Filipino Obscenities, Insults, Sex Talk, Drug Slang and Gay Language in The Philippines
by Emmett Henderson
SMASHWORDS EDITION
Published by Emmett Henderson on Smashwords
Copyright © 2012 by Emmett Henderson and Coconut Palm Tree Press
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
Smashwords Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
General Negative or Interesting Words
To Insult Someone's Intelligence
Welcome to The Philippines, and to the less reputable, "underground" words you won't find in standard books on Tagalog.
Sex, drugs and lots more.
So far as I know, this is the first treatment in book form of the "gay language" of The Philippines.
I've organized this into chapters organized by subject, using English first. In case you encounter a Tagalog word in print or person and just want to look up its meaning, I've included a Tagalog to English word list in alphabetical order.
*I* am an American who currently spends a lot of time visiting The Philippines. I first gathered a lot of alleged obscene words from various sources, then I ran them by two friends who are native Tagalog speakers. One of them is woman and the other a gay man. Neither of them have lived sheltered lives. I discarded the terms they hadn't heard of. The gay man is also my source for information on gay language.
I'm not going to waste your time repeating information you can find in other books on Tagalog. If you're serious about the language, you'll already know its letters and how to pronounce them, grammar rules and so on.
I am not a linguist. I have made every effort to be as accurate as possible, but completeness is not possible. You may find that your particular friends prefer different ways to express themselves. Still, this book can be a complement to your standard Tagalog studies outside or inside The Philippines.
First of all, it's confusing to outsiders to even figure out what "Tagalog" is.
Tagalog is spoken natively by people living in Central Luzon, which includes the capital city of Manila. Although many other languages are spoken natively in other parts of the country, Tagalog is the basis for the country's official language, Pilipino (sometimes spelled Filipino).
But Pilipino contains letters Tagalog doesn't, to accommodate adopting foreign words, and also includes words borrowed from other languages in the country.
Average Filipinos in that area continue to speak what they call "Tagalog." I've never heard any Filipinos refer to their language as Pilipino.
Unless you know you’re going to spend most of your time in an area where they speak another language, Tagalog is the most useful Filipino language for most foreigners to learn. However, because it is the language of the nation's capital, the schools and the mass media including movies, most Filipinos understand a fair amount of it even if their native language is something else.
The government may be trying to make Pilipino the standard language, but in practice Filipinos speak the way they wish. Most have only a limited education. Filipinos do not all agree on anything, let alone their language.
There's also the usual problem with terms that cannot be exactly translated. Tagalog has concepts that don't exist in English, and vice versa. (I wish I had a dollar for every time I've heard a Filipino refer to a boy or man as "she," because they forgot that English – unlike Tagalog where “siyá” refers to both genders, doesn't have only one "unisex" third person singular pronoun.
English is taught in schools from kindergarten on. English language movies are shown in theaters and on TV. And so much English has been incorporated into Tagalog that it's sometimes called "Taglish" (and in fact, "Taglish" is one of the language options of Bank of The Philippine Islands -- BPI -- ATM machines). The other day while waiting in line at “makdô,” (McDonald’s), I heard the girl at the counter tell a man his order would be “dedelivered.” She took the English word “deliver” and applied the Tagalog of making the future tense (repeating the first syllable).
Despite that, most ordinary Filipinos do not understand many of the linguistic and cultural nuances of English words.
Those Filipinos who have spent enough time in the US or Canada to be fluent in English are sheltered from "street" Filipinos and their slang.
A good examples pertains to such Tagalog words as pókpók, landi, malandi, and maharot. One source says they mean flirtatious, and my friends agreed with that. However, landi is listed by another source as meaning “bitch,” and they agreed with that as well.
As near as I can tell, it's a conflict in how flirting is seen by our cultures. We regard “flirting” as pretty innocent, far removed from sleeping around with every guy in town.
However, The Philippines is a combination of traditional Asian and Catholic Spanish cultures. While tradition is slowly changing (friends lament how boys run after their daughters, and how many girls are having babies before getting married), most girls still want to be wooed. I've been told boys still serenade girls. Virginity (in women) is still highly prized.
Girls – and unmarried women – are not supposed to look like they want the boy or man, so describing a woman as flirtatious implies she's crossing a line, and so is probably going even farther than what we call flirting.
And remember that in our culture, “bitch” started out simply as meaning a “female dog.” It was applied to women who were as willing to have sex with any dog as were bitches in heat.
