Filipino Word - Bansag

Bansag is a nickname or name given to a person that usually reflects the person's character or traits. Or his/her achievements.

Lakas ang bansag sa akin.
Lakas is my nickname.
Lakas - Strength

Binansagan akong "kamao" ng mga kaibigan ko.
I was labelled or nicknamed "kamao" by my friends.
Kamao - Fist

Filipino Words - Banda

Banda can either mean band - a musical band or it can also mean "yonder" or somewhere in the direction or place someone is being pointed to. Either meaning, banda only have one pronunciation. Yes, whether you mean a musical band or yonder the word is pronounced the same.

One 4 All ang name ng banda namin.
Our band's name is One 4 All.

A: Excuse me. Do you know where is the Pinoy-Saya store in the area?
B: Turn right on the second stop light there. I'm not sure exactly where pero banda roon ang Pinoy-Saya store. (I'm not sure exactly where but Pinoy-Saya store is somewhere there).

Filipino Word - Puros

Puros means all (of something). The word puro is synonymous to puro and is used the same way although puro clearly translates to "pure" and is used that way as well.

Puro ka satsat.

You're all talk.

Puros ka satsat.

You're all talk.

A: What fruits you got there in your basket?

B: The strawberries, star fruits and grapes aren't ready yet. Puro mansanas ang mga ito. (These are all apples).

Filipino Word - Itodo

Itodo means to give all that you've got. This word is in its basic form, the root word is todo. 

The root word "todo" when used alone without the prefix "i" such as Todo na 'to!" could mean "This is too much!" or "I'm giving all my energy into it/all I've got!"

Itodo mo na.
Give it your all.

Itotodo ko na.
I'm going to give it my all.

Itinotodo ko na.
I'm giving all I've got.

Itinodo ko na.
I gave my all/I gave all I've got.

Filipino Word - Imbiyerna

Imbiyerna means annoy or irritate.

To say someone, something or a situation is irritating -
Nakakainis!
It's irritating!
It's annoying!

Imbiyerna, when turned into tenses of verbs used the prefixes ma and na.
Future tense: Maimbiyerna
Present tense: Naiimbiyerna
Past tense: Naimbiyerna

A: I'm not going with you two, ayaw kong maimbiyerna na naman. (I don't want to be irritated again)
B: I understand why. Last time naimbiyerna din ako. (Last time I got irritated as well)
C: Naiimbiyerna na ako kaya I don't know if I should attend either. (I'm already irritated so I don't know if I should attend either).

Filipino Word - Arangkada

Arangkada is a slang Filipino word that closely means run or start. That doesn't explain well so let's do it again. Use the word arangkada when you mean a vehicle is about to accelerate.

The word can also become verb by using affixes. When watching a, let's say a new tv series and it says "Aarangkada na this month," it means it's about to start.

Let's say you're in a bus terminal and the bus is about to go just only few more passengers and it's ready to go on its route. The barker said "Just five more passengers and aarangkada na," which means "Just five more passengers and the bus is going to start and leave the terminal." And yes I did that on purpose a Taglish example to clearly deliver the word meaning specially for beginners.

And let's say the bus just left and a passenger arrived late looking for the bus. She asked around and someone said "Umarangkada na ang bus" - The bus already left. 

Filipino Word - Toma

Toma is a slang Filipino word rarely used nowadays. Toma means drinking session. By attaching affixes, the word can be a verb having its tenses.

Toma into future, present and past tense of verbs.
Future tense - totoma
Present tense - tomotoma
Past tense - tomoma

Filipino Word - Tantsa

Tantsa, some also spells the word tancha, is a Filipino word very much still used. The word means estimate.

To say or tell someone to "estimate," the suffix hin is attached to the word - tantsahin/tanchahin.

Tantsahin mo (Estimate) how much salt you have to use.

Also used in asking a question like -
Anong tantsa mo? (What do you think?) Do you think they got the items we asked them to buy?

Filipino Word - Sutsot

Heard about this word and got you here? It's more likely you've encountered a situation or maybe had witnessed cat calling.

What does sutsot mean?
This Filipino word means cat calling. Pssstttt. It is considered quite rude you know.

Sutsot
- pronounced sut-sot. Where the syllables are pronounced with the u and o. Think of the English word soot as the pronunciation is very much close to it, just pronounce the first syllable "sut" harder.

And it might come in handy knowing how to pronounced the vowels in Filipino. So here you go, video pronunciation of the Filipino vowels.

Filipino Word - Ambag

Another Filipino word which one would maybe encounter when the conversation is about party, potluck, or even a group activity. Let's say any activity where it was decided that members or anyone, contributes in any way. And that's where the word ambag comes in.

What does the Filipino word ambag means?

Ambag - to chip in, contribute or give a share into a group's activity, event, or any occasion. This could be in any form such as money or items needed but mostly pertains to money.

To say that people are going to contribute or chip in, mag-aambag-ambag. Mag-aambag-ambag kami for next week's celebration so we can prepare a lot of food.

To indicate the present tense or to say that, this repetitively happens, let's say for example the people from Peace Village do this every town fiesta, nag-aambag-ambag kami every year's town fiesta to prepare a lot of food and games for the kids and visitors.

And of course, the past tense to finish the post and the tenses. Nag-ambag-ambag to say you chipped in or gave your share to the group.

Filipino Word - Albor

Have you ever heard paalbor? No worries. The person just wants to borrow whatever it is that you have.

What does albor mean? The root word albor is a Filipino slang word that means "borrow." The Filipino word usually used is "hiram."

To let someone know you're going to borrow whatever it is you want to borrow, say "Pahiram," or "Pahiram nito," which translates to "I'll borrow this."

If you want to be a little bit more formal, a little closer the the English, "Can I borrow this?" You know when you want a go signal that it is ok with the owner, " Pwedeng pahiram nito?" Oh yes, example with the Filipino slang word paalbor, "Pwedeng paalbor nito?"

Read more Filipino slang words on my hub "20 Tagalog Slang Words For Every Use" 

Most used Filipino slang words used are also covered here on my YouTube video lesson. Learn all about these and practice proper pronunciation with the video.

Filipino Word - Taratitat

Taratitat is only one of many words in the Filipino language you'll hear.

Taratitat is Filipino slang word used to described, or say someone is talkative. Indeed, a person who talks a lot or talks to much is a "taratitat" in a slang way.

But what about the usual way to say it, you know a talkative person. Madaldal also means a talker, a person that talks non-stop, if you don't want to be on the slang side.

Taratitat is also listed on my "20 Tagalog Slang Words For Everyday Use" and more. Also find out about the most used Filipino slang words and practice the right pronunciation with my video lesson.