Filipinism 101: Everything You Should Know About English, The Filipino Way

Hey there, idol! It’s a pleasure to have you here. If you’ve stumbled upon this, you’re likely intrigued about the fascinating, occasionally peculiar, and frequently charming phenomenon known as ‘Filipinism’. Or you might have fallen for the trap of me using street food skewers as the cover photo, plus using the keywords “Savoring” and “Taste. Well, that is not what Filipinism is all about but you’re in for quite a ride!

Introduction

Filipinism refers to the unique cultural traits, values, and customs of the Filipino people. The Philippines is a vibrant and diverse country with a rich history and a blend of influences from various cultures. This guide aims to provide an overview of Filipinism, offering insights into Filipino traditions, social etiquette, language, and more. Whether you are visiting the Philippines or simply interested in understanding Filipino culture, this guide will help you navigate the world of Filipinism with ease.

Before we get to brain-squeezing. Let’s start with an icebreaker!

“I open the light in the kubo where we’re having our bonding moment. Kuya, can you pass the gravy? The Chickenjoy is tastes great, noh? Ate, you and me have same same dresses, so nice! We just eat na, still there’s plenty of food pa, it’s okay, we’re enjoy enjoy. In the beedio later, I will take ficture of us. It’s a fun day, eh? My nose is bleeding from all this English, and I feel high blood! Next year, I will graduate in college na pala.”

The aforementioned paragraph may sound amusing, but it indeed illustrates how diverse and colorful Filipinisms can be. Not quite noticeable but it’s safe to give it a score of 10/10 — in checking all of the boxes for the different types of Filipinism!

Let’s start dissecting:

Direct Translation: “open the light”
Borrowed Words: “kubo”, “suka”
Verb Tenses: “is tastes”
Use of Particles: “eat na”, “food pa”
Reduplication: “enjoy enjoy”
Pronunciation Differences: “beedio”, “ficture”
Code-Switching: “Kuya”, “noh?”
Filler Words: “eh?”
Unique Idiomatic Expressions: “my nose is bleeding”, “I feel high blood”
Misuse of Prepositions: “graduate in college”

Are you hooked yet?

From my own experiences living and breathing in the beautifully chaotic and joyously loud archipelago, I’ve discovered that English here has its own personality. It’s like your favorite adobo dish – it has a distinctive Filipino flavor, it’s warm, it’s comforting, and it’s uniquely ours.

And don’t even get me started on how we’ve turned ‘nosebleed’ into a language experience! So sit back, grab your favorite merienda, and let’s delve into the wonderfully flavorful world of Filipinism. Trust me, it’s going to be a fun and insightful journey.

Let’s get started breaking each down, shall we?

Types of Filipinism

Direct Translations

Meet Miguel, an OFW working as a nurse in New York. While he has become fluent in English during his time in the United States, his language occasionally carries traces of Filipinism through direct translations.

When Miguel’s American colleague asks him to turn off the light in the break room, he might respond with a smile, “Sure, I will open the light for you,” instead of saying “Sure, I will switch off the light for you.” And when sharing his excitement about his upcoming vacation, he might exclaim, “I will go home to the Philippines na!” instead of saying “I will return home to the Philippines now!”

These direct translations, even for someone like Miguel who has spent significant time abroad, serve as a nostalgic reminder of his Filipino roots and the linguistic nuances ingrained in his speech.

In essence, “Direct Translations” in Filipinism are instances when Filipinos translate local phrases or idioms directly into English, which often results in phrases that may sound peculiar to native English speakers. This is part of the charm and color of English as used in the Philippines, adding a distinctly local flavor to the language. Common examples include:

Filipinism	Standard English
Open the light	Turn on the light
Close the light	Turn off the light
I will be the one who will do it	I will do it
Borrow me a pen	Lend me a pen
For a while	Hold on
Can you help me to carry this?	Can you help me carry this?
Can you give me a favor?	Can you do me a favor?
I will go ahead	I will go first
My head aches	I have a headache
The rain is strong	It’s raining heavily
He is sick of heart	He has a heart disease
She is nosebleed	She has a nosebleed
Take care your belongings	Take care of your belongings
Step foot	Set foot
Answer me back	Reply to me

Borrowed Words

“Borrowed Words” is a category of Filipinism that refers to the use of words directly borrowed from another language, often Spanish or English, and used in the Filipino context. These borrowed words have been incorporated into the Filipino language over the centuries, primarily due to colonial influence and cultural exchange. They are used in everyday conversation, signages, literature, and even in official documents, making them an integral part of the Filipino vocabulary.

