These are family terms that Filipinos use that are from Hokkien Chinese.
ate = appellation for eldest sister
from a ci (“a” is a prefix for relationships; “ci” means older sister)
ditse = appellation for second eldest sister
from di ci (“di” means second and “ci” means older sister)
kuya = appellation for elder brother
from ko a (“ko” is an appellation for older brother; “a” is a suffix)
diko = appellation for second elder brother
from di ko a (“di” means second and “ko” is an appellation for older brother)
sanse = appellation for third elder sister
from sa ci (“sa” means third and “ci” means older sister)
sangko = appellation for third elder brother
from sa ko a (“sa” means third and “ko” is an appellation for older brother)
siyaho = referential term for elder sister’s husband
from cia hu (“cia” means older sister and “hu” means husband)
ingkong = grandfather
inso = address term for elder brother’s wife
OMG! We also call that store “Akong”
after the old man but he and his wife reportedly went home to China and now his son-in-law is the shopkeep.
Afaik I hear “Amah” and “Kongkong” used often.
My mother’s side of the family, in order of birth:
Mel – KUYANG (Filipino version of KUYA “?”; as referred to by the seven siblings born after him)
Bini – ATE (as referred to by the six siblings born after her)
Isay – DITSE (sounded more like DICHE; as referred to by the five siblings born after her)
Ning – SANSE (as referred to by the four siblings born after her)
Pem – DIKONG (Filipino version of DIKO “?”; as referred to by the three siblings born after him)
Paz – DITE (as referred to by the two siblings born after her); I thought it is another term for DITSE
Luz – ISING (my mother’s appellation; spelling “?”; as referred to by the one sibling born after her)
Belen – (the youngest sibling)
IF there was a sister born after Belen, how would that baby of the family refer to Belen?
IF there was a brother born after Pem, what would his term be for Luz and Belen?
PLEASE provide corrections, and other pertinent info I might have missed.
My parents did not leave us much regarding this matter.
All my child, and niece and nephews know about is my younger sister calling me Kuya; sister and I unable to expound on the subject. My first cousins (still living in Manila) have little to no information to provide.
As a young child in the early 1960’s, I recall going to a local home grocery store two houses from my Lola’s house in San Juan. I have always referred to the elderly Chinese man as “Akong” (spelling “?”); was never informed by parents/aunts/uncles/cousins as to who this quiet gentleman was. I vividly recall the tears running down his cheeks when my mother (was with her at the time) bade him farewell for my family was immigrating to the United States (APR 1967). Is the term spelled correctly (in Fookien Chinese) for grandfather as one would refer to Lolo in Tagalog?
THANK YOU!
Hi! What I know is for the boys is 1) Kuya/Kuyang, 2) Diko/Dikong, 3) Sangko/Sangkong, & 4) Siko/Sikong. For the girls is 1) Ate/Ateng, 2) Ditse/Ditseng OR Dete, 3) Sanse, & 4) Sitse. If all used, you repeat. Like Kuya, Diko, Sanko, Siko, Kuya, Diko, etc… I’m not sure about the Akong part. That sounds like a name. Ingkong is grandfather, and Impong is grandmother.