Words are so powerful. Words especially filipino terms are so beautiful, its like melody on ears of every Filipino. They can give you directions, happiness, thrill, information, etc. But these feelings and sensations can only be acquired when you understood the term that has been spoken. Well if you’re a Filipino, there is no way that you cannot understood a term that has been said at your own language. We do know english words because its our second language so understanding and creating idea of a filipino term is just a piece of cake to all Filipinos, or is it?
Sometimes filipino terms isn’t so familiar to us. Below are some examples of filipino terms that are rarely used. Leave a comment on how many of these terms you are familiar with on the comment section below.
- Filipino word: Salipawpaw
English translation: Airplane
Definition: a powered heavier-than-air aircraft with fixed wings from which it derives most of its lift.
Sentence example: Sumakay kami sa salipawpaw upang makapunta sa Cambodia.
- Filipino word: Awanggan
English translation: Infinity
Definition: the quality of being infinite; unlimited extent of time, space, or quantity : BOUNDLESSNESS.
Sentence example: Ang kapangyarihan ng diyos ay awanggan.
- Filipino word: Anluwage
English translation: Carpenter
Definition: a worker who builds or repairs wooden structures or their structural parts.
Sentence example: Inayos ng anluwage ang aming kusina.
- Filipino word: Gaptol
English translation: Switch
Definition: a device for making, breaking, or changing the connections in an electrical circuit.
Sentence example: Balak kong patayin ang ilaw ngunit di ko makita kung saan ang gaptol nito.
- Filipino word: Pangaso
English translation: Toothbrush
Definition: a brush for cleaning the teeth
Sentence example: Nakalimutan ko kung saan ko inilagay ang aking pangaso.
- Filipino word: Sipnayan
English translation: Mathematics
Definition: the science of numbers and their operations, interrelations, combinations, generalizations, and abstractions and of space configurations and their structure, measurement, transformations, and generalizations
Sentence example: Nahihirapan akong sagutan ang mga pagsubok sa sipnayan.
- Filipino word: Hatinig
English translation: Telephone
Definition: an instrument for reproducing sounds at a distance
specifically : one in which sound is converted into electrical impulses for transmission (as by wire or radio waves)
Sentence example: Kinausap ko ang aking ina sa hatinig bago ako matulog.
- Filipino word: Sulatroniko
English translation: E-mail
Definition: messages sent and received electronically through an e-mail system
Sentence example: Nag-pasa kami ng aralin gamit ang sulatroniko.
- Filipino word: Paraluman
English translation: Compass
Definition: a device for determining directions by means of a magnetic needle or group of needles turning freely on a pivot and pointing to the magnetic north
Sentence example: Nakita ko ang lumang paraluman ng aking lolo sa may kabinet.
- Filipino word: Balintataw
English translation: Pupil (part of the eye)
Definition: the contractile aperture in the iris of the eye
Sentence example: May pumasok na insekto sa aking balintataw.
So how many terms did you recognized? If you recognized 5 or more terms, great job. If you got less than five, congratulations also. It isn’t about knowing, it is about respecting and loving it. Our world is constantly evolving and it is the same with our language. Filipino terms is indeed changing and we add new terms more often, but we should always learn how to take care of the terms that our ancestors “napangilakan” or in other words “collected”.
By: Edmar Villareal
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