Philippine English vocabulary
As a historical colony of the United States, the Philippine English lexicon shares most of its vocabulary from American English, but also has loanwords from native languages and Spanish, as well as some usages, coinages, and slang peculiar to the Philippines. Some Philippine English usages are borrowed from or shared with British or Commonwealth English, for various reasons. Due to the influence of the Spanish language, Philippine English also contains Spanish-derived terms, including Anglicizations, some resulting in false friends, such as "salvage". Philippine English also borrowed words from Philippine languages, especially native plant and animal names (e.g. ampalaya, balimbing), and cultural concepts with no exact English equivalents (e.g. kilig); some borrowings from Philippine languages have entered mainstream English, such as abaca and ylang-ylang.
Some terms are only used in some regions. Examples are bringhouse (bringing food home from fiestas), which is only used in the Visayas, and haggard (police on motorcycles), which is used only in Visayas and Mindanao.
Words with meanings differing from standard English
| Word/phrase | Philippine English meaning | Standard English meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced | of a clock ahead of standard time | state-of-the-art | |
| Artist | actor/actress | ||
| Athletics | Sport comprising the events in track and field, cross country running, road running and racewalking | Shared with British English | |
| Bangs | locks of hair on forehead | Shared with American English | |
| Birdie | penis | little bird; golf score of one under par | Childish slang, popularized by the Parokya ni Edgar song "Don't Touch My Birdie". |
| Bold | (adjective) implying or associated with pornography (as in bold film, and bold star); (noun) pornography | (adjective) courageous; brave | |
| Brilliant | excellent, of the highest quality | Shared with British English | |
| Brownout | blackout; power outage | sudden drop in voltage | Also used in Commonwealth English varieties.[1][2] |
| Bug | any insect | Shared with American English | |
| Cabaret | strip club | live entertainment in a restaurant or nightclub | Also see nightclub below. |
| Calling card | business card | name card | |
| Canteen | basic food service location usually at a work place or institution | Shared with British English | |
| Caravan | towed recreational vehicle containing accommodation | Shared with British English | |
| Cart Trolley | a lightweight wheeled vehicle, as for shopping, serving, carrying baggage, etc. | ||
| Certain | (particle) emphasis marker suggesting ambiguity or anonymity[3] | known, but not specifically named | |
| Close | switch off (a light) | enable the flow of electricity through the switch | Term shared with Indian English |
| College | post-high school institution that grants either associate's or bachelor's degree | Shared with American English | |
| Comedy | practical joke | humorous act | |
| Commute | to travel by public transportation | to travel between home and work | |
| Course | college or university degree program | Shared with British English | |
| Crocodile | corrupt politician | genus of reptile | Originally referred to Philippine Constabulary officers, after the brown color of their uniform. |
| Cubicle | A compartment in a bathroom with low walls that contains a toilet. | Shared with British English | |
| Dialect | languages of the Philippines other than Tagalog | regional variety of a language | From an erroneous redefinition of the term coined by the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino after declaring regional languages in the country as "dialects" to Filipino.[4] Considered inaccurate and derogatory, and "regional language" is considered the correct and proper usage in linguistic discourse. |
| Drive-in | motel; motor inn | type of outdoor cinema; type of drive-thru restaurant where food is served by a carhop | |
| Duster | simple sun dress | cleaning tool | |
| Elimination round | group stage or regular season | single-elimination tournament or two-legged tie | Especially in basketball competitions. Preliminary round also used in football and volleyball. |
| Entertain | to help or assist (in a corporate context e.g. "How can I entertain you?" for "How can I help you) | to amuse | |
| Faculty | academic staff of a school, college or university | Shared with American English | |
| Featherbed | bed or mattress stuffed with feathers | Shared with British English | |
| Fiscal | public prosecutor; solicitor; attorney general | public official responsible for control of public revenue in some countries | Calque of Spanish fiscal. |
| Fix | to make firm, fasten, attach or repair | Shared with British English | |
| Football | association football | Standard Philippine English definition. Shared with British English. | |
| Gangbanger | a participant in a "gang bang", a group sex activity | Shared with British English | |
