Right here’s one thing now not we all know—outdoor of the principle regional tongues you repeatedly listen, the Philippines is in truth house to over 180 local languages and dialects.
The rustic has a complete host of various languages as a result of every local other people manifest their tradition and historical past via phrases. And so, there are phrases we at all times use, however in each and every language there are phrases we don’t at all times listen—and oftentimes, the ones which might be unusual finally end up being probably the most gorgeous and poetic to the ear.
There aren’t any higher keepers of our languages than Filipino lecturers, who incessantly champion the magic of our nation’s numerous languages. To have fun August, the nationwide Buwan ng Wika (month of language), under are their favourite Filipino phrases that you simply don’t at all times listen, in conjunction with their respective meanings and English translations.
Uswag
(Cebuano/Bisaya) To expand or support.
Tyron Casumpang, a Humanities and Social Science strand coordinator on the A long way Japanese College Prime College, gave “Uswag” as his first favourite phrase from the Cebuano/Bisaya language, probably the most major tongues spoken within the Visayas. Its English which means “expand” has no direct translation in Filipino—“pagpapaunlad” (growth) or “pagpapalago” (rising an endeavor) will be the nearest.
Alimuom
(Tagalog) Petrichor, a pleasing odor that steadily accompanies the primary rain after a protracted duration of heat, dry climate.
For Tagalog, the principle regional base of the nationwide Filipino language, Casumpang equipped “alimuom” as his 2d favourite Filipino phrase. This poetic time period has an instantaneous translation in English, the medical phrase “petrichor” or in more practical phrases, “vapor.”
Bulaos
(Bulakenyo) A slim trail or walkway resulting in some other position.
Dr. Marvin Reyes, a part of the Division of Language and Literature college at San Beda College, described “bulaos” as a Bulakenyo phrase for a path or small alley. Bulakenyo is in truth a dialect of Tagalog and Filipino spoken within the Central Luzon province. Consistent with Google Translate, it might probably additionally imply “roar” in major Filipino.
Pagbuburo
(Tagalog) Means of fermentation.
Nancy Mari Milate of the O.B. Montessori Middle shared the Tagalog time period “pagbuburo.” The method contains sugar or salt with water into the meals and the absence of oxygen begins the chemical response. Filipinos will acknowledge the basis phrase “buro,” which additionally refers to a neighborhood dish made by means of fermenting fish in pink yeast rice.
Urong
(Tagalog) To clean the dishes.
Rodolfo Andres, some other trainer from the O.B. Montessori Middle, defined “urong” as washing the dishes, glassware, and utensils utilized in each and every meal, a 2d, in large part unknown definition that a great deal differs from the phrase’s not unusual utilization to imply a retreat. This definition is now best spoken by means of elder generations of Tagalog audio system to remind the kids to scrub up after consuming.
Those 5 phrases are best the top of the iceberg in relation to a complete trove of unusual phrases a few of the other Filipino languages. For another phrase you’re now not acquainted with, Google Translate can assist—it’s beautiful inclusive in the way it covers now not best Filipino, but in addition different languages within the nation in Cebuano and Ilocano, and most likely extra to come back.
Bridge the distance between languages and be informed unfamiliar phrases by means of testing Google Translate right here.
Supply: The Manila Information-Intelligencer
Printed: Manila @ 2023-08-15 21:01:18