10 Filipino words that the English Dictionary can’t express

It’s the time of the month again where Filipinos celebrate their culture and one of their pride and riches and that is their language.

The Philippines is made up of over 7107 islands with even having 13 indigenous languages that each have over one million native speakers namely: Cebuano, Tagalog, Ilokano, Hiligaynon, Waray-Waray, Kapampangan, Bikol, Pangasinan, Maranao, Maguindanao, Kinaray-a, Tausug used in some parts of the country but ofcourse they only have one national language that they used and that is Filipino.

But with that saying, even if Philippine language is diverse as it seems. Their national language “Filipino” also comes with an edge among different countries. You read it right! Filipino as their language has an edge amongst other countries especially with the universal language which is English and that is what this article is about it is all about words that makes Filipino special since they have no English equivalence.

And here are 10 of the words that makes the Filipino language uniquely special and also get ready to read some out of this world words well, it’s because some of these terms are formed in the Lola and Lolo’s era of the Filipinos,

Since Filipinos are creative sometimes they tend to make words and have words for almost everything even to a bad characteristic. Like….

Epal – Epal is used to a person who always gets in the way or somebody who butts in the way for everything or could be define as someone who wants to be barrier or wants to make an impression in the wrong ways possible or you simply just say “epal”

Second, we Filipinos always have a dictionary for expressing something. Just like when we used “Nawiwindang” as something that tends to express emotions such as being in a state of shock, or a way of expressing that something is unbelievable and hard to sink in one’s mind.

For example, Nawindang ako kasi I never thought that I have been part of the America’s Next Top Model.

Third Filipino word would be, something that’s close to mean to be the emotion of being disappointed and that is “Tampo”. Well, in reality it’s not that you’re really angry but neither happy but all those mixed emotions roll into one word which is “tampo”.

Fourth Filipino word would be… “pikon”

Alright this one’s pretty much a characteristics most Pinoys tend to have. “Pikon” or being hot-headed or angry after losing after a game. Mostly this word is usually used by children’s who play outdoor games and when some kid went angry for losing he or she is being mocked as “pikon” or “pikonin” and in some way meant as person who is easily offended.

But well, pikon and its natural sense and meaning must have no place at the Merriam Webster dictionary but only in Pinoy Dictionary.

Since, Filipinos tend to have their terms to satisfy their emotion and what they mean the next word is almost all mothers have in common and that is being “sigurista”.

“Sigurista” means being meticulously sure of things or someone who wants everything that she plans must go in her way and makes sure nothing is left out.

And if you’re a sigurista well, you’re probably checking on your boyfriend if where he is now from time to time.

In a country where rice is a staple food in almost all meals of course, we need to describe something that can be related to being burnt if it’s not properly cooked and that is what we call “tutong”

Tutong is called when a food mostly rice, bread or a cake is described by this term which defines the brown and burnt taste and feature of a food.

So, just a tip be a sigurista by watching over what you cook so that it won’t result to a “tutong” meal

Filipinos are emotional, even if the slightest emotion they have a word for that because maybe they’re wired to be sappy, creative and I don’t know maybe this word could define what you feel mostly about stress and complications.

And that word is “ewan” a term for being idle or what mostly Filipinas would tell to their boyfriends “ewan” like “ewan, you decide” when their boyfriends ask them if they could go outside and ewan would practically just mean “No, this is a test for you to say no and see how much you really know and love me”

And generally ewan is basically like “meh, I don’t know” but that’s the beauty of ewan it’s does not determine something but it would certainly mean something it depends only in the situation.

Or maybe some people tend to just say ewan to just don’t have anything to say.

Ewan, I don’t know next term please.

Eight Filipino word is… “Sumbat”

Yup it’s “Sumbat” not Zumba which is a form of exercise.

Sumbat happens when you bring up a debt of a favour that once you’ve done for a person without expecting anything in return but sumbat brings it up to a conversation to make that person reminded that she had done something good to the other person.

Well, often said in an angry form mostly viewed in tele dramas and quarrels of some Filipinos which they often said it to feel regret about doing that certain favour for that someone.

Second to the last Filipino word is… “ngalay”

A word that means the numbness of one person feels, like when you’re hand is so tired after typing the whole day and all you feel is ngalay that makes your hand numb, motionless and energy less.

Ngalay could also happen after a full body workout at the gym, writing for an hour or two or an activity that you’ve done after long hours or an intense period.

And for the last word in the Filipino language that no words in the English dictionary can be found is… “kulit”

Kulit is like being playful or funny and that even varies on the way you say it.

If you’re fond of jokes and pranks then you’re makulit

Or it also could mean in a negative way, like it also could mean a bit of a nagger when used as a dialogue as

“Tigilan mo nga ako! Ang kulit kulit mo” or “could mean will you stop, you’re really annoying now”

With that, here are 10 of the many words in Filipino that have no accurate translation in the English Dictionary. Truly, English Language cannot truly express what a Filipino word could mean and that’s why Filipino is a rich gem in the culture of the Philippines. So, let us all remember that celebrating language is important especially when we look back to where a country has started it’s language.

Moreover, the language of a nation is not just a trivial thing; it’s one nation’s identity. A person could identify another from his or her spoken language. Language is one of the things that can spark a revolution. It’s one of those things that can bind people together with the sense of nationalism. It is a gem.