In modern times “bitch” (and its male equivalents -- “bastard” and “son of a bitch”) have come to connote unpleasant, mean people. If your boss is chewing you out all the time, you don't care how many people they're having sex with (if a woman) or how many people their mother did (if a man), you still call them a bitch or a bastard or an S.O.B., but that's how those words started out in English.
I strongly suspect, despite some actual prostitutes and women who have many boyfriends, on average Filipino women have far fewer sex partners in their lives than do American women. Flirting is not simply an innocent party activity, but potentially deeper.
My friend also pointed out a woman's boyfriend or husband may call her “landi” for flirting, but mean “ bitch,” out of jealousy, and that makes a lot of sense.
And “puta” (whore) and “putang ina mo” (Your mother is a prostitute.) are still two powerful Tagalog insults I suggest you never use.
And in both cultures people who want to be critical of a woman's sex life often call her a “whore” when technically she's not, because she's not charging.
Anyway, consider this book one step in bridging the gap between native English and native Tagalog speakers.
Whether you're here for inexpensive warm weather in winter, the white sand beaches, the fiestas, the warm and beautiful people, or to find love and romance, I hope this book helps you.
Technical Note
Serious students of Tagalog should wish for materials with the accent marks ^, /, and \.
These are supposedly a part of the language and, once you catch on to the system and know how they're telling you to stress the syllables, they can really help you pronounce words correctly.
Therefore, I've done my best to include them, where I could.
However, you should understand that's not as easy as it seems, for many reasons:
1. Filipinos don't use them. That includes not only ordinary people, but books, newspapers, magazines and advertising.
It also includes textbooks supposedly designed to teach first graders Tagalog.
You could live in The Philippines for years without realizing accent marks are considered an integral part of the language.
2. Many books and dictionaries for English speakers don't include them. This includes a book on Tagalog published by Charles Tuttle, the most prestigious publisher of books in English on Asian languages.
3. Some terms here are from the "oral" language. Therefore, I had no guidance as to which accent marks to use, except my ear, and I decided that was not dependable or "official" enough. So where I had no guidance, and this is especially true of the gay language chapter, I just didn't use them.
General Negative or Interesting Words
You don't do anything good. -- Tarantado. Tarantado ka.
<Pretty strong insult, but I've heard it often. Don't use it with anybody you don't know well.>
It's none of your business. -- Walâ ka na roón. Walâ ka nang pakialam
Look to yourself before criticizing others. -- Tumingin ka muna sa salamín.
Leave me alone. -- Iwanan muna akong magisá.
Leave/Go to another place. -- Umalis ka dyán.
Fuck off. -- Putang ina alís.
Fuck you. -- Fuck you.
<Yes, they just use the English words.>
You're lying. -- Nasisinungaling ka.
Don't lie. -- Huwág kang magsinungaling.
Stop lying. -- Tumigil ka sa pagsinungaling.
Something wrong? -- May asama ka ba?
Are you serious? -- Seryoso?
Things are not like you're saying. -- Hindî ganoon ang gusto mong sabihin.
Drop dead. -- Mapahamak sana. (I hope something very bad happens to you.)
Enough! -- Sobra na.
Damn! -- lintík (lightning); letsi; putsa; namputsá; punyetas; punymâs
I don't care. -- Walâ akong pakialam.
Nothing to do with me. -- Hindî akó kasangkot diyan.
I'm angry. -- Niinis akó.
I'm angry with you. -- Galit ako sayo. Nakakatampo ka.
I hate you. -- Nakakasuklam ka. Ayaw ko na sayo.
Stop it. -- Tigilan mo iyán.
Shut up. -- Itigil mo ang bibíg mo.
Ouch, ow! -- Aráy!
I'm going to kill you. -- Papatayin kita. Kakatayin kita.
You talk too much. -- Dalahirá ka.
Get your head out of your ass. -- Gamitin mo ang iyong utak.
impossible -- imposible
ridiculous -- katawatakan iyán
nonsense -- kalokohan
bullshit -- kaululan
I don't believe. -- Hindî akó naniniwala.
You're joking. -- Nabibiro ka.
You're laughing at me. -- Tinatawanan mo akó.
Stop joking. -- Tumigil ka sa pagbibiro.