The use of borrowed words in Filipinism is a clear indication of the dynamic nature of language, showcasing how Filipino, like any other language, is not static but continually evolving and adapting. Although these words may originate from foreign languages, they have been adopted and adapted by Filipinos, often given a local flavor or twist that makes them uniquely Filipino.

Other examples:

Filipinism	Standard English
Kuya John is here	John (my older brother) is here
Pass me the suka	Pass me the vinegar
I will go to the palengke	I will go to the market
Let’s eat pancit	Let’s eat noodles
The tindahan is closed	The store is closed
Give me the walis	Give me the broom
Where is the kutsara?	Where is the spoon?
Pass the patis, please	Pass the fish sauce, please
Let’s play sungka	Let’s play a traditional Filipino game
She is eating lechon	She is eating roasted pig
I want to ride the kalesa	I want to ride the horse-drawn carriage

Verb Tenses

Let’s imagine a day in the life of Rosa, a cheerful English teacher from Davao. Even though she teaches English, her daily conversation still carries the color of Filipino English, a charming blend of the local language and its unique rules. One feature that often stands out, especially when talking to non-Filipino speakers, is her usage of verb tenses.

For instance, when she’s telling a story about her students, she might say, “Yesterday, my students is very energetic. They are singing and dancing during break time!” Or when planning a lesson, she might share, “Tomorrow, I teach them about Shakespeare’s plays. I am sure they love it!”

These examples illustrate the unique way Filipinos often use verb tenses, which might seem unusual for native English speakers but are a common part of English as spoken in the Philippines.

Filipinism	Standard English
I go to the market now	I’m going to the market now
She eat dinner	She’s eating dinner
They play basketball	They are playing basketball
He sleep early tonight	He is sleeping early tonight
We leave tomorrow	We’re leaving tomorrow
I come back later	I’ll come back later
She talk to him now	She’s talking to him now
She cook dinner	She’s cooking dinner
We swim in the pool	We’re swimming in the pool
They work in the office	They’re working in the office
He clean the room	He’s cleaning the room

Use of Particles

Let’s visit the bustling streets of Manila and meet Carlos, a friendly tricycle driver (not the man above). Carlos interacts with locals and foreigners daily, and his English reflects the colloquial, rhythmic blend of Filipino and English, known as Taglish.

As he communicates with his passengers, one might hear him say, “Boss, where you go na? I drop you there lang.” Or when he’s done for the day, he might tell his friends, “I’m going home na, I’m tired na eh.”

The use of the particles “na” and “lang” from the Filipino language interspersed with English words is quite common among Filipinos. Some examples can be seen as:

Filipinism	Standard English
Let’s eat na	Let’s eat now
I’m tired na	I’m tired already
Are you okay na?	Are you okay now?
She’s here na	She’s here already
Let’s go home na	Let’s go home now
I’m not yet ready pa	I’m not ready yet
He hasn’t arrived pa	He hasn’t arrived yet
She’s not here pa	She’s not here yet
He’s still sleeping pa	He’s still sleeping
I still have to shower pa	I still have to shower
It’s so hot nga	It’s so hot indeed
She’s really smart nga	She’s really smart indeed
That’s true nga	That’s indeed true
He’s handsome nga	He’s indeed handsome
It’s delicious nga	It’s indeed delicious

Reduplication

Imagine you’re watching a popular Filipino game show hosted by the energetic and charismatic Paolo. As the game progresses, you can’t help but notice Paolo’s unique style of speaking English, marked by a rhythm that seems to dance with his words.

