GIGIL

pronounced GHEE-gheel, not jee-jeel

Gigil refers to the trembling or gritting of the teeth in response to a situation that overwhelms your self-control. It’s been commonly described as an irresistible urge to squeeze something cute.

When a Filipina sees a cute baby, she feels a barely controllable desire to pinch the baby’s cheeks and has a hard time controlling herself. What she’s experiencing is called panggigigil.

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PASALUBONG

Ang pasalubong ay isang alaala o “souvenir” na ibinigay ng bagong dating na galing sa paglalakbay sa ibang pook o bansa.

root word: salubong (to welcome)

pasalubong
homecoming treat, souvenir

When Filipinos go on a trip or live overseas, they are expected to bring back gifts on their return.  That’s pasalubong!

It’s a big deal. If you don’t bring pasalubong to people who welcome you, they’ll think you never thought of them while you were away.

Peanut Kisses & Peanut Fingers
Pasalubong from Bohol: Peanut Kisses & Peanut Fingers

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MAARTE

The Tagalog word maarte originally meant artful or artsy. But it is now used to describe someone, especially a young woman, who can be nitpicky and by extension pretentious. It has a negative connotation, but not a very strong one.

maarte
pretentious, finicky
fastidious, high maintenance

maarte
persnickety, fussy

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MATARAY

An adjective used to describe women who are contemptuous in speech.

root word: táray (arrogance or churlishness)

Kataray…
Napakataray…
How prickly…

Ang taray niya!
My, she’s so sassy!


The Tagalog word mataray is used to describe women who answer you back in a sharp, snappy way.

Filipino women are socially expected to be nice and modest. Any woman who answers back bluntly or brusquely is given the label mataray and is associated with pretentiousness and bitchiness.

A Filipina actress who has iconically managed to use her mataray image as an asset is Maricel Soriano.

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