20 of the Most Amusing Words in Filipino, the Philippine National Language

I saw a post last week on some of the most beautiful words in Filipino, the Philippine national language. Inspired by this, I would like to share the 20 words in Filipino that I find most amusing.

WORDS DERIVED FROM ENGLISH OR SPANISH

    
Sirit (excl.)

 to give up (in a guessing game) 

This is perhaps derived from the English "share it", as in: "I give up, just share it."

Sino ang anak ng Tatay at Nanay mo na hindi mo naman kapatid? Sirit?

Syempre (adv.) 

of course, certainly

Derived from Spanish "siempre", which means "always."
The meaning could have changed from something always happening to: Of course, it just has to happen.

Eh sinong bestfriend mo do'n? 

Syempre ikaw lang!

        Buysit (adj.) 

expression of exasperation

The term comes from "bullshit." However, the Filipino variation is much milder
and could be used in ordinary conversation.

Nakakabuysit ka talaga! 

Bek (n., v.)

to give back the basketball in a shooting practice; 
the act of giving back the ball in a shooting practice

Perhaps from the English "back", as in: "Hey man, give that ball bek."

Pare, may bek pa yan.

VERB FORMS ADAPTED FROM ENGLISH

    Sinisituit (v.)

 making sure

Filipino adaptation of the present progressive form of see to it.

Sinisituit talaga namin na sinusunod namin ang game plan.

    Shyumyut (v.)

went in

Filipino adaptation of the past tense of shoot.

Last 2 minutes na, tumira siya, buti na lang at shyumyut.

  Shyinyut (v.)

 went in (focus on person doing the action) 
(I don't know the linguistic term for this, somebody please help.)

Filipino adaptation of the past tense of shoot.

Last 2 minutes! Nakuha nya ang bola. Drinibol. Shyinyut... at... shyumyut!

Miniminimays (v.)

 minimizing (e.g. a computer window)

Filipino adaptation of the present progressive form of minimize.

Kapag minumultitask ko ang aking trabaho sa kompyuter, 
miniminimaynimo ko kung anu-anong windows ang miniminimays ko.

  Iniskan (v.)

scanned

Filipino adaptation of the present progressive form of scan. 

Iniskan nya ang litrato.

    Iskinan (v.)
scanned, variation 1

An awkwardly conjugated Filipino adaptation of the present progressive form of scan. 

 Iskinan nya uli ang litrato.

Siniskan (v.)

 scanned, variation 2

A more awkwardly conjugated Filipino adaptation of the present progressive form of scan. 

Siniskan nya na naman ang litrato.

PURE FILIPINO WORDS

    Nakakapagpabagabag (adj.)

could cause anxiety

I bet you didn't read this word right the first time. Read it ten times, faster each time.

Kapag may kabag ay tunay na nakakapagpabagabag, 
nakakapagpabagabag, nakakapagpabagabag, nakakapagpabagabag.

   Hangal (adj.)

fool

Exaggerate the consonants and you'll have a handy word to use when you're disappointed or angry.
Mga hhha-ng-ng-ng-ngallllll!

  Tampisaw (v.)

to wade in the water

You could see and hear water splashing as you read the word... well, almost.
Masarap magtampisaw sa baybayin.

Wagas (adj.), together with
Walang-maliw (adj.)

pure; endless, faithful

Didn't you feel the purity and faithfulness of these words?

Ang pag-ibig ko'y wagas at walang maliw.

Kagila-gilalas (adj.), together with

    Kapana-panabik (adj.)
daring; exciting

Just reading these words already makes your heart jump.
Nagtanghal sila ng isang kagilagilalas at kapanapanabik na sayaw.

Hanapbuhay (n.; v.)

work 

Literally means to look for a living
Maghanapbuhay para mabuhay,
Habang may buhay ay maghanapbuhay; 
Mabuhay ang hanapbuhay!

Nagdadalang-tao (adj.)

pregnant

Literally means carrying a person.

Ano!? Nagdadalang-tao siya? 
Malamang. Alangan namang nagdadalang-tsongo!


See also: Sample Tagalog Math Questions in UPCAT (UP College Admission Test)