“Contestant number one, are you ready-ready for the next challenge?” Paolo asks, his voice booming across the studio. When a contestant gives a correct answer, he exclaims, “Correct-correct! You win-win big prizes today!”

The duplication of words, or “reduplication,” is a common feature in Paolo’s speech. It adds emphasis, rhythm, and a sense of joy to his language, making his game show even more exciting to watch. This way of speaking English might seem unusual to some, but it’s part of the charm!

Check out some other examples below:

Filipinism	Standard English
The more, the many	The more, the merrier
Same same	Exactly the same
Little little	Very little
Slow slow	Very slow
Quick quick	Very quick
Big big	Very big
Fast fast	Very fast
Small small	Very small
Strong strong	Very strong
Soft soft	Very soft
Heavy heavy	Very heavy
Light light	Very light
Long long	Very long
1Short short	Very short

Pronunciation Differences

Due to the phonetic nature of the Filipino language, Filipinos might pronounce certain English sounds differently.

Picture this: Karlo, a brilliant Filipino software developer, is in a virtual meeting with his global team. Although he is fluent in English, his pronunciation carries a distinct Filipino touch, reflecting the unique way English is spoken in the Philippines.

When discussing a project, Karlo might say, “I will ‘fill’ up the report and ‘send’ it by tomorrow,” pronouncing ‘fill’ and ‘send’ more like ‘feel’ and ‘sand.’ Or when sharing his ideas, he might express, “This approach will save ‘taym’ and ‘maney’,” pronouncing ‘time’ and ‘money’ as ‘taym’ and ‘maney.’

Here are some extras if you want to learn more or simply laugh about it:

Filipinism	Standard English
Pamily	Family
Pootball	Football
Beedio	Video
Philiffines	Philippines
Ficture	Picture
Birus	Virus
Bolume	Volume
Bocal	Vocal
Bendor	Vendor
Bampire	Vampire
Belocity	Velocity
Base	Vase

Code-Switching

Code-switching, commonly known as “Taglish” (Tagalog + English) or “Bislish” (Bisaya + English), involves switching between English and a native language within a conversation or even within a sentence.

Join me in the vibrant city of Cebu, where we meet Anna, a young Filipino college student. Anna and her friends seamlessly blend English and Filipino in their everyday conversations, a linguistic phenomenon known as code-switching.

When Anna catches up with her friends, she might say, “Guys, I have chika! My brother, nag-top sa board exam. Super proud ako!” Translated to English, Anna is excitedly sharing some gossip: her brother topped the board exam, and she’s very proud.

This fluid switch between English and Filipino within a single conversation is common among Filipinos, particularly the younger generation. While it might seem confusing to non-Filipino speakers, this code-switching showcases the adaptability and versatility of Filipinos in language use.

Here are more examples to spoil your brain:

Filipinism	Standard English
Can you make tusok the fishball?	Can you pierce the fishball?
I’ll kain first	I’ll eat first
He’s gwapo, noh?	He’s handsome, isn’t he?
You’re going sa party, di ba?	You’re going to the party, aren’t you?
She’s matalino and maganda	She’s intelligent and beautiful
My phone, where na you?	My phone, where are you?
I’ll buy na my groceries	I’ll buy my groceries now
His jokes, havey always	His jokes are always funny
I feel sad, can we bondings?	I feel sad, can we hang out?
I’m pagod na	I’m already tired
I hate the init, it’s hassle sa skin	I hate the heat, it’s a hassle for my skin
We study na, our exams are malapit na	Let’s study now, our exams are near
Let’s chill nalang here	Let’s just chill here
The traffic is heavy, let’s alternate route	The traffic is heavy, let’s take an alternate route
The meeting has been moved, FYI lang	The meeting has been moved, just so you know

Filler Words

Filipinos use unique filler words like “eh” and “ano” in English sentences, similar to “um” and “like” in American English.

