation during the pre-Hispanic era of Philippine history, as evidenced by the Laguna Copperplate Inscription of 900 AD and accounts of Pigafetta at the time of the Spanish arrival in the country 5 centuries later. This is a small sample of the thousands of cognates present between Tagalog and Malay.

Tagalog	Malay	Meaning
Ako	Aku	I (first person)
Balik	Balik	Return
Bansà	Bangsa	Country
Daán	Jalan	Street, road
Hangin	Angin	Wind
Itik	Itik	Duck
Itim	Hitam	Black
Kalapatî	Merpati	Pigeon
Lalaki	Lelaki, Laki–laki	Male
Langit	Langit	Sky, Heaven
Sakit	Sakit	Ill
Mura	Murah	Cheap
Pangulo	Penghulu	President
Putî	Putih	White
Saksi	Saksi	Witness
Sarap	Sedap	Delicious
Sulat	Surat	Letter
Tamis	Manis	Sweet
Taon	Tahun	Year
Utak	Otak	Brain
Mahal	Mahal	Expensive
Sintá	Cinta	Love (Possessive)
Anak	Anak	Child
Kanan	Kanan	Right
Guntíng	Gunting	Scissor
Lima	Lima	Five
Ikaw	Kau	You
Durián	Durian	Durian
Tulong	Tolong	Help
Pulò	Pulau	Island
Rambután	Rambutan	Rambutan
Batík	Batik	Spot, speckle
Batò	Batu	Stone
Mulâ	Mula	From
Radyo	Radio	Radio
Medya	Media	Media
Sanggol	Sanggul	Infant
Dagat	Darat	Sea
Payong	Payung	Umbrella
Kita	Kita	We (1st person dual, i.e. "you and I")
Kami	Kami	We (excludes addressee)
Dingding	Dinding	Wall
Mangga	Mangga	Mango
Halagâ	Harga	Price
Babae	Bibi	Female
Ulan	Hujan	Rain
Buwaya	Buaya	Crocodile
Bawang	Bawang	Garlic
Apat	Empat	Four
Ánim	Enam	Six
Salitá	Cerita	Word
Balitá	Berita	News
Kambing	Kambing	Goat
Halaman	Halaman	Plant
Kapag	Kapan	When
Buwan	Bulan	Month
Laban	Lawan	Oppose (v.), Opposition (n.)
Langka	Nangka	Jackfruit
Balimbing	Belimbing	Starfruit
Aprikot	Aprikot	Apricot
Lemon	Lemon	Lemon
Helikopter	Helikopter	Helicopter
Balakáng	Belakang	Hip
Libo	Ribu	Thousand
Utang	Hutang	Debt

Sanskrit

Tagalog	Sanskrit	Meaning
Alak	Arak	Wine
Bahala	Bahala	Fate
Bathala	Bathala	Almighty
Bahagi	Bhag	Part Portion
Budhî	Bodhi	Conscience
Diwa	Jiwa	Spirit, Consciousness
Diwata	Devanta	Fairy/ Nymph
Dukha	Dukkha	Destitute
Guro	Guru	Teacher, Mentor
Karma	Karma	Karma
Kathâ	Katha	Creation
Mahárlika	Mahardhikka	Nobility
Mukhâ	Mukha	Face
Sutlâ	Sutra	Silk
Visayas	Vijaya	Major islands group in central Philippines. Main islands are: Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros, and Panay.

Hindi

Tagalog	Hindi	Meaning
Achara	Achar	Pickled Pickles
Tsaa	Chai	Tea
Beranda	Veranda	Roofed open gallery porch
Mahal	Mahal	Beloved Sweetheart
Sabón	Saboon	Soap
Syampu	Champo	Shampoo

Gujarati

• Bumbay (Gujarati: Bombay) – Term used for people of South Asian descent.

Arabic

• Alam (Arabic: Alham) – Knowledge, understanding.
• Hiyâ (Arabic: Hayaa) - to feel shame, blush.
• Hukum(Arabic: Hukum) - Judge

Min Nan (Hokkien), Yueh (Cantonese), and Mandarin Chinese

During the time when several Kingdoms existed in the area of what is now Luzon(in reference to the Luzon Empire or Kingdom of Tondo), diplomatic ties were established with the Ming dynasty. Contact also reached as far as the Sultan of Sulu. As a result, many Chinese loanwords were gained, some examples are:

