Filipino Words You Didn’t Know Existed

In celebration of the Buwan ng Wika, let us take a closer look at some beautiful and uncommon Filipino words that you can add to your vocabulary!

Alimusom

English translation: Scent

Definition: to yield an odor of some specified kind

Sentence: Napaka bango ng alimusom ng rosas.

Anakula

English translation: Ship’s captain

Definition: a person in charge of leading or commanding the ship

Sentence: Ang aking ama ay nagta-trabaho bilang anakula.

Anluwage

English translation: Carpenter

Definition: a worker who builds or repairs wooden structures or their structural parts

Sentence: Magaling ang istilo ng anluwage na gumawa nitong upuan.

Asoge

English translation: Mercury

Definition: a silver-white poisonous heavy metallic element that is liquid at ordinary temperatures and is used especially in batteries, in dental amalgam, and in scientific instruments

Sentence: Hindi dapat paglaruan ang asoge dahil ito ay delikadong metal.

Awanggan

English translation: Infinity

Definition: the quality of being infinite; unlimited extent of time, space, or quantity

Sentence: Ang pagmamahal ko sa’yo ay totoo at ito’y awanggan.

Balintuna

English translation: Unbelievable

Definition: too improbable for belief

Sentence: Balintuna man, ngunit siya talaga ang nanalo sa paligsahan.

Batalan

English translation: Washroom

Definition: a room that is equipped with washing and toilet facilities

Sentence: Nagtungo siya sa batalan upang maghugas ng kamay.

Butsaka

English translation: Pocket

Definition: a small bag that is sewed or inserted in a garment so that it is open at the top or side

Sentence: Ingatan mong mabuti ang pera sa iyong butsaka upang hindi mawala.

Kadamnin

English translation: Senator

Definition: a member of a senate

Sentence: Kailangan natin ihalal ang mga karapat dapat na kadamanin.

Karumlan

English translation: Menstruation

Definition: a cyclical discharging of blood, secretions, and tissue debris from the uterus that recurs in nonpregnant breeding-age primate females at approximately monthly intervals and that is considered to represent a readjustment of the uterus to the nonpregnant state following proliferative changes accompanying the preceding ovulation

Sentence: Sumama ang pakiramdam ko dahil dumating na ang aking karumlan.

Kartamuneta

English translation: Wallet

Definition: a folding pocketbook with compartments for personal papers and usually unfolded paper money

Sentence: Ibinalik ko ang sukli sa iyong kartamuneta.

Duyog

English translation: Eclipse

Definition: the total or partial obscuring of one celestial body by another

Sentence: Napanuod mo ba ang duyog kanina?

Halgambilang

English translation: Grade/score

Definition: a mark indicating a degree of accomplishment in school

Sentence: Mataas ang nakuha kong halgambilang sa pagsusulit kanina.

Himaton

English translation: Clue

Definition: a piece of evidence that leads one toward the solution of a problem

Sentence: Mayroong mga nakatagong himaton sa paligid na makakatulong para manalo tayo sa larong ito.

Ilaya

English translation: Farm

Definition: a plot of land devoted to the raising of animals and especially domestic livestock

Sentence: Maraming ilaya ang nasira dahil sa malakas na bagyo.

Miktinig

English translation: Microphone

Definition: an instrument whereby sound waves are caused to generate or modulate an electric current usually for the purpose of transmitting or recording sound (such as speech or music)

Sentence: Nakahanda na ang miktinig na iyong gagamitin sa pag-awit mamaya.

Magsimpan

English translation: Nurse

Definition: a person who cares for the sick or infirm

Sentence: Maraming magsimpan ang pilit na nagtrabaho sa ibang bansa dahil sa hirap ng buhay dito.

Pang-ulong hatinig

English translation: Headphone

Definition: an earphone held over the ear by a band worn on the head

Sentence: Upang mas marinig mo ng malinaw ang musika, gumamit ka ng pang-ulong hatinig.

Pantablay

English translation: Charger

Definition: a device for charging storage batteries

Sentence: Huwag mong kalimutang tanggaling ang pantablay sa iyong cellphone bago ka umalis ng bahay.

Payneta

English translation: Comb

Definition: a toothed instrument used especially for adjusting, cleaning, or confining hair

Sentence: Huwag mong kalimutan ayusin ang buhok mo gamit itong bagong bili na payneta.

Pulot-gata

English translation: Honeymoon

Definition: a trip or vacation taken by a newly married couple

Sentence: Matapos ang kasal, gaganapin ang kanilang pulot-gata sa Japan.

Salipawpaw

English translation: Airplane

Definition: a powered heavier-than-air aircraft with fixed wings from which it derives most of its lift

Sentence: Mas mabilis tayong makakarating sa probinsya kung sasakay tayo ng salipawpaw.

Sapantaha

English translation: Intuition/gut-feeling

Definition: quick and ready insight

Sentence: Malakas ang kaniyang sapantaha na niloloko siya ng kaniyang asawa.

Tsarera

English translation: Teapot

Definition: a vessel with a spout and a handle in which tea is brewed and from which it is served

Sentence: Maghanda ka ng mainit na tsaa sa tsarera para sa ating mga bisita.

Beautiful aren’t they? We hope to see these words on your next sentences! Maligayang Buwan ng Wika!

All definitions were taken from Merriam Webster.