You’ve already met a handful of fictional characters in this blog but it doesn’t stop me from letting you meet Juan, a charismatic Canadian-Filipino radio host based in Quezon City. He hosts a popular morning show where he converses with listeners, shares anecdotes, and discusses various topics. While he is fluent in English, Juan’s conversations often include a generous sprinkle of filler words, a distinct characteristic of English communication in the Philippines.

When Juan takes calls from listeners, he might say, “That’s a good point, ano? It really makes you think, diba?” Or when he’s introducing a topic for discussion, he could say, “Today, we’re talking about climate change, eh. It’s a big issue, diba?”

These filler words, “ano,” “diba,” and “eh,” are borrowed from Filipino and used in English conversations in the Philippines. They may sound peculiar to native English speakers but are part of the color and charm of Filipino English.

Diba? Oh heto pa mga samples ano po:

Filipinism	Standard English
She’s maganda, eh	She’s beautiful, you see
I’m thinking, eh…	I’m thinking…
It’s like that, eh	It’s like that, you know
I’m not sure, eh	I’m not sure
He’s a good player, eh	He’s a good player, you know
The test was hard, eh	The test was hard, you see
It’s very expensive, eh	It’s very expensive, you see
We’re late, eh	We’re late, you know
I didn’t see him, eh	I didn’t see him, you see
She didn’t come, eh	She didn’t come, you know
The food is delicious, eh	The food is delicious, isn’t it?
It’s a beautiful day, eh	It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?
He’s fast, eh	He’s fast, isn’t he?
They’re going on a trip, eh	They’re going on a trip, aren’t they?

Unique Idiomatic Expressions

Filipinos use idiomatic expressions that might be unfamiliar to non-Filipino English speakers. For instance, “nosebleed” is an expression that refers to the difficulty of speaking or understanding English.

Let’s step into the vibrant city of Manila and meet Sofia, a lively Filipino teenager known for her witty and expressive language. Sofia has a knack for using unique idiomatic expressions that add a touch of Filipino flavor to her conversations.

When Sofia receives a compliment on her outfit, she might respond, “Oh, thank you! You’re making me kilig!” Kilig, a Filipino expression, describes the fluttery feeling of excitement or romantic thrill. And when she’s excited about a new opportunity, she might exclaim, “This is my big break! I’m going to make bongga!” Bongga, another idiomatic expression, means to do something in a grand or extravagant manner.

Quite hard to comprehend? Now comprehend these:

Filipinism	Standard English
She’s feeling high blood	She’s feeling angry
He made a way	He found a way
You’re out of place	You don’t belong here
He’s on the way	He’s on his way
That’s my bottomline	That’s my final decision
She’s a feelingera	She’s pretentious
It’s a come and go	It’s temporary

Misuse of Prepositions

Filipinos sometimes misuse prepositions in English sentences due to differences in preposition usage in Filipino languages, such as saying “graduate in college” instead of “graduate from college.”

Imagine we’re in the bustling city of Makati, where we meet Ikay, a friendly Filipino professional. As she engages in conversations with his colleagues, Ikay occasionally slips into the misuse of prepositions, a common feature in Filipinism.

For instance, when talking about a recent trip, he might say, “I went on a vacation at Boracay. I stayed in a beautiful resort at the beach.” Instead of using “on” or “by” to indicate the location, Miguel mistakenly uses “at.” Similarly, when discussing an upcoming event, she might say, “Let’s meet on the mall entrance.” Here, she misuses “on” instead of “at” to indicate the specific location.

Haynako, Ikay!

Here are more examples of misused prepositions Ikay might have indulged with (judgment intended for Ikay):

Filipinism	Standard English
Graduate in college	Graduate from college
Enroll to a course	Enroll in a course
She’s good in singing	She’s good at singing
He’s weak to math	He’s weak in math
I’m studying at the library	I’m studying in the library
Sit in the chair	Sit on the chair
Meet in a friend	Meet a friend
I’m here at my room	I’m here in my room
She lives at Makati	She lives in Makati
He’s at the home	He’s at home
I’m looking to you	I’m looking at you
She was shocked with the news	She was shocked by the news
They’re talking to each other	They’re talking with each other
He’s bad in basketball	He’s bad at basketball
She’s married with him	She’s married to him

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, exploring the types of Filipinism reveals just how fascinating and fun the English language can be in the Philippines. From direct translations to unique idiomatic expressions, Filipinisms bring a unique flavor and cultural depth to conversations.

