Language is not always straightforward, not just for Tagalog but for any language in general. Inserting idioms into your lexicon is one way to add some color and enhance the meaning and tone of your message. The variety of idioms in Tagalog, also called sawikain or idyoma, from everyday observations to subtle insults, is a testament to the richness and depth of the language.
Sawikain are phrases whose meanings are not directly inferred from the literal meanings of the words that make them up. Understanding and using sawikain can enhance your fluency in Tagalog and allow you to communicate more naturally and effectively.
Why Learn Idioms in Tagalog?
1. Cultural Insight
- Sawikain are deeply embedded in Filipino culture. They often reflect societal values, historical contexts, and shared experiences.
2. Enhanced Communication
- Using sawikain in conversations can add color to your speech and make it more engaging. It shows that you have a deeper understanding of the language and can connect with native speakers on a more meaningful level.
3. Improved Fluency
- Mastering idiomatic expressions is a mark of advanced language proficiency. It demonstrates that you can go beyond basic communication and appreciate the subtleties of the language.
10 Idioms in Tagalog To Use In Daily Conversations
1. Balat Kalabaw - shameless, indifferent
- Balat means skin, and kalabaw refers to the carabao or the water buffalo. The idiom literally means “carabao-skinned.”
- Because of the carabao’s ability to work in the fields despite the harsh heat, they are perceived to have very thick skin. This is similar to how a person might be impervious to any kind of shame.
- This idiom can also be used to describe someone who is indifferent to any kind of vexing words or actions.
2. Balat Sibuyas - (emotionally) sensitive
- Like the previous idiom, balat means skin. Meanwhile sibuyas means onion, thus the idiom literally means “onion-skinned.”
- Onion skin is very thin and, thus, can be very easily damaged. This is similar to how someone who is emotionally sensitive can be hurt or cry at the smallest slight.
3. Di Mahulugang Karayom - very crowded
- The idiom’s closest literal translation is “a needle can’t pass through.”
- This idiom is used when there are so many people that a needle can’t even pass through the spaces in between.
4. Takaw Tingin - getting more food than you can handle
- Takaw is to be a glutton, while tingin is to look. The closest literal translation of the idiom is “to be a glutton with your eyes.”
- If someone fills their plate with a lot of food but cannot finish it, that is the definition of takaw tingin.
5. Tulog Mantika - heavy sleeper
- Tulog means to sleep, while mantika usually refers to cooking oil.
- When exposed to a cool environment, cooking oil turns into a solid, thus considered “asleep.” To be able to use it, you need to “wake up” the oil. This is similar to how a heavy sleeper needs a lot of cajoling to wake up.
- Mantika can also refer to the oil used for massaging, usually coconut oil. These are usually stored in a small glass bottle. Before you can use it, you have to warm the bottle with your hands to melt the oil inside.
6. Isang Kahig, Isang Tuka - no savings or stock
- The idiom literally means “one scratch, one peck.”
- This is a common expression used in the Philippines where there are a lot of impoverished families who are only earning enough to just get by or basically living paycheck to paycheck. This is similar to how a chicken scratches the ground for food, which it immediately eats.
7. Matalas ang Dila - someone who says hurtful words
- Matalas means sharp, while dila means tongue. Thus, the literal meaning is “sharp-tongued.”
- Knives are sharp. Thus, a person who often says insulting words are perceived as having knives for tongues.
8. Butas ang Bulsa - no money, expensive
- Butas (adjective) means having a hole or full of holes, while bulsa means pocket. The overall literal meaning becomes “a pocket full of holes.”
- If your pocket is full of holes, then your money is sure to slip through. Thus, this idiom is used to indicate that you have no money.
- For example:
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Hindi ako kumakain sa labas dahil butas ang aking bulsa. |
I do not eat out because I don’t have money. |
- This idiom can also be used to describe something that is so expensive. Simply add “nakaka-” to butas and use ng instead of ang.
- For example:
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Nakakabutas ng bulsa naman ang presyo ng pagkain nila. |
The price of their food is way too expensive. |
9. Makati ang Paa - full of wanderlust
- Makati means itchy, while paa refers to feet. The overall meaning thus becomes “itchy-footed.”
- This idiom refers to someone who often travels as if their feet are too itchy to stay still in one place.
10. Kwentong Barbero - imaginary stories
- Kwentong’s root word kwento means story, while a barbero is a barber. Thus, the literal meaning is “barber’s story.”
- Barbers either make small talk or chat (also read as gossip) with their fellow barbers while cutting a customer’s hair. Most of the time, these stories get mixed up, become diluted, or become conflated as the barbers and customers pass them down to other people. Thus, if something is too fantastical, a straight-up lie or hearsay, you call it kwentong barbero.
- Sometimes, it’s also called kwentong kutsero or driver’s story.
Take A Leap
Idioms reveal a lot about the culture embedded in the language. They offer more than just a way to express ideas creatively; they provide a glimpse into the values, traditions, and everyday life of the people who speak the language. By studying idioms, you gain insight into a community’s collective experiences and worldview.
Learning sawikain can enhance your language skills and deepen your cultural understanding. These add richness and depth to your communication, making your conversations more engaging and authentic.
To help you understand idioms better, you need a better grasp of the basics of Tagalog first. To do that, you need Turing Wika.
Turong Wika is a language-learning app that focuses on teaching Tagalog, or more specifically, conversational Tagalog. From learning basic vocabulary to mastering verb tenses, Turong Wika has everything you need to help integrate and understand idioms better.
If you find the lessons slipping from your mind, you can always consult the Cheat Sheet and refresh your knowledge. For engaging challenges, go to the Practice feature and pick a topic to work on.
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Learn the ropes of using idioms. Click the button below to download the app now!
