Ever heard a Filipino randomly say hoy, lodi! and were left scratching your head? Lodi is Tagalog slang for “idol” (just idol spelled backward), and it’s one of many playful words you’ll hear every day in the Philippines.
As with many languages, slang is a way to shorten words and, for Filipinos, a way to feel connected with friends. If you’re living in the Philippines or planning to, these are the Tagalog slang words you’ll want to know.
Want to see how much you know already? Take our Tagalog slang words quiz first, then keep reading to impress your Filipino friends with these quirky, funny, and common terms you can use daily.
Learning Tagalog is more than memorizing words
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Do You Know Tagalog Slang Words? Test Your Skills With This Quiz!
What Are The Most Common Tagalog Slang Words?
Some of the most common Tagalog slang words include “Oops” – Nyek, “Boyfriend/Girlfriend” – Jowa, “Joking” – Charot, “Food” – Chibog, and “Idol” – Lodi.
But how did you do in the quiz? If you got at least one right, you probably already know that the slang words of Filipinos are a caliber of their own. