Sa akin ka makinig. [sa a kin´ ka ma kee nig´] Listen to me. Usually said as a command by older folk who are sure they cannot be wrong.

Sa akin ka nagmana. [sa a kin´ ka nag mah´nah] You took after me. A proud parent’s boast when the offspring has won a chess tourney. Sa kanya ka nagmana (you took after your other parent) when the same offspring gets kicked out of school.

Sa akin lang… [sa a kin´ lung] In my opinion... A gentle way of giving unsolicited advice.

Sabado. [sah´bah doh] Spanish for Saturday.

Sabaw ang isip ko! [sah bao´ ung ee sip koh] My brain’s mush (like bean curdsoup).. when I study too much, laments many a parents’ scholar.

Sabay. [sah bie´] At the same time. Nakikisabay [nah kee kee sah bie´] means to do at the same time.

Sabay ganon (ganoon). [sah bie´ gah non´] Said at the same time. Or said together with. Colloquially it means, added on quickly so the listener won’t notice.

abi ko… [sah bee koh’] When Pinoys tell stories, our tales are punctuated by this phrase that means I said. Count how many times you say this phrase and
be surprised!

Sabi niya… [sah´bee nee yah´] He said…she said. A perfect way to start a rumor.

Sabik sa… [sah bik´ sah] So much in want of… Almost like a craving.

Sablay. [sab lie´] This word has three different meanings :an innuendo or an insinuation; borrowing money without the intention of paying back; and a hard, quick blow with the fist.

Sabog. [suh bog´] The real meaning is scattering, dispersing. Also means blowing up  as we use it today. It can also mean scatter brained.

Saglit. [sag lit´] An instant. A moment—one second. Our version of un momento or just a sec that could be a lifetime for us women when we go shop!

Sakada. [suh kah´duh] Seasonal workers in Negro haciendas that grow sugarcane. Their plight has been the subject of concern for many years because of their living conditions and the meager wages they receive.

Sakdal. [suk dul´] The superlative degree like very or extremely.

Saklap [suk lup´] Acrid, bitter, painful (in a moral way). Kay saklap ng buhay! (How bitter life is! )

Saklolo! [suk loh´loh] Help! Since this is an immediate cry for
assistance, don’t you think the word is a little too long?

Saksak. [suk suk´] To stab (verb) or a stab wound (noun).

Saksakan ng. [suk suk´ahn] To imply the superlative degree:saksakan ang init! (it’s super hot!)

Saksi. [suk see´] To witness or a witness. What’s scary in this country is that many witnesses in court cases simply disappear, never to be found. And it isn’t because we have a good witness protection program.

Salamat! [sah lah´mat] Thank you. Many thanks is maraming salamat.

Sala. [sah´lah] It can mean two things: a verb for that is wrong or you are wrong; or a noun for living room.

Saliksik [sah lik sik´] Don’t leave any stone unturned as you look.

Salapi. [sah´lah pee] An old term for money.

Salakot. [sah lah kot´] The wide-brimmed hat made of woven dried leaves. The salakot has a thin bamboo frame so it is not pliable like a Mexican sombrero.

Salbahe. [sahl bah´he] From the Spanish word salvaje meaning savage or wild.

Saling pusa. [sah´ling pooh´sah] A kitten that is not really part of the litter. An unofficial member. Term used for little kids who attend class as an observer because they are still too young.

Salubong. [sah luh´bong] To meet. During Easter Sunday, there is a dawn re-enactment of the risen Christ meeting his Mother. A little girl dressed as an angel removes Our Lady’s mourning veil once she meets her Son.

Sampaguita. [sam pah giy´tah] Our national flower that found itself here from the Indian sub-continent. Small (the size of a 25 centavo coin) and fragrant, it is beige to white in color. It resembles a miniature mum.

Sampal. [sum pal´] A slap or to slap. A standard scene in many Pinoy movies and TV shows. It’s as if the show can’t go on unless the director puts this in.

Sampit [sam´pit] The Pinoy way of saying cousin—pin and san—kind of transposed!

Sampaloc. [sum pah´lok] The tangy sweet-to-really-sour fruit that comes in a hardshell pod called the tamarind in English.

Sana nga! [sal´ nah nga´] How I wish!

Sanayan lang ‘yan [sah´ nah yan´ lung yun] Get used to it!

Sandal sa pader. [san dal´ sa pah der´] Leaning on a wall suggesting strength and stability.

Sandali lang. [san dah lee´ lang] In Spanish un momento. In English, just a minute. A relative of Filipino time that can be as late as sandali lang.

Sanga-sanga ang dila [sung ah sung ah´ ang dee lah] A tongue has many branches is the literal meaning. While a gossip spreader— (like the tongue’sbranches that spread out)—is the idiom.

Sanglaan. [sang lah´an] A pawn shop. A common feature of most Philippine towns. It is a lucrative business charging at least 3.5% a month with a valuable item as collateral. Come to think of it, credit cards charge as much!