| Gimmick | unplanned night out with friends | trick; ploy | |
| Give way | to give the right of way (to vehicles, pedestrians, etc.) | Shared with British English | |
| Go up | get on a vehicle | get on (the bus/jeep) | |
| Graduate (v.) Graduate (n.) | to finish university with a degree relating to a student at the point of gaining, or who has recently completed, a degree | Shared with British English | |
| Handbrake | parking brake operated by a hand control, usually a lever | Shared with British English | |
| Hump | a traffic calming tool | Shared with British English | |
| Inhibition | (law) recusal | fear or embarrassment that prevents natural behavior; stoppage or retardation of a chemical reaction | |
| Janitor | a person employed to oversee the cleaning and security of a building | Shared with American English | |
| Joint | a piece of meat for carving | Shared with British English | |
| Junk shop | scrap dealer | store selling mostly used goods at cheap prices | Scrap dealer is also used as well. |
| Lemonade | non-carbonated drink made by mixing lemon juice, sugar, and water | Shared with American English | |
| Life imprisonment | reclusion perpetua | life sentence | |
| Liquor | a distilled beverage | Shared with American English | |
| Malicious | implying sexually perverted behaviour | having bad or evil intent | |
| Maniac | pervert | someone suffering from manic behavior | From "sex maniac". |
| Medical certificate | a statement from a physician or other health care provider that attests to the result of a medical examination of a patient | Shared with Malaysian English. | |
| Middle name | maternal surname/last name or maiden name | second given name | From the adaptation of Filipino names using Spanish naming customs to the Western system of first name-middle name-last name. |
| Motel | love hotel; no-tell motel; sex hotel | motorist's hotel | Also simply called or used in conjunction with "short-time". |
| Nightclub | strip club | public or private establishment open at night to offer entertainment, food, drink, music, and dancing | |
| Officemate | co-worker | Shared with American English | |
| Open | switch on (a light) | interrupt the flow of electricity through the switch | Term shared with Indian English. |
| Receptionist | desk worker | ||
| Rotunda | roundabout | circular building | From Spanish rotonda, via the Philippine languages. |
| Rugby | contact cement; rubber cement | ball sport | Genericized trademark from the wood glue brand by Bostik. |
| Sala | living room or courtroom | large hall or reception hall | Borrowed from Spanish via Philippine languages. |
| Salvage | (noun) summary execution involving a person being killed by a gang in some locations and the cadaver thrown onto a large space such as a river, roadside or vacant land; (verb) to kill a person in a similar fashion | (noun) act of rescuing or retrieved | False friend from Spanish "salvaje" ("wild", via the form "salbahe" in Philippine languages), after the manner the victims are killed. |
| Scandal | amateur pornography | controversy | Originally referred to celebrity sex tapes. |
| Slang | (adjective) indicative of a foreign or strong English accent | (noun) extremely informal language | |
| Solitaire | any one-player card game | Shared with American English | |
| Spandrel | soffit | A triangular space between the top of an arch and a rectangular frame | Termed by the local construction industry to describe usually metal or corrugated plastic types of roof soffit.[5] |
| Storey | a floor of a building | Shared with British English | |
| Straightaway Straight away | immediately | Shared with British English | |
| Student | person studying at any educational institution | person studying at a post-secondary educational institution | Shared with American English |
| Subdivision | gated community or named residential area with a distinct flavor | parcel of land subdivided into lots | |
| Tickler | small notebook that fits the pocket or pocket notebook | an object or a person that tickles | |
| Tissue | paper napkin or toilet paper | absorbent paper; usually refers to facial tissue | |
| Toga | graduation gown | ancient Roman garment; see also toga party | |
| Tomboy | lesbian or trans man | boyish girl | The term is often associated with lesbians with masculine traits, while lesbians with feminine traits are regarded as heterosexual.[6] |
| Tricycle | auto rickshaw using a motorcycle and sidecar rig | cycle with three wheels | In the Visayas, also used for pedicabs. |
| Trip | vibe | journey | |
| Trolley | makeshift handcar | (UK) cart; (US) streetcar | Also called skate in Bicol Region. |
| Undersecretary | deputy or assistant secretary | deputy to assistant secretary | |
| Village | gated community | small settlement |
Words, expressions or usages peculiar to Philippine English