Filipinisms are like little language quirks that add a touch of charm and humor to communication. They reflect the diversity and creativity of Filipinos in blending English with their local language. While they may deviate from standard English grammar, Filipinisms are widely understood and accepted within the Filipino community.

As language evolves, Filipinisms may change and new ones may emerge. So, keep an open mind and enjoy the ride as you navigate the world of Filipinism. Embrace the colorful language mosaic, have fun with it, and let it bring a little extra joy and laughter to your conversations.

Lastly, as much as you have learned from everything written above, totally embracing Filipinism might lead you to a failed interview or even losing your job depending on the workplace. Choose when to embrace and when to compartmentalize!

FAQs About Filipinism

What is Filipinism?

Filipinism refers to the unique linguistic characteristics, expressions, and language features that are commonly used by Filipinos, blending the English and Filipino languages.

Why do Filipinos use Filipinism?

Filipinism is a reflection of the cultural and linguistic diversity in the Philippines. It represents the influence of Filipino languages and culture on English communication, providing a distinct and colorful flavor to the language.

Are Filipinisms considered incorrect English?

Filipinisms are not necessarily incorrect but rather unique to the Philippine context. While they may deviate from standard English grammar or usage, they are widely understood and accepted within the Filipino community.

How can I identify Filipinisms?

Filipinisms can be identified through various characteristics such as direct translations, borrowed words, code-switching, use of particles, reduplication, pronunciation differences, filler words, unique idiomatic expressions, misuse of prepositions, and more. Paying attention to these language features can help identify Filipinisms in conversation.

Is it appropriate to use Filipinisms in formal settings?

While Filipinisms are commonly used in casual and informal conversations, it is important to adapt the language to the appropriate context. In formal settings such as business or academic environments, it is generally preferred to use standard English to maintain professionalism and clarity.

Can non-Filipino speakers understand Filipinisms?

Filipinisms may pose some challenges for non-Filipino speakers due to the unique language features and cultural references. However, with context and exposure, non-Filipino speakers can gradually understand and appreciate the nuances of Filipinism.

How can I learn more about Filipinisms?

To learn more about Filipinisms, engage in conversations with native Filipino speakers, explore Filipino literature, music, and films, and immerse yourself in the Filipino culture. These experiences can help you better understand and appreciate the richness of Filipinism.

Are Filipinisms exclusive to the Philippines?

While Filipinisms are primarily associated with the Philippines, similar linguistic phenomena can be observed in other multicultural and multilingual societies, where the local language blends with the dominant language to create a unique linguistic expression.

Should I correct someone using Filipinisms?

It is important to approach language correction with sensitivity and respect. While providing gentle guidance and sharing the appropriate usage can be helpful, it is crucial to remember that Filipinisms are a part of someone’s language and cultural identity, and they contribute to the diversity of communication styles.

Can Filipinisms evolve or change over time?

Yes, like any language, Filipinisms can evolve and change over time due to cultural shifts, language influences, and exposure to global communication. New expressions and adaptations may emerge while existing ones may fade away, reflecting the ever-evolving nature of language.

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Neil Bharwani

Hi! I'm Neil, a dedicated SEO specialist and content writer. I'm also the proud father of a Siberian Husky named Cookie. I'm on a mission to share valuable insights and broaden people's understanding of various subjects. I cover a wide range of topics, breaking down complex concepts into easily digestible content.

I believe that knowledge is power. Through comprehensive and informative articles, I aim to empower readers to make informed decisions.

Filipinism 101: Everything You Should Know About English, The Filipino Way

Table of Contents

Introduction