Sano. [sah noh´] Dull, stupid.  An incompetent, either because one is new or one is just…incompetent! A sports player that is a liability to his team.

Santa-santita.[san tah san tee´tah] Someone who plays innocent and pretends to be a saint.

Santo.[san´toh] The title given to canonized saints of the Roman Catholics. Santo can also mean an icon of a saint. Euphemistically, a person who acts like one.

Santol. [san tol´] A tropical fruit that grows in tall trees with big, spreading branches. There is very little flesh to get from a santol because the seeds are large and the skin is  thick. Some cooks are able to make dishes out of the skin, like candied santol rind.

[Sa] palagay ko… [sah pah lah gie´ koh]  Another way of gently contradicting someone. This phrase also means my take is...

Sapol. [sah´pol] Since forever …she was his favorite daughter.

Sarap! [sah rup´] Oh so good! Delicious! The visual image that goes is someone  licking one’s lips, savoring the food.

Saranggola. [sah rung goh´lah] A kite. A must in one’s childhood. But in today’s crowded metropolis, where can one be flown?

Sa totoo lang… [sah toh´toh o lang] The truth is…(Use sparingly so as not to lose credibility.)

Sayang! [sigh´yung] Too bad! Such a waste!

Sayaw [sah yaw’] . Dance or to dance. An important part of Filipino life that keeps us the happiest people in Asia.

Selang. [seh´lang] Someone who is so sensitive and picky to the point of obsessive-compulsiveness.

Selos. [seh´los] Plain, old-fashioned jealousy. Can get a lot of us into big trouble.

Senyas. [sen´yas] From the Spanish word señas to mean sign or to sign.

Serioso ito. [ser yoh´soh ee to.] This is really grave, or take this seriously, please. What politicians say every time they change parties or affiliations.

Shht [shht] A Pinoy way of getting attention, or calling someone down, or demanding some peace and quiet. Westerners say shoo when noise levels become unbearable.

Shokla. [sho klah] A male homosexual from the words sho(ki)+(bak)la.

Shota. [sho´tah] Standard slang for girlfriend or boyfriend. That’s been around awhile—about 30 years at least!

Siempre. [see yem´preh] A Spanish word to mean always but in Filipino it means of course.

Siete. [see yeh´teh] The Spanish word for seven. As slang, it can mean either sharing news or gossip; or a subtle way of changing the cuss word for feces when one was about to say it.

Siga. [see´gah] Any boastful, full-of-himself/herself individual who appears not to be afraid of anything. May cause some really deadly fights.

Sige. [see´geh] Pinoy version of okay or go ahead. We love to begin a lot of our
statements with sige, that it has become an important part of our vocabulary!

Sigla. [sig lah´] One’s vitality, zest for living. It can also mean one’s enthusiasm.

Siksik [sik sik´] The verb is to cram or force into while the adjective is tightly packed. Ever drive a car in Manila’s streets? Drivers are good at forcing their vehicles into the tiniest spaces in order to get a few inches ahead. It drives non-Pinoys crazy.

Sila lang ba ang anak ng Diyos? [see la´ lang ba ang a nak´ nang Dee yos´]Do they think they’re the only ones blessed by God? What annoyed people say of someone who thinks he/she is the anointed one.

Silahis. [see lah´his] Rays of the sun.Colloquially it means someonewhoisbi-sexual.

Silaw. [see lao´] Dazzled. Blinded by bright lights. Or taken aback by the grandeur of things.

Silid. [see lid´] The not too common term for room, as we still prefer kwarto, from Spanish.

Simbahan. [sim bah´han.] A place of worship, a church.

Simoy. [see´moy] The wiff or smell of.  It depends where you are. A flowering garden would be best, but don’t try inhaling the air near Manila Bay. It smells like a dirty canal, not an ocean.

Simula. [see mu lah´] Beginning. They say we Pinoys love to begin things and not finish them. See ningas kugon.

Sinta. [sin tah´] My love. May also be used as a verb: Sinisinta kita, di ‘ko nagbibiro (I love you and I’m not kidding)… runs an old love song.

Sinabi mo yon. [see nah´bee mo yan] You said it!

Sinabon. [see nah bon] Literally, washed with soap. Scolded really badly is the figurative meaning.  Know that punishment of having to wash one’s mouth
with soap? Perhaps this is alluded to here.

Sino ka? [see´noh ka] Who are you? Sounds innocent enough, but if the person says at sino ka? you may be getting your self
into an argument: who do you think you are?

Sino ka ba? [see´noh ka bah?] Another version of who do you think you are?

Sintu-sinto. [sin toh´sin toh´] Crazy, weak-minded. See kulang-kulang.

Sinulot. [see noo lut´] The original meaning of sulot is to insert. Figuratively, it means surreptitiously taking something that rightfully belongs to another.

Sioki. [sho´kee] Or shoki. A dated term for male homosexual.