| Word/phrase | English definition or equivalents understood in most English varieties | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| American Americano | white or Caucasian person | The shortened term "kano" is more commonly used, from Americano |
| Apartelle | budget hotel based on an apartment | See also condotel |
| Banana cue | skewered cooking bananas, sprinkled with sugar, grilled and served hot[7] | |
| Batchmates | students who graduated at the same time | |
| Bed-space | to rent a bedroom at a private home, where the rent for it is paid by a lodger or boarder"[8] | |
| Boodle fight | gathering where food (usually pansit, or steamed rice and sardines) is served on old newspapers or banana leaves spread over a table and eaten with bare hands by a group of people | Devised by PMA cadets, and does not represent authentic Philippine culture, but instead symbolizes fraternity and equality among PMA members by their sharing the same food without regard to rank. From West Point slang meaning "any party at which boodle (candy, cake, ice cream, etc.) is served."[9] |
| Cadette | female cadet | |
| Carnapping[10] | carjacking; motor vehicle theft | Blend of car and kidnapping. |
| Chancing | sexual advance with suggestive body contact | Often associated with Silent Generation and baby boomer Filipinos.[8] |
| Civilian clothes | casual clothes | Usually in a context where one is not required to wear a uniform. From police terminology, referring to plainclothes officers. |
| Comfort room/C.R. | public toilet; Restroom | |
| Community quarantine | A cordon sanitaire or stay-at-home order | Devised by the IATF-EID to distinguish a series of lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic from military lockdowns resulting from civil disorder or armed conflict, the latter being associated with Martial law.[11] Compare with Malaysian English movement control order or Singaporean circuit breaker measure. |
| Computer shop | Internet café | From incorrect translation of kompyuteran. |
| Condotel/Condo | budget hotel based on a condominium | See also apartelle above |
| Coupon bond | bond paper | |
| Cutex | nail polish | Genericized trademark |
| Dine-in | eat-in | |
| Disco | nightclub | Also disco club, or simply club. |
| Dirty ice cream | generic ice cream sold by street vendors | |
| Dirty kitchen | kitchen dedicated to household workers | Also found in West Asian households. |
| Eat-all-you-can | all-you-can-eat | Common, but not necessarily peculiar to Philippine English. |
| Estafa | fraud | |
| Extra service | orgasm as part of erotic massage done by a masseur; happy ending | |
| Filipino time/Pinoy time | habitual lateness of Filipinos | Stereotypical, but often used humorously. See also Juan time below |
| Government-owned and controlled corporation | state-owned enterprise | Often abbreviated to GOCC. |
| Green joke | off-color humor; ribaldry | Calque of Spanish chiste verde. See also green-minded below |
| Green-minded | dirty-minded; having sexual thoughts | |
| Grotto | garden or roadside shrine simulating a cave and containing a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary (mostly Our Lady of Lourdes), and sometimes paired with a water feature | From the holy cave in Lourdes, France. |
| Handcarry Hand-carry | carry-on; hand luggage | |
| High-blood | heavily angered | |
| Hold-departure order | criminal travel injunction | |
| Holdupper[12] | hold-up robber; stick-up man | |
| Hollow block | cement, concrete, or foundation block | |
| House | any place of residence | |
| Informal settler | squatter | Also in informal settler's area (slum or shanty town). |
| Jeepney | purpose-built public transportation vehicles, originally made from used US military jeeps | |
| Jogging pants | sweatpants or track pants | Often part of the physical education uniform of most schools in the Philippines |
| Juan time | habit of being on time | After Juan dela Cruz. |
| Kidnapable | person who is a likely target for kidnap for ransom for their wealth and social status | Slang, often used tongue-in-cheek. |
| Kikay kit | container where a woman's make-up and toiletries are kept | |
| Load | (noun) prepaid credits; (verb) top up | |
| Macho dancer | male stripper in a gay bar | |
| McDo | McD's; Maccas (Australia) | Clipping of McDonald's. Also found in French. |
| Minor subject | An elective; optional subject | Usually contrasts to a major subject, which are required core subjects. |
| Necrological service | obituary or pre-burial event consisting of eulogies and songs, especially over a deceased celebrity or public figure | Used by funeral homes. Outside that context, first noted in writing in the Taglish elegy of Filipino poet V.I.S. de Veyra for English-language Filipino poet Ophelia Alcantara Dimalanta titled Requiem Para Kay Ophie (Dimalanta)---Makata, Kritiko ng Wika which mentions "necrological service" among other Philippine English words and phrases.[13] The phrase is also understood to mean "memorial service". |