• Apo (Hokkien: 阿公/A–kong) – Grandfather (the word 'apo' means grandchild/ren in Tagalog).
• Ate (Hokkien: 阿姊/A–chí) – Eldest sister.
• Bakya (Hokkien: 木屐/ba̍k-kia̍h) – Native wooden sandals.
• Batchoy (Hokkien: 肉水/bah-chúi) – Pork in soup.
• Bihon (Hokkien: 米粉/bí-hún) – Rice vermicelli
• Bitsin (Hokkien: 味精/bī-cheng) – monosodium glutamate.
• Chekwa (Slang/corruption for Intsik, see ‘intsik’.)
• Daw/Raw (Mandarin: Tao, Originally meant "God", "Way", or "God's Way") – He said/she said/they said/it was said/reportedly/supposedly.
• Ditse (Hokkien: 二姊/Dī–chí) – Second eldest sister.
• Hikaw (Hokkien: 耳鉤/hī–kau) – Earrings.
• Jusi (Hokkien: 富絲/hù-si) – Cloth made from pineapple fibers.
• Impo (Hokkien: 阿媽/A–má) – Grandmother.
• Ingkong (Hokkien: 阿公/A–kong) – Grandfather.
• Intsík (Hokkien: Din Tiak) – Chino.
• Kuya (哥哥; Cantonese: ko–ko; Hokkien: keh–ya) – Eldest brother.
• Lumpia (Hokkien: 潤餅/jūn-piáⁿ) – lumpia/spring rolls.
• Mami (Hokkien: 肉麵/bah-mī) – Meat and noodles in soup.
• Pati (Hokkien: ) – Including.
• Pancit (Hokkien: 便ê食/piān-ê-si̍t) – Noodles with sauce.
• Petsay (Hokkien: 白菜/pe̍h-chhài) – Chinese cabbage.
• Pesa (Hokkien: 白sa̍h) – Plain boiled.
• Santse (Hokkien: 三姊/San–chí) – Third eldest sister.
• Sitsit (Hokkien: ) – Pssst...
• Siyansi (Hokkien: 煎匙/chian-sî) – Spoon-like kitchen turner/spatula.
• Siyopaw/siopao (Hokkien: 燒包/sio-pau) – Dough ball filled with pork/beef/carabao meat.
• Sotanghon (Hokkien: 苏冬粉/so-tang-hun) – Cellophane noodles
• Suki (Hokkien: 主客/chu–khe) – Regular Customer.
• Sungki (Hokkien: 伸齒/chhun-khí) – Malocclusion.
• Susi (Hokkien: 鎖匙/só–sî) – Key.
• Tikoy (Hokkien: 甜粿/Tih–ke) – Chinese New Year's cake Nian gao.
• Tingi (Hokkien:) – Selling at retail.
• Tokwa (Hokkien: 豆干/tāu-koaⁿ) – Soybean curd
• Totso (Hokkien: 豆油醋魚/tāu–iû-chhò͘-hî) – Sauteed fish.
• Toyo (Hokkien: 豆油/tāu–iû) – Soy sauce.
• Tausi (Hokkien: 豆豉/tāu-si; 'beans fermented/in brine') – Fermented black beans.

Japanese

During the era of the several Kingdoms in the Luzon area, and even in the Visayas, trade was established between them and South East and East Asia(especially Japan and China). Word borrowings from Japanese were most likely from trade, some examples are:

• Dahan–dahan (Nihongo: だんだん　dandan) – Slowly, gradually.
• Haba (Nihongo: 幅　haba) – Width or Breadth.
• Kaban (Nihongo: 鞄　kaban – Bag, satchel.) – Sack of rice.
• Kampay (Nihongo: 乾杯 kanpai) - Cheers!
• Katol (Nihongo: 蚊取線香　katori-senkou) – Mosquito coil.
• Jack-en-poy (NIhongo: じゃんけんぽん　jankenpon) - Rock-paper-scissors
• Tamang-tama (Nihongo: 偶々　tama-tama) - coincidentally
• Toto (Nihongo: おとうと otōto) - younger brother
• Karaoke (Nihongo: カラオケ karaoke) – A form of musical entertainment, usually social in nature where one sings from a selection of songs with the aid of an audio–video guide that provides the instrumental accompaniment and flashes the scripts of the lyrics for the player to read.

Nahuatl (Aztec Mexican)

Tagalog gained Nahuatl words through Spanish and with the galleon trade with Mexico during the Hispanic era.

• Akuwete (Nahuatl: Achiotl via Mex. Sp.: Achiote) – Annatto seeds.
• Kamatsile/Kamatsili/Camachile (Nahuatl: Cuanhmochitl via Mex. Sp.: Guamáchili) – Sweet tamarind or Manila tamarind.
• Kamote (Nahuatl: Camotli via Mex. Sp.: Camote) – Sweet potato.
• Pitaka (Nahuatl: Petlacalli via Mex. Sp.: Petaca) – Suitcase) – Coin purse.
• Sayote (Nahuatl: Chayotli via Mex. Sp.: Chayote) – A Mexican squash.
• Singkamas (Nahuatl: Xicamatl via Mex. Sp.: Jicama) – A sweet root crop (water chestnut).
• Sukil (Nahuatl: Xochitl via Mex. Sp.: Suchil) – A flower.
• Tatay (Nahuatl: Tatl) – Father.
• Tiangge/Tiyangge (Nahuatl: Tianquiztli via Mex. Sp.: Tianguis) – Seasonal markets.
• Tsokolate (Nahuatl: Xocolatl or Chocolatl via Mex. Sp.: Chocolate) – Chocolate.
• Tsonggo (Nahuatl via Mex. Sp.: Chango) – Monkey.
• Sapote (Nahuatl: Tzapotl via Mex. Sp.: Chico sapote) – Sapodilla, now called Chico or Tsiko. However the word Zapote remained in the minds of Filipinos as a place i.e. Zapote, Cavite.

Arawak–Taíno–Caribbean/Central American

• Bayabas (Always Plu.) (Arawak: Guayabo via Mex. Sp.: Guayaba) – Guava.
• Kasikwe/Cacique (Arawak via Mex. Sp.: Cacique) – Chief, boss.
• Kaimito/Caimito (Unknown but somewhere in Caribbean/Central American via Mex. Sp.: Caimito) – Star fruit.
• Mani (Always Sing.) Taíno: Maní via Mex. Sp.: Maní) – Peanut. Slang for clitoris.
• Mais (Taíno: Maíz via Mex. Sp.: Maíz) – Maiz.
• Papaya (Arawak: Papáia via Mex. Sp. Papaya) – Papaya.
• Patatas (Always plu.) (Taíno: Batata via Mex. Sp.: Patata) – Potato.

See also

• filipinokastila homepage
• Seasite
• homepage

References

• Azteca.net
• Academia.org
• Gbarto.com
• Hispanic Culture in the Philippines
• Asiarecipe.com
• Words of Nahautl Origin
• Mexican Words
• Azteca.net
• [1]

Additional readings

• [2]
• [3]
• [4]