I'm not joking. -- Hindî akó nagbibiro.
bum (also: dressing too informally) -- ragid
obscene, vulgar -- sagwâ; masagwâ
act obscenely -- sumagwâ
vulgar, rude, obscene -- bastôs
<most Filipinos don't even like to say this word>
to swear -- tungayaw; magtungayaw
without shame -- walâng hiya
<great insult>
You’re without shame. -- Walâng hiya ka.
<great insult>
to insult with words -- pagwikaan
dance party -- yugyugan
McDonald's – makdô
dirty or shameless -- balahurà
brat -- maldita
spoiled girl -- prima dona
to beat or hit someone -- mamalò
oh my, oh no -- nakú
Go to Hell. -- Neknek mo. Masunog ka sa impiyerno.
person with dark skin -- nognóg; nunóg
in a threatening manner -- pa-bantâ
homeless person -- abukanin
abusive person -- abusero
abuse -- abuso
to abuse; to rape -- abusuhin
forbidden -- bawal; ahat
American man – Ambo
rich, spoiled woman -- konya
foreign man -- joe, putî (white)
<Many Filipinos like to shout, "Hey, Joe!" at foreign men.>
tattoo -- pika
country hick -- prondi; syanalo
shameless -- tablá ang mukhâ; matigas ang mukhâ
Of course, the common words for "stupid" and "crazy" are used a lot as insults. They’re in later chapters.
Another common, insult that's surprisingly strong to Filipinos -- much more so than for Westerners -- though not obscene, is "pangit" -- ugly.
A common insult for a woman is "puta" or "putang" -- prostitute.
An insult often directed at both men and women is "putang inay mo" -- your mother is a prostitute.
A common insult to attack a person's personal integrity is "walang hiya" -- without honor.
But those are fighting words. Don't use them unless you're prepared to defend yourself.
You're shameless. -- Walâng hiya ka.
<Great insult.>
Your mother is a prostitute. -- Putang ina mo.
<Great insult.>
bitch -- pokpók; landî
bastard -- anák ka sa labas; anák ka ng ina mo.
weakling (as an attack on a man's manhood more than his actual physical strength) -- mahina
You don't have any balls. -- Walâ kang bayag.
Your dick is small. -- Maliit ang ari mo.
insult -- aglahì; aliktiyâ; alimurà; alipustâ
offended -- agrabyado
to insult -- alipustain
mother-in-law -- aswáng (a monster that eats people)
jeer -- atsóy
to humiliate, to offend -- ayóp
derogatory term for Filipinos -- huwana
<used by Chinese>
hard headed, stubborn -- makulet
<Often used by mothers to describe children who don't do as they're told.>
naughty -- malikot
<as in children misbehaving>
great insult -- punyeta ka
man who doesn't want to work, just has his wife working for him -- batogan; Nagpapalaki ka lang ng bayag.
<great insult to a man>
To Insult Someone's Intelligence
By far the most common term for "stupid" I've heard is "bobo." Because many Filipinos routinely substitute the letters O and U for each other, I've also heard the pronunciation variations: "bubu" and "bubo."
My informant told me that bobo is more like ignorant than stupid. He says "tanga" is the best Tagalog word meaning stupid. And I have heard that. However, I hear bobo or a variation thereof often.
For polite company, Filipino have adopted the politically correct custom of calling truly mentally retarded people "special."
You're stupid. -- Bobo ka. Tanga ka.
stupid or ignorant -- bobo; bubu, bubo
stupid -- tanga; bogok; bopol; tadó; may pagkatangá; tangengot; tiyopè; tulók; tugahók; ugák; ugáw; uldóg; ungág; utak-biyak; walâng utak; tungág
stupid, rude -- ungas
stupid woman -- tunggák
idiot -- tumáng
foolish -- hungháng; tognô
fool -- hunyangò (chameleon); iskurukutóy; uto-utô
retarded -- tardíng
senile -- máli-mali
slow to understand -- makagets
What I've heard most often is "gago" for crazy. Or "sira ulo" (broken head).
You're crazy. -- Sirà ang ulo mo. Gago ka. May toyò ka sa ulo.
You're crazy like a dog. -- Para kang aso'ng ulo.
crazy -- gago; sirà ulo (broken head); maluwág ang turnilyo (loose screw); balíw; búang; buwang; hipáng-nahihibáng; kuwago owl; tilitíng; tongók; ultók; lurík; sintô-sintú
crazy person -- kulogó
If you don’t want to insult someone’s mental condition, you can always make fun of their physical flaws.