| Number two | mistress | |
| Nosebleed | to "have a nosebleed" is to have serious difficulty conversing in English with a fluent or native English speaker. It can also refer to anxiety brought on by a stressful event such as an examination, job interview or being afraid to be judged by others for not using proper grammar | Slang, often used to avoid conversing with English speakers. |
| Parlor | hair/beauty salon | |
| Pekpek shorts | short shorts | From Tagalog vulgar slang for vagina. |
| Pension house | family-owned guest house | |
| Pentel pen | marker | Genericized trademark |
| Person deprived of liberty[14] | convicted prisoner | Shortened to PDL.[14] |
| Petsay Pitchay | a type of Chinese cabbage | |
| Pisonet | Internet café with coin-operated computers that can be used for 5 to 15 minutes after dropping a Philippine peso coin | Genericized trademark |
| Polo | dress shirt | From polo shirt. |
| Practicumer | intern | From practicum. |
| Presidentiable | presidential candidate | |
| Promodiser / Promodizer | A person who introduces a product, has enough knowledge about how it works, and would like to encourage the people to buy it. Either hired by companies who create products for the common people to buy, or existing mall employees that were hired by third-party companies. | Possibly a portmanteau of "promotional merchandiser". |
| Recollection | retreat | |
| Red egg | salted eggs with shells dyed magenta | Calque of Tagalog itlog na pula. |
| Ref | fridge | Shortened from refrigerator. |
| Remembrance | souvenir | |
| Revival | cover | |
| Rubber shoes | sneakers, athletic shoes or trainers | |
| Sando | sleeveless shirt, tank-top, wifebeater, vest or singlet | May be traced to the Bengali word sando-genji. |
| Sari-sari store | small, neighborhood convenience store or booth | From the Tagalog sari-sari ("mixed" or "sundry"). |
| School | any educational institution | Any educational institution, from kindergarten to university, are referred to as "school" in most casual conversations. |
| Schoolmates | students who went to the same school | |
| Scotch tape | transparent adhesive tape | Genericized trademark, from the brand by 3M. |
| Senatoriable | Senate candidate | |
| Sign pen | a technical pen used for signing documents | Genericized trademark by Pentel. |
| Sounds | music played in a radio, audio or speaker | |
| Stolen shot | candid photography | Slang |
| Top-down | convertible | |
| Transient [home] | homestay | |
| Unli | unlimited | E.g. in unli-text[15] or unli-rice. |
| Vetsin | monosodium glutamate | Genericized trademark from Tien Chun Ve-Tsin. |
| Viand | an item of food eaten with rice | |
| Videoke | karaoke | Coined in the 1990s, blend of video and karaoke. |
| Washday | day where an employee or student can wear casual clothes, as uniforms are usually laundered that day | May be traced back to a travel guide in 1908.[16] |
Words with Philippine origin
This is a list of English words which originate from any of the Philippine languages.
| Word/phrase | Definition | |
|---|---|---|
| abacá | a species of banana native to the Philippines. The plant is of major economical importance, being harvested for its fibre, called manila hemp, from abaka | |
| adobo | refers to a Philippine dish or a Latin American marinade. The word entered English in 1938 and is of Spanish origin.[17] | |
| calamondin | a small evergreen citrus fruit tree, native to the Philippines, and used there for cooking and as a houseplant elsewhere, from Kapampangan kalamunding | |
| capiz | decoration material, made of mother-of-pearl shells that have the same name | |
| cedula | a Philippine tax | |
| cooties | from Tagalog and Austronesian word kuto which literally means "head lice". Entered English in 1917 from the Malay kutu.[18] | |
| datto | a Philippine tribe leader | |
| dita ditta | a Philippine tree | |
| halo-halo | a dessert[19] | |
| lauan | the light yellow to reddish-brown or brown wood of any of various tropical southeast Asian trees, from Tagalog lawaan | |
| machin | a grayish brown long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis philippensis), from matsing meaning monkey or ape | |
| panguingue | 19th-century gambling card game, from pangginggi | |
| salacot | broad-brimmed hat woven from strips of cane or from palm leaves, from salakot | |
| ube | Philippine yam | |
| yo-yo | the toy, from Ilocano word yoyo[20] |
Rail terminology
The following railfan terms are used in the country.
| Word/phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| Ponkan | A yellow-orange livery introduced by PT INKA in 2019.[21] |
| Wee-honk | Also spelled without the hyphen, it refers to the high then low-pitched combination horns of the PNR 900 class, fitted to units DEL 902, 921 and 922.[22] |
Abbreviations
Abbreviations are often punctuated in Philippine English when they are usually not, and some abbreviations are unique to Philippine usage.
