Paano ‘yan? [pah ah´noh  yan´] How can that be? Or how do we solve this?

Pabaya. [pah bah yah´] Devil may care. Careless. Parents who leave their kids to their nannies to raise.

Pabayaan mo. [pa ba ya´an mo] Let it be or even who cares?  when you’re fed up.

Pabling. [pab ling´] A Lothario; a playboy. Also the nickname for Pablo (the Spanish for Paul).

Pa-cute/nagpapa-cute. [pah cute´] Tries to appear cute. Little kids can do this naturally, but non-kids shouldn’t even try.

[Na] padpad. [pud pud´] To find oneself somewhere, more than just passing by.

Pag-asa. [pag ah´sah] This means hope or anticipation. Without this virtue, Pinoys would have given into despair. Pag-asa sa buhay is one’s hope in this life.

Pagsamantalaan. [pag´sah man´tah lah an´] To take advantage of. Like the way shrewd businesses keep their employees on a contractual basis to avoid paying employee benefits.

Pagsapalaran. [pag sah´pah lah ran´] To gamble on one’s destiny. To take a chance on. Many who go abroad have no idea what to expect; yet they are willing to for the sake of their loved ones.

Pahabol. [pah huh´ bol] A post script, not just in a letter. An additional something to the main event: some extra cash, an additional message, some painful last words.

Pahingi. [pah hi ngi´] May I have some? For those who have the gall, it could mean may I have all?

Pahiyas [pah hi yas´] That famous festival in May where houses in Lucban, Quezon dress themselves in multicolored buntings made of water and flour. You won’t miss festival pictures in our tourist brochures.

Pa-iyakan. [pah´ee ya´kan] Paid in small installments that causes the buyer to cry (iyak) every time, from the sheer difficulty of making each payment. A
no-other-choice way of purchasing expensive items when Pinoys don’t have money. Check out cry-cry, hulugan and ilan gives?

Paka. [pah´kah]  Someone who is too liberal, even loose. Short for pakawala. Not to be confused with napaka an adverb to mean very.

Pakawari ko. [pah kah wah ree´ koh] It’s my guess that…

Paki+ [pah kee´]  Our version of please put before the verb. For example, paki+daan lang (please may I pass).

Pakialam ko? [pakee´alam  koh] What do I care? So what? Said arrogantly to mean “that’s your life. What do I have to do with it?”

Pakialamera. [pah kee´ah lah meh´rah] A busybody. Someone who wants to be involved in everything, every time. A distant cousin who you haven’t seen in years suddenly appears and appoints herself as your wedding planner.

Pakinabang. [pah kee nah´bang] Profit or returns. Walang kang pakinabang (you’re of no use) is what you tell your purebred German shepherd since when it sees intruders, it wags its tail and invites them in.

Pakipot. [pah kee´pot] Someone playing hard to get. An old female ploy that can still keep males guessing.

Pakisama. [pah kee sah´mah] To defer to the others in order to please. To think collectively versus individually. Gang thinking. Giving in to social pressure. Walang pakisama means you don’t go along with the rest.

Palabas lang yang. [pah la bas´ lang yan´] That’s only for show. A skeptical assessment of anything that’s fake. The attitude of most Pinoys when our politicians announce anti-graft measures.

Palayok. [pah lah yok´] Tierra cotta vessels. Since forever,  we have used these earthenware pieces to cook rice, fish, meat
and cakes.

Palakasan. [pah lah kah´san] The way Pinoys may acknowledge kinship: “since you’re the son of my college classmate, and I owe your dad one, you get first crack at the job, even if you’re not qualified.” In fairness to us, other cultures think and do the same.

Palibhasa. [pah lib ha´sah] Just because. A word derived from a Sanskrit term meaning impetuous.

Palikero. [pah lee keh´roh] A rake; someone with a wandering eye. From the Spanish palique to mean small talk or flirting.

Paligsahan. [pah lig sah´han] A contest of some sort. Also from Sanskrit meaning examination.

Paligoy-ligoy. [pah lee´goy lee´goy] Not going straight to the point. Like your teenager’s rambling story about his 48-hour escapade with his father’s car.

Palipad-hangin. [pah lee pad´ hung in] Means literally to fly the wind. Figuratively, to send signals, like the smoke signals of the native Americans. More likely positive, confident messages.

Palitaw. [pah lih taw´] A glutinous rice cake served for snack. Also called palutang.

