Lesson 008

 

Common Confusing Filipino Expressions (Spanish Edition)

Filipinos speak English and Spanish, being subjugated by both the U.S. and Spain. Filipino languages have incorporated Spanish words and phrases in theirs but some of the words do not necessary have the same meaning as in the original Spanish.

Over 333 years of Spanish colonial history, roughly a third Filipino vocabulary was taken from Spanish words but through time many of these words have changed its meaning or have fallen out of normal use.

For expats and visitors to the Philippines or to anyone speaking with a Filipino anywhere in the world it is a good idea to be familiarized with these words so to avoid confusion.

There is a long list and here are a few of them:

Spanish, Seguro - sure, safe
Siguro - maybe, perhaps

Spanish, Siempre - always
Siempre - of course

Spanish, Delicado - delicate
Delikado - risky, dangerous

Spanish, Basta - enough
Basta - just because, whatever happens

Spanish, Almorzar - to have lunch
Almusal - breakfast

Spanish, Bajo - low
Baho - smelly, stinky

Spanish, Cubeta - bucket, pail
Kubeta - toilet, restroom

Spanish, Palenque - stockade, palisade
Palengke - wet market

Spanish, Barcada - a boatload of people, cargo
Barkada - a clique, group of friends

Spanish, Llave - key
Liyabe - exclusively wrenches, not keys

Spanish, Pasamano - handrail, banister
Pasamano - windowsill

Spanish, Visita - the act of visiting
Bisita - the act and the person visiting

Spanish, Encanto - enchantment, charming
Engkanto - mystical, mythical

Spanish, Mano - hand
Mano - gesture of pressing to your forehead an elder's hand, as a sign of respect

Spanish, Corazonada - hunch, gut feel
Kursonada - strong interest, crush

Spanish, Diligencia - diligence
Dilihensiya - hustling

Spanish, Hacer caso - to pay attention, listen, heed
Asikaso - take care, manage

Spanish, Bolsa - bag
Bulsa - pocket in clothing

Spanish, Paño - cloth, wipe
Panyo - handkerchief

Spanish, Salvaje - savage
Salvage - naughty

Spanish, Puede - can
Puwede - allowable, possible

Spanish, Estorbo - obstacle, hindrance
Istorbo - nuissance

Spanish, Dejado - neglectful, lazy
Dehado - underdog

Spanish, Verraco - wild board
Barako - type of coffee, manly guy

Spanish, Vivo - alive, living
Bibo - energetic

Spanish, Vida - life
Bida - lead actor, protagonist

Spanish, Contra vida - against life
Kontrabida, supporting actor, antagonist

Spanish, Demasiado - too much
Di masyado - not too much 

Masyado - too much

Spanish, Asar - to roast, grill as in cooking meat
Asar - to tease or annoy

Spanish, Andar - to walk
Andar - to start, operate, move a machine

Spanish, Pareja - partner, couple
Parehas - similar, pair, fair
Pareho - similar, the same

Spanish, Manteca - lard, butter
Mantika- cooking oil

But Mantequilla - butter
Mantikilya - means the same

Spanish, Bizcocho - sponge cake
Biskotso - crunchy, toasty bread

Spanish, Leche - milk
Leche - means the same but also means darn it

Spanish, Paciencia - patience
Pasensya - means the same but also means pardon me

Spanish, Tabla - board/plank
Tabla - means the same but also means it's a tie or draw

Spanish, Vaca - cow
Baka - means the same but also means maybe

Spanish, Verde - green
Berde - also means green but also a lewd or dirty joke

There are other Spanish swear or lewd words in Filipino languages and we will not go into those.

 

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