Comparison with other varieties
Where British and American English vocabulary differs, in different circumstances Philippine English favors:
- A usage which is shared with British English, as with cinema (US: movie theater); or pedestrian crossing (US: crosswalk)
- A usage which is shared with American English, as with truck (UK: lorry); or eggplant (UK: aubergine)
British English terms not commonly used in Philippine English
British English terms not commonly used in Philippine English include:
- Academic staff (PhE: faculty)
- Alsatian (PhE: German shepherd)
- Anticlockwise (PhE: counter-clockwise)
- Articulated lorry (PhE: semi-trailer)
- Aubergine (PhE: eggplant)
- Bank holiday (PhE: public holiday)
- Bespoke (PhE: custom-made)
- Blanket bath (PhE: sponge bath)
- Bin lorry (PhE: garbage truck)
- Biro (PhE: ball pen)
- Blancmange (PhE: pudding)
- Bobby (PhE: police officer)
- Boot (PhE: trunk [car] or shoe [football])
- Brace (PhE: retainer)
- Braces (PhE: suspenders)
- Broad bean (PhE: lima bean)
- Bum bag (PhE: fanny pack)
- By-election (PhE: special election)
- Cagoule (PhE: raincoat)
- Candy floss (PhE: cotton candy)
- Car park (PhE: parking lot)
- Car valeting (PhE: car detailing)
- Caretaker (PhE: janitor)
- Cash machine (PhE: ATM)
- Catapult (PhE: slingshot)
- Clothes peg (PhE: clothespin)
- Child-minder (PhE: babysitter)
- Chips (PhE: french fries)
- Chrimbo (PhE: Christmas)
- Cleg (PhE: horsefly)
- Cling film (PhE: plastic wrap or saran wrap)
- Community payback (PhE: community service)
- Compère (PhE: emcee)
- Consumer durables (PhE: durable goods)
- Cooker (PhE: stove)
- Coriander (PhE: cilantro)
- Cornflour (PhE: cornstarch)
- Cotton wool (PhE: cotton ball)
- Courgette (PhE: zucchini)
- Crotchet (PhE: quarter note)
- Clu-de-sac (PhE: dead end)
- Draughts (PhE: checkers)
- Drink-driving (PhE: drunk driving)
- Dummy (PhE: pacifier)
- Dungarees (PhE: overalls)
- Dustbin (PhE: garbage bin)
- Dustcart (PhE: garbage truck/dump truck)
- Dustman (PhE: garbageman)
- Dynamo (PhE: generator)
- Elastoplast (PhE: band-aid)
- Estate car (PhE: wagon)
- Extension lead (PhE: extension cord)
- Faculty (university division) (PhE: college or school)
- Fag end (PhE: cigarette butt)
- Fairy cake (PhE: cupcake)
- Fire brigade (PhE: fire department)
- Fringe (PhE: bangs)
- Full stop (PhE: period)
- Funfair (PhE: carnival or fair)
- Gammon (PhE: ham)
- Gherkin (PhE: pickle)
- Goose pimples (PhE: goose bumps)
- Gum (PhE: glue)
- Hairgrip (PhE: hairpin)
- Hoarding (PhE: billboard)
- Hob (PhE: stovetop)
- Holiday (PhE: vacation)
- Holidaymaker (PhE: vacationer)
- Hoover (v) (PhE: to vacuum)
- Hosepipe (PhE: garden hose)
- Ice lolly (PhE: ice drop)
- Ironmonger (PhE: hardware)
- Jacket potato (PhE: baked potato)
- Juicy bits (PhE: pulp)
- Kip (PhE: sleep)
- Knackered (PhE: tired/worn out)
- Ladybird (PhE: ladybug)
- Landslip (PhE: landslide)
- Lavatory (PhE: toilet) (lavatory used for toilets on airplanes)
- Let (PhE: lease/rent)
- Lido (PhE: public swimming pool)
- Lorry (PhE: truck)
- Loudhailer (PhE: megaphone)
- Mackintosh (PhE: raincoat)
- Maize (PhE: corn)
- Maths (PhE: math)
- Milliard (PhE: billion)
- Minim (PhE: half note)
- Motorway (PhE: highway or expressway)
- Nappy (PhE: diaper)
- Newsreader (PhE: newscaster)
- Nick (n) (PhE: prison/jail)
- Nosh (PhE: meal)
- Nought (PhE: zero)
- Off-licence (PhE: liquor store)
- Pak choi (PhE: petsay or pitchay)
- Pavement (PhE: sidewalk)
- Petrol (PhE: gasoline)
- Petrol station (PhE: gas station)
- Pilchards (PhE: sardines)
