Filipino Word - Kumpiskahin

Kumpiskahin means to seize or to take a person's belonging with authority/to confiscate.

Wag mong gamitin ang cellphone mo sa theater baka kumpiskahin ng guwardiya.

Do not use your cellphone in the theater as the guard might confiscate it.

Past tense

Kinumpiska

Filipino Word - Bantay-Sarado

Bantay sarado means well guarded or closely guarded.

Young girls with strict parents are bantay sarado by their parents - knowing their whereabouts, friends and activities to make sure they stay on the right track. No boyfriends. Studies first.

I can't go out tonight. Bantay-sarado ako ng mga magulang ko.
I can't go out tonight. My parents are keeping an eye on me.

Filipino Word - Ukay-ukay

Ukay-ukay means thrift store. Saying just ukay is also understandable and a usual way to shortened the word.

Ang mura ng mga damit sa ukay.
The clothes at the ukay is so affordable. 

Pupunta ako sa ukay-ukay kasama ang mga kaibigan ko sa weekend.
I will go to the ukay-ukay with my friends this weekend.

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.

Filipino Word - Uto-Uto

Have you heard this Tagalog word before? Whether you just heard this word being used or it was said to you, this is one of the many, you can say, weird Tagalog words that repeat themselves and may sound somehow funny I agree.

So what's the meaning of uto-uto?

Uto-uto pertains to a person who is deceived easily or fooled easily. Here's few conversational examples to help grasp the meaning of the word.

Hana: Hey I saw that! :D
Jane: He's such a cute guy.
Hana: Is that why you gave that stranger your name to add you on Facebook?
Jane: He's cute! And he said I'm pretty and have such a beautiful smile.
Hana: Uto-uto ka talaga.
Jane: He's name is Daniel by the way.

Here's also another way of using the word, or the root word "uto" with the tenses of verbs.

Hana: Hey I saw that! :D
Jane: He's such a cute guy.
Hana: Is that why you gave that stranger your name to add you on Facebook?
Jane: He's cute! And he said I'm pretty and have such a beautiful smile.
Hana: Inuuto ka lang nya (He's just fooling you/He's just fooling around with you)
Jane: He's Daniel by the way.

Second examples is PRESENT TENSE, IN verb. Here's an explanation on how to form IN verbs in Tagalog.

For more Tagalog lessons, visit my YouTube channel @ youtube.com/b3witchblogger

Tagalog Greetings: Saying Good Morning, Afternoon, and Evening

To help you on your way to learning the Filipino language, let's start with the Filipino greetings to warm you up. Well, it is one of the must know that I think one should start with since it is used in a daily basis, specially if you're going to converse with native speakers.

Let's start with Filipino greetings, so you know how to say "Good morning" or whatever, in Filipino. It could be a good conversation starter you know, and don't worry about the pronunciation, practice makes perfect. Read on or go straight on my video lesson down below. Yes, there's a video lesson of Tagalog greetings I have on YouTube.

Let's start with good morning shall we?

English
"Good morning!"
"Magandang umaga!"
-and it sounds like: ma-gan-dang um-mah-ga

English
"Good afternoon!"
"Magandang hapon!"
-and it sounds like: ma-gan-dang ha-phoon

English
"Good evening!"
"Magandang gabi!"
-and it sounds like: ma-gan-dang gah-bi (with bi, it is pronounce as "bee")

And there's a Tagalog greeting too at noon. Say for example you went and visited a Filipino friend at her home at 12 noon, or around 12 noon. You don't say good morning, good afternoon, or good evening. But you say:

"Magandang tanghali!"
- and it sounds like: ma-gan-dang tang-ha-li

Of course it is way better hearing the right pronunciation, right? Hear the correct pronunciation of these must know Tagalog greetings on my YouTube video lesson.

Filipino Word -Takipsilim

So you are having a vacation in the Philippines and it is getting late, and your auntie, or cousin said "Let's all hurry up and get back home, mag tatakipsilim na."

Or you could have heard it on television while watching the Filipino channel (TFC.)

So what is takipsilim? Or what does takipsilim means?

Takipsilim means it is getting dark. Dusk, sundown, or nightfall is the English word for takipsilim.

Chayote Plant Photos

This year, 2013, is the second year of our two chayote plant in our small patio. Last year went crazy with both chayote's grasping, and climbing into anything they could reach into. It's like a blink of an eye and they're all over the place. We have a trellis my dad had built for one chayote, and for the other chayote plant, I made its own trellis, and for this year too. It got out of hand by Summer last year as we hadn't keep a close eye on them, so this year, hope we can have both under control, and that means by harvesting the chayote shoots and guiding them where to climb.

Here's a photo of one of our chayote plant on its trellis from last year, 2012. For more photos along with other plants we have on our container garden, you can stop by on my article titled, "Container Gardening: Plants At The Patio." 

We had harvested many chayote fruits, and mostly twins plus the chayote shoots that mom cooks with other vegetables mixed together, either on pinakbet or denengdeng dish of the Ilocanos.

Here's a twin chayote fruit we had from last year with some young clusters of young male chayote flowers.

This twin chayote are still young, but they are already bigger than the chayote I usually see on the market. And greener too.

For this year, I am looking forward into seeing more of this twin chayote's. Both plants are as lively as last year and grasping into anything the tendrils can get hold off.

Here's photo of this year's chayote, 2013. One here as shown in the photo amazes me as I spotted this tendril holding onto the sleek fence.

YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO READ:

Chayote: Photos and Health Benefits Of This Fast Growing Plant

Some quick interesting facts about the chayote plant:

* Adding chayote into diet can help on lowering the cholesterol level.

* Chayote would grasp into anything and is a fast growing plant.

* The fruit, along with chayote shoots and even the tuberous part is consumed. 

* Other names the chayote is known are pear squash, vegetable squash, christophene, sayote, and chocho.

* Chayote, or known as sayote is 94% water. 

* Although we, or most of us call chayote as a vegetable, it is a fruit. 

Filipino Word - Bulilit

When I was baby sitting before for a neighbor, the mom would fondly sing to her 3 year old son, ♫ ♩ ♪ bulilit, bulilit ang liit liit!! ♫ ♩ ♪ I don't know if there's really a song like that or it was a made up song but it was kinda cute. And after to what I think was about few months, it was on a new TFC (The Filipino Channel) tv commercial. So maybe there really is a song like that.

But what does bulilit mean in English?

Bulilit means tiny. So if you also asked or are wondering what does munti mean? It means the same thing. BULILIT or MUNTI means small or tiny, a small child.

Bulilit means a small child, a very young kid.

Example 1: TAGALOG: Batang munti. 
Meaning in ENGLISH: A small child.

Example 2: TAGALOG: Halika dito bulilit. 
Meaning in ENGLISH: Come over here little guy.