Sipa. [see´pah] The verb to kick. But it is also an original Pinoy game now known as hackie sack. It is a woven ball of string about the size of an egg with seeds or beans in it. The player must try to keep it from landing on the floor by continuously kicking it at half an arms’ length from the torso. Complicated? Try Googling it and find a demo video on YouTube!

Sipsip. [sip sip´] A brown-noser. A yes-person. One of those
obsequious nobodies who needs to be noticed. Our daughter says the new term is straw-straw. Gets mo?

Sira. [see rah´] Broken, torn, damaged, depending on what it is. Sira can also mean crazy. It can be used as a verb to mean to damage something, or to hurt or to destroy a reputation.

Sisig. [see´sig] A pig’s head roasted, chopped into small pieces. (Best part are the cheeks!) Small hot peppers, soy sauce and kalamansi complete the dish. Sold as street food but has become part of a Pinoy restaurant’s menu.

[Basang] Sisiw. A wet chick, literally. A bedragged person. Someone who’s been dragged in by the cat one rainy night.  

Sobra! [sew bra´] That’s too much! Sobra-sobra means it’s a lot and about to overflow, burst or what have you. Sobra ka na is you’re too much. Usually said with a negative slant, but it can also mean you’re too generous.

Sosyal! [sos yal´] Liking fine, expensive things. Living up to the Joneses. It  no longer means sociable--the original meaning.

Split na ako. [split nah ah koh´] A Taglish way of saying I’m out of here.

Split na tayo. [split na ta´yoh] Something the other part of a twosome does not want to hear: let’s call it quits.

Sputing. [spoo´ting] A dated term for well dressed, popular in the ‘50s and 60s.

Sugod. [soo´gud] To  plunge forward. To charge.

Sugpo. [soog poh´] A large shrimp. But it can also mean to prevent or to suppress.

Sugsog. [soog sug´] To trail, to look for, to uncover. Susugsugin means to find whatever without giving up.

Suhol. [soo´hul] A bribe or to bribe. Too much of that in our government.

Suka. [soo´ka] If it ends in â, it means vinegar. Otherwise it means regurgitated

stuff. Now is this coincidental, or what?

Suki. [soo´kee] Your favorite vendor who, if you’re lucky, will give you preferential treatment. This must be an Asian practice. In the west, one may have a favorite grocer, or favorite department store. We doubt it if they give discounts or allow you to have a running tab.

Suklam. [sook lam´] Some-thing that is sickening. To feel repulsion.

Suko na. [soo´ka] I give up! Or the imperative, give up!

Sulit na [soo lit´ nah] A recovered investment. Something is worth it. Pagsusulit is an exam or an explanation.

Sulsol. [sool sol´] To prod one to do an improper act.

Sumingit. [soo ming´it] A behavior we Pinoys love to do, but hate when somebody does it to us: cut in. See siksik.

Sumbat. [soom but´] To tell someone off. To reprimand or a reprimand.

Sumbong. [soom bong´] To tell on someone or something. If it isn’t legit, it is ratting, and you become a tattle-tale.

Sumpa. [soom pah´] An oath or a solemn promise. Isinumpa ko means to condemn or express strong disapproval.

Sumpong. [soom pong´] Capriciousness. Being cranky and grumpy. See topak. When the meat eater suddenly decides that he’s turning vegetarian (which is probably a good thing!)

Sundo. [soon doh´] A person who fetches another from a certain place. Sunduin is to fetch someone from somewhere. Magkasundo means one is in agreementwith another. Like it’s rare for in-laws to be!

Sungit. [soong it´] Irritable, surly or sullen. Question for the nurture vs nature issue: does one learn to be masungit, or is it inborn?

Supalpal. [soo pal pal´] To thwart. To prevent.

Suplada/o. [sup la´dah/doh] A snobbish person. Thinks a great deal of oneself. The people who think we owe them one. Plenty of those around. Trust us.

Suri. [soo´ree] To classify, to order. To analyze then sort.

Sursi. [soor seh´] To darn the portion of the fabric where the rip or hole is.

Sus! [soos] A contraction of the name Jesus now used as an
exclamation of surprise or aghast. God’s name is only said in petition or in supplication: Jesus ko po (my Lord Jesus) or Jesus, Maria, Jose (Jesus, Mary, Joseph!) Hopefully we’ll remember that these are still prayers that we can use.

Sutil. [soo til´] A tease. Funny, but those who love to tease hate being teased. See pikon.

Suwitik. [swee´tik] A cunning, dishonest character you don’t want to have anything to do with. Another term for one: tuso.

Suya. [soo´yah] Repulsion. Eating to a point of satiation or indigestion.

Suyang-suya. [soo yang´ soo yah´] To be disgusted, indignant ...about warring politicos, cheating public servants, rich who do not care for the poor… and the list can go on.

Suyo. [soo´yoh] To beseech, to ask a favor. Another Pinoy way of asking nicely.
Sward. An old term (30+ years old) for a male homosexual.

Sweet na sweet. What Pinoys use to describe affectionate couples.

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