Palpak. [pal pak´]  Something that didn’t work out. A favorite term to describe mistakes, or the person who made it.

Pambahay. [pam bah´high] Only a Pinoy will relate to this. Clothes for the house. Or clothes you would never wear out of the privacy of your home.  They are usually hand-me-downs, worn-out outdoor clothes called panlabas [pun lah bus´].  You can tell you’re old if you start wearing stuff (pambahay) you go to bed in to the supermarket.

Pambihira! [pam bee hee´rah] How weird! What an oddity! Can also be used as an exclamation of incredulity.

Panahon pa ni Limahong. [pah nah hon´] Ages ago. Limahong was a Chinese merchant who tried but failed to invade the Philippines during the Spanish times.

Pandak. [pan dak´] Very short of stature.

Pandan. [pan dan´] An aromatic plant whose subtle flavor enhances other flavors. Its leaves are added to rice while cooking.

Pandong/pendong [pen´dong]. Pandong is the Filipino word for a head cover. Pendong is the state of one’s hair (bald or receding hairline) that may require a pandong.

Pangarap lang ‘yan. [pang ah´rup  lang  yan´] The best way to throw a wet blanket is to tell the enthusiast that it’s only a pipe dream.

Pangga [pang gah´] An Ilongo (inhabitants of the Negros and Panay provinces in the Visayas region) term of endearment meaning my love. Used with a unique voice inflection that sounds sweet and beseeching.

Pangit. [pung´it] Ugly. We knew of some college boys who were such good friends that they would, in good fun, call each other pangit. They didn’t dare use the term on their girl friends.

Pangulo. [pang oo´loh] The president, leader. Pang means for and ulo means head. In this country, everyone wants to be a pangulo while no one wants to be the follower!

Pansamantala [pan sah man´tah lah´] For the meantime or just for now. Pinoy improvisation in making do with whatever we have; to provide a substitute
for something.

Pantakip butas. [pan´ta kip boo tus] Literally, something to cover a hole. Figuratively, an ad hoc solution or remedy. See pansamantala.

Panutsa. [pah noot´sah] Favorite childhood sweets made of brown sugar or molasses, and water. They are round in shape, from the bamboo vessels where cooked.

Papaitan [pah pah ee´tan] A meal for the brave: animal entrails (usually goat or deer) with the bile left intact. A favorite of people of Northern Luzon who eat it while downing spirits.

Papaya Dance. It was in April ‘07 when Pinoy actor and game show host Edu Manzano first showed off this choreographed piece using an old gay-disco-funk hit from the 1970s. Pinoy choreographer Mel Feliciano used "Papaya", by Polish jazz vocalist Urszula Dudziack. It has turned into a global dance fad, much like the Macarena craze. Another Pinoy first!

Papel. [pah pel´] The noun for paper. Nagpapapel siya, means working on getting Brownie points; or trying to get unto someone’s good side.

Para [pah rah´] This is the preposition for like in Spanish. Said when a passenger wants the driver to stop. Pssst! will also do. With more  enforcement now,  we can no longer make our rides stop in the middle of the road!

Parak [pah rak´] Remember the policeperson’s whistle sound? This is an onomatopoeia, slang for policeman.

Parang.. [pah´rang] Our version of kinda or it’s as if… When you’re not sure, you add this to the beginning of a sentence to lessen your liability.

Parang awa mo [pah´rang ah wah  mo] Out of pity, please...

Pareho. [pah reh´ho] The same, similar or identical. May have come from the Spanish word pares (pronounced pah res) or pair.

Pares-pares. [pah´res pah´res] Literally, pairs-pairs. It’s a dish of fried egg and sausage. A staple in hole-in-the-wall eateries.

Pari [pah reh´] A Roman Catholic priest, usually. Other religions use pastor or ministro.

Parinig [pah ree´nig] Innuendo or allusions that are usually derogatory. It can also mean a  hint, bordering on a suggestion.

Parok. [pah rok´] An illegal drug user. Don’t ask us why the word comes from the Spanish word for parish or paroquia!

Pasaload. [pah´sah lod] A cell phone company’s brilliant marketing ploy that allows one cell user to transfer call credits to another.

Pasalubong. [Pah sah luh´bong] The practice of giving little tokens of friendship and affection to loved ones after one has gone on a trip. Our children always looked forward to these gifts which they termed ubong.

Pasang-krus. [Pah sahng´kroos´] Misery-causing people, things and events. Krus is a cross.