"Pangit" -- ugly – is the grand champion in this category.
ugly -- pangit
have a harelip -- bingot; ngo-ngo; tangab; ungî
dwarf, tiny, pygmy -- bulilit; unano
fat girl -- dabyana
cross-eyed -- duling
knock kneed -- pikî
walking with a limp -- pilantód; tumikód; pamimiláy; mamiláy; tikód
crippled, lame, limping -- piláy
deformed legs -- pilikáw
slant-eyed -- pingkít; singkít
forearmed crooked, claw handed -- pingkók
armless; handless; deformed in arm -- pungkól
bowlegged -- sakáng
<also used to refer to Japanese men>
ugly person -- susô; tsaka
ugly snob -- suwangit
flatnosed -- tapîl
slight limp -- tikâ
protruding teeth -- usungál
stuttering -- utál
missing teeth -- bungi; bungal
short -- pandák
fat -- matabâ
In general, Filipinos love to gamble. Many men enjoy going to cockfights (which are legal) and betting on the roosters. Both sexes enjoy playing cards, especially Lucky 9 (a variation on baccarat) and Tong-It.
They also go to the government run casinos, Filipino Casino where baccarat is by far the most popular game, at least in the one I visited. Only a few people played the few slot machines, and a few others played blackjack. Many Filipinos also play mah-jong.
You may enjoy playing cards with friends. Stay inside, and don't go any place where the activity inside is being hidden. Despite the existence of legal forms of gambling, there's also illegal gambling establishments, and you don't want to be caught in one.
Playing cards for money during wakes is legal, I'm told.
Despite the existence of a legal lottery (you can buy tickets at the local mall), there’s an illegal lottery called jueteng.
It was for allegedly receiving bribes from syndicate running the illegal jueteng lottery the Philippines Army replaced President Joseph Estrada with Vice-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2001. Now it's alleged some of her relatives received payoffs from jeuteng.
gambler -- manunugal
gambling -- sugál
casino, gambling house -- bahay-súgalan
deck of cards -- baraha
fixing a game -- hulog
gambling game -- huwegó
lottery -- loteria; huweteng
banker in gambling -- kabisilya
loser -- kataló
poker -- pusóy
cockfight -- sabong
giving gambling winnings, such as a tip -- ambón
illegal lottery – jueteng
wine -- alák
cheap wine -- alák-alakan;
wine store -- alakán
drunk -- lasíng; amóy-tsiko; boratso; buratso; langó; senglot; malangó; longsi; solbáng; lugamok (falling down drunk); langô; wenggól
to drink alcohol -- barik
bar -- barikán
beer -- bir; serbesa
drunkard -- buratsero
drunkenness -- kalasignán
habitually drunk -- mapa/glasíng
drinking session -- tomá
alcoholic -- tomadór
heavy drinker -- tunay na lalake (real man)
longtime wine drinker -- paláinóm ng arak
hungover -- masakit ang ulo ko sa kalasingan.
something stolen -- abanse
policeman -- pulís; alat
stolen -- apâ
to steal -- apan
thief -- atibán; bandito; bandolero
bag (purse) snatcher – bag snatcher; purse snatcher – or just “snatcher”
gang war -- atraso
stealing -- bakaw
swindler -- balasubas
multiple offender -- balikloob
car thief -- bukás kotse (open car)
cheating, deceiving -- buladas
gangster -- butangero
contraband, smuggled goods -- kontrabando
bribe -- kotong; soborno
corrupt police -- pulís kotong (police bribe)
snitch, stool pigeon -- kumanta (to sing)
dishonest person -- mambabakal (shark)
pickpocket -- tirtír; mandurukot
armed robber -- holdupper
police informer -- impo
to bribe -- manahol
It should go without saying, but I better say it anyway because there’s always somebody who can’t figure out the obvious and a lawyer ready to take them on as a client, that you should read this chapter solely for entertainment.
The Philippines does have a lot of drugs, but it's dangerous for a foreigner to attempt to score any. If the dealer doesn't rip you off, they may report you to the local police. If you're lucky, they'll extort a large bribe from you. The alternative could be a harsh jail sentence. Or maybe the dealer will blackmail you. In any case, you lose.
If you don’t believe me now, be sure to read the customs entry card you have to complete on the plane before you arrive. It reminds you that in The Philippines a drug trafficking offense carries the death sentence.