- Plain chocolate (PhE: dark chocolate)
- Plain flour (PhE: all-purpose flour)
- Polo neck (PhE: turtleneck)
- Press-up (PhE: push-up)
- Punchbag (PhE: punching bag)
- Pushchair (PhE: stroller)
- Quaver (PhE: eighth note)
- Ring road (PhE: beltway)
- Rubber (PhE: eraser)
- Saloon car (PhE: sedan)
- Semibreve (PhE: whole note)
- Shan't (PhE: shouldn't or won't)
- Sleeping policeman (PhE: hump)
- Spanner (PhE: wrench)
- Sultana (PhE: raisin)
- Supply teacher (PhE: substitute teacher)
- Sweets (PhE: candy)
- Takeaway (PhE: take-out)
- Torch (PhE: flashlight)
- Trainers (PhE: sneakers)
- Trousers (PhE: pants)
- Trunk call (PhE: long-distance call)
- Vest (PhE: undershirt)
- Whilst (conj) (PhE: while)
- Windcheater (PhE: windbreaker)
- Windscreen (PhE: windshield)
- Zip (PhE: zipper)
American English terms not commonly used in Philippine English
American English terms not commonly found in Philippine English include:
- Acetaminophen (PhE: paracetamol)
- Anyplace (PhE: anywhere)
- Auto detailing (PhE: car detailing)
- Baby carriage (PhE: stroller)
- Back-up lights (PhE: reversing lights)
- Ballpoint pen/Bic (PhE: ball pen)
- Bedroom community (PhE: dormitory)
- Blacktop (PhE: road surface or pavement)
- Billfold (PhE: wallet)
- Bok choy (PhE: petsay or pitchay)
- Bureau (PhE: chest of drawers)
- Busboy (PhE: included under waiter)
- Cab (PhE: taxi)
- Cafeteria (PhE: canteen)
- Campground (PhE: campsite)
- Casket (PhE: coffin)
- Cellular phone (PhE: cell phone)
- Change purse (PhE: (coin) purse)
- Check (restaurant bill) (PhE: bill)
- Chutes and ladders (PhE: snakes and ladders)
- Cookie sheet (PhE: baking tray)
- Cotton swabs (PhE: cotton buds)
- Coach (PhE: PE teacher)
- Coach (flight class) (PhE: economy class)
- Cop car or Patrol car (PhE: police car)
- Couch/davenport (PhE: sofa)
- Coveralls (PhE: overalls)
- Crazy bone (PhE: funny bone)
- Derby (PhE: bowler hat)
- Domestic vacation (PhE: staycation)
- Drapes (PhE: curtains)
- Druggist (PhE: pharmacist)
- Dual highway (PhE: dual carriageway)
- Dungarees (PhE: jeans)
- Dweeb (PhE: nerd)
- Emergency brake (PhE: handbrake)
- Expiration date (PhE: expiry date)
- First floor (PhE: ground floor)
- Frosting (PhE: icing)
- Guardrail (PhE: crash barrier)
- Gyro (PhE: Turkish döner kebab)
- Harbor seal (PhE: common seal)
- Hard cider (PhE: cider)
- Hatrack (PhE: hatstand)
- Homey (PhE: homely)
- Hope chest (PhE: bottom drawer)
- Hot flash (PhE: hot flush)
- Jell-o (PhE: jelly)
- Jelly (PhE: jam)
- Jimmies or Non-pareiles (PhE: sprinkles)
- Laundromat (PhE: launderette)
- Lawn (PhE: garden)
- Life preserver (PhE: life jacket)
- Mashed potatoes (PhE: mashed potato)
- Monkeyshines (PhE: monkey tricks)
- Movie theater (PhE: cinema)
- Nightstand (PhE: bedside table)
- Noplace (PhE: nowhere)
- Obligated (PhE: obliged)
- Oftentimes (PhE: often)
- Pain reliever (PhE: painkiller)
- Pass (a vehicle) (PhE: overtake)
- Penitentiary (PhE: prison/jail)
- Pollywog (PhE: tadpole)
- Popsicle (PhE: ice drop)
- Pound sign (PhE: hash or sharp)
- Pull-off (PhE: lay-by)
- Rabbit ears (PhE: TV antenna)
- Railroad station (also train station) (PhE: railway station)
- Rad (PhE: radical)
- Rotary/traffic circle (PhE: roundabout or rotunda)
- Rubber (PhE: condom)
- Sack lunch (PhE: packed lunch)
- Sales clerk (PhE: shop assistant)
- Sales tax (PhE: value-added tax (VAT))
- Scallion (PhE: spring onion)
- Shades (window) (PhE: blinds)
- Shoestring (PhE: shoelace)
- Skim milk (PhE: skimmed milk)
- Soccer (PhE: football)