Pasa pasa. [Pah sah´pah sah´] Means to pass around or to pass back and forth. From the Spanish word pasa that means the same.

Pasaway. [pah sah wie´] Stubborn, hard headed. Saway by itself means to restrain or to forbid.

Pasensiya ka na… [pa sens´yah ka na´] Please have some patience. A favorite phrase to excuse one’s self from an obligation not done, for a hurt inflicted, for anything done wrong. It is our beseeching way of saying sorry.

Paseo. [pa say´oh] Actually means a road in Spanish. We use it as a verb to mean visit around without a definite destination.

Pastilaan! [pas´tee la´an] Good grief!  is about the closest we can think of. Let us know if you have other ideas.

Pasyal. [Pas yal´] Is like paseo but it can also mean to visit a particular place for leisure or fun.

Patay! [pah tay’] Deadly! The equivalent of horrors! or oh no!

Patay kung patay. [pah tie´ kung  pah tie´] If I die, I die. Uttered by people who can’t stop smoking; who can eat a small lechon in one sitting; who scuba dive without prior training.

Patay gutom. [pah tie  goo´tum] Extremely hungry. You can tell from the word patay which means dead.

Patay-malay. [pah´tie mah´lie] Pretends not to have heard or seen. “Didn’t see nothin’ ”.

Patay na patay. [Pah tie´nah pah tie´] Obsessed, or can’t live
without. What a boy tells a girl when he is courting her.

Patay-patay. [pah´tay mah´tie] A deadbeat. An almost-lifeless person. Someone who is slow getting there so that one may miss the boat. Used in reference to a luckless suitor who loses out because of being patay-patay.

Patis. [pah tis´] A fermented fish sauce. A woman named Aling Tentay from Malabon, a coastal town north of Manila, accidentally made it while fermenting fish for bagoong. She realized how good it tasted and the rest is history.

Patok! [pah tok´] Correct! Got it on target! Bullseye! Said to you when you are smarter than a first grader.

Patulan. [Pah too´lan] To pick a fight with or challenge someone—especially someone inferior or younger than you are.

Peke [Pe´keh] Fake. A familiar word for many Pinoys: we have fake signature clothes, cell phones, food brands, documents (think Recto Avenue), and worst of all….counterfeit passports, visas and money.

Peksman [Peks´man] An old slang term for I swear. The few who still say this probably don’t know that they are swearing under the pain of sin. Peks comes from the word pecado (Spanish for sin).

Pekwa [Pek´wah] An old card game still played today.

Peligroso. [Peh lee gro´soh] Spanish to mean in danger of… or dangerous.

Pikon na pikon. [pee kon´ nah  pee kon´] When one becomes overly annoyed by teasing and gets really upset over it. We wonder why there is no such a word in English. Let us know if you find one.

Piling. [Pee´ling] By one’s side or nearby. A synonym is tabi. A bunch of bananas is a piling (accent on second syllable).

Pilit. [pee lit´] Forced; bamboozled. Like when you’re forced to smile at someone you dislike.

Pinipilit. [Pee´nee pee´lit] Insisting on something. Or forcing  an issue.

[Nag]pipipilit. [nug´ pee pee pee lit] Insisting to the point of being annoying. Doing something even if it’s out of character. Like wearing a tongue ring when you teach at medical school.

Pipilitin ko. [pee pee lee´tin koh] A Pinoy way of saying the person won’t do it—even if this statement really means, I’ll try my best or I’ll force myself to do it. So forget it if you ask a parent about attending a long and boring PTA meeting and be told pipilitin ko.

Pilya/o. [Pil yah/yoh´] A naughty person, a tease. Cute only if you’re  eight and below.

Pinakbet. [Pee nak bet´] A fish stew with vegetables like eggplant, bitter gourd (ampalaya), beans, ginger, onions, bagoong and bits of fried pork. A staple
of Ilocanos.

Pinagbiyak na bunga. [pee nag bee yak´ nang  bu nga´] Cut from the same stem, literally.  Chip of the old block, figuratively speaking.

Pinagbigyan. [pee nag big yan´] Means gave in to or to defer to.

Pinagsabihan [pee nag sah bee´han] Called the attention of. At worse, a dress down.

Pinagsawaan. [pee nag sah wah´an.’] Got tired of...

Pinagtulungan. [pee nag to loong´an] When people gang up on another, verbally or physically. The mildest form is when the victim is the butt of jokes.

