Right here’s one thing now not we all know—outdoor of the primary regional tongues you often listen, the Philippines is in truth house to over 180 local languages and dialects.

The rustic has an entire host of various languages as a result of every local other people manifest their tradition and historical past via phrases. And so, there are phrases we at all times use, however in each language there are phrases we don’t at all times listen—and oftentimes, the ones which might be unusual finally end up being probably the most gorgeous and poetic to the ear.

There are not any higher keepers of our languages than Filipino academics, who continuously champion the magic of our nation’s numerous languages. To rejoice August, the nationwide Buwan ng Wika (month of language), underneath are their favourite Filipino phrases that you just don’t at all times listen, together with their respective meanings and English translations.

Uswag

(Cebuano/Bisaya) To broaden or reinforce.

Tyron Casumpang, a Humanities and Social Science strand coordinator on the A ways Japanese College Prime College, gave “Uswag” as his first favourite phrase from the Cebuano/Bisaya language, some of the major tongues spoken within the Visayas. Its English that means “broaden” has no direct translation in Filipino—“pagpapaunlad” (development) or “pagpapalago” (rising an undertaking) will be the nearest.

Alimuom

(Tagalog) Petrichor, a nice odor that often accompanies the primary rain after an extended duration of heat, dry climate.

For Tagalog, the primary regional base of the nationwide Filipino language, Casumpang equipped “alimuom” as his 2nd favourite Filipino phrase. This poetic time period has an immediate translation in English, the clinical phrase “petrichor” or in more practical phrases, “vapor.”

Bulaos

(Bulakenyo) A slim trail or walkway resulting in some other position.

Dr. Marvin Reyes, a part of the Division of Language and Literature school at San Beda College, described “bulaos” as a Bulakenyo phrase for a path or small alley. Bulakenyo is in truth a dialect of Tagalog and Filipino spoken within the Central Luzon province. In line with Google Translate, it could additionally imply “roar” in major Filipino.

Pagbuburo

(Tagalog) Strategy of fermentation.

Nancy Mari Milate of the O.B. Montessori Heart shared the Tagalog time period “pagbuburo.” The method contains sugar or salt with water into the meals and the absence of oxygen begins the chemical response. Filipinos will acknowledge the basis phrase “buro,” which additionally refers to an area dish made via fermenting fish in crimson yeast rice.

Urong

(Tagalog) To clean the dishes.

Rodolfo Andres, some other instructor from the O.B. Montessori Heart, defined “urong” as washing the dishes, glassware, and utensils utilized in each meal, a 2nd, in large part unknown definition that very much differs from the phrase’s commonplace utilization to imply a retreat. This definition is now handiest spoken via elder generations of Tagalog audio system to remind the youngsters to scrub up after consuming.

Those 5 phrases are handiest the top of the iceberg relating to an entire trove of unusual phrases a few of the other Filipino languages. For some other phrase you’re now not acquainted with, Google Translate can lend a hand—it’s beautiful inclusive in the way it covers now not handiest Filipino, but additionally different languages within the nation in Cebuano and Ilocano, and in all probability extra to come back.

Bridge the distance between languages and be told unfamiliar phrases via trying out Google Translate right here.