- Soda cracker (PhE: cream cracker)
- Soda (pop) (PhE: soft drink)
- Someplace (PhE: somewhere)
- Speed bump (PhE: hump)
- Station wagon (PhE: wagon)
- Stick shift (PhE: manual)
- Stop signals/traffic signals (PhE: stoplight/traffic light)
- Tailpipe (PhE: exhaust pipe)
- Toll call (PhE: long-distance call)
- Tuition (PhE: tuition fee)
- Wading pool (PhE: paddling pool)
- Wapiti (PhE: elk)
- Yard (PhE: garden)
Idioms
There are instances where Philippine English idioms are borrowed from British English as opposed to American English or American English as opposed to British English such as:
- A drop in the ocean (as with UK usage) as opposed to US a drop in the bucket
- Home away from home (as with US usage) as opposed to UK home from home
- Take with a pinch of salt (as with UK usage) as opposed to US take with a grain of salt
- Knock on wood (as with US usage) as opposed to UK touch wood
- Wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole (as with US usage) as opposed to UK wouldn't touch with a barge pole
- Slowpoke (as with US usage) as opposed to UK slowcoach
There are also instances where British idioms are prominently used in Philippine English such as: actions speak louder than words, an arm and a leg, barking up the wrong tree, beat around the bush, don't cry over spilt milk, it takes two to tango, kill two birds with one stone and steal someone's thunder.
There are also instances where American idioms are prominently used in Philippine English such as: before you know it, call it a day, down in the dumps, get the hang of it, hang in there, so far so good, two peas in a pod and under the weather.
References
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- Fajardo, K. B. (January 1, 2008). "TRANSPORTATION: Translating Filipino and Filipino American Tomboy Masculinities through Global Migration and Seafaring". GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies. 14 (2–3): 403–424. doi:10.1215/10642684-2007-039. ISSN 1064-2684. S2CID 142268960.
- Overseas Pinoy Cooking.Net accessed November 6, 2010
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- Esguerra, Darryl (March 12, 2020). "Metro Manila placed under 'community quarantine' due to COVID-19". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- Borlongan, Ariane Macalinga (2007). "Innovations in Standard Philippine English". Current Research on English and Applied Linguistics.
- V.I.S. de Veyra's poem "Requiem Para Kay Ophie"
- Echeminada, Perseus (April 20, 2017). "Convicts now called 'persons deprived of liberty'". Retrieved July 29, 2020.
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{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires|magazine=(help) - "adobo". merriam-webster.com. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
- "cootie". merriam-webster.com. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
- Alberto-Masakayan, Thea (June 25, 2016). "Halo-halo, atbp: Filipino words make it to Oxford Dictionary". ABS-CBNnews.com. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
- "yo–yo". Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
Origin and Etymology of yo–yo probably from Ilocano yóyo, or a cognate word in a language of the Philippines, First Known Use: 1915
- DEL 902 Ponkan. July 18, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
- Wee-Honk! PNR DEL 921 Departs in Blumentritt Station (16:9 1080p) (YouTube). December 30, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
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