Pinsala. [Pin sah´lah] Damage, injury or loss. What we always sustain in our numerous floods, earthquakes, landslides, fires, killer typhoons—you name
it—the Philippines has had it!

Pintakasi [Pin tah kah´see] Its first meaning is patron saint or religious intercessor. But its common definition is cockfighting during feast days of saints.

Pintas. [Pin tas´] To criticize. To find fault in others. Currently a national pastime. A pintasera/o is the fault finder.

Pinuputakti. [Pee noo´pooh tak tee´] A putakti is a kid of wasp. When some goods are very saleable, people say that wasps  swarm all over them, figuratively speaking. The opposite of linalangaw (a few flies landing on the goods).

Pipichugin. [pee pee chu´gin] Insignificant. A small-time operator or project.

Pito-pito. [Pee toh´-pee toh´] Seven herbs tea said to have medicinal properties, especially for curing diabetes. At least that’s what proponents say
for now.

Pogi. [Poh´gih] Slang for good-looking or guapo (Spanish) with the syllables inverted: po-gi

[Ma] porma. [pour´mah] The literal meaning is form but the figurative meaning is stylish to the point of overdoing it. Or someone who likes to show off his looks and bearing.

Postura [Pos tuh´rah] From the Spanish posture. In the colloquial sense, well-dressed. Our parents say posteriosa/o for the person.

‘Pre![ preh´] Short for pare [pah reh] which is short for compare [com pah reh]. Used primarily by males to call other males. One can use this term for friends and strangers alike.

Presyong kapatid [ pres´yong kah pah tid´] Try selling anything to a sibling or any relative and they expect a discount, even if you dislike them!

Probinsiano [Pro bin si ya´no] An un-citified person. Someone who thinks cities are paved in gold until he sees the poverty and the squalor. Also see promdi and ‘ciano.

Problema lang… [Pro bleh´mah lang] A way of saying there’s a fly in the ointment. Or saying that there’s a Signal No. 4 typhoon hitting land in a couple of hours.

Promdi. [Prom´dee] A corruption of from the provinces—to mean rural areas. See probinsiano.

Prosti. [pros´tee] Short for prostitute.

Proud to be Pinoy. What can we say?

Psssst. Our way to call someone’s attention thinking it’s more discreet this way. The problem is, everybody Pinoy around looks at us because they think we’re calling them!

Pueda ba? [pooh weh´deh ba] A rhetorical retort: are you kidding? Usually brimming with skepticism or disdain. But may still be asked by those who truly want to know; or by someone more prudent than those who are too sure of themselves.

Puede na. [pooh we deh na] It will suffice. It will work. You can stop now.

Puede rin. [pooh we deh rin] That will also work. That’s fine for now.

Puera usog. [pooh weh rah oo sog] May you be right! Said to one who comments how healthy a baby is, lest the gods make the opposite occur. There’s something even weirder. Really superstitious people tell the person making the compliment to put a bit of spit on the baby’s tummy with one’s finger! Strange but true only among Pinoys.

Puna. [Pooh nah´] To call the attention of. To critique either positively or negatively.

Puñeta! [Pun yeh´tah] A cuss word you can use only if you have lots of Spanish blood, or you belong to Manila’s 400.

Pursige. [Pur see geh´] To follow up diligently. Like following up a court case in our legal system. Good luck!

Pusa. [Poo´sah] A cat. Native tabbys are best for catching rodents because local rats are larger than foreign breeds!

Puso. [Puh´soh] The heart.

[Ma]pusok. [Puh suk´] A hothead. An anger management program candidate.

Put. [poot] Grease money, a bribe. A direct translation of the Filipino word lagay which means to put. What can we say? This system of bribery is so deeply rooted in our psyche, that we have at least five Pinoy words for the word bribe.

Pusong mamon. [Puh´song mah mon´] Someone who is kind-
hearted. Puso means heart and mamon is a chiffon cake, sweet and soft.

[Sa] Pula, Sa Puti [pooh lah´ sa pooh tee´] Cock fighting, a favorite Pinoy sport.

Puto [Pooh´toh] . The quintessential rice cake. Best eaten with kesong puti (carabao’s milk made into our version of feta cheese).

Putok sa buho [Pooh´tok  sa boo ho´] Literally means sprung from the bamboo: a kid out of wedlock, figuratively.

To find other definitions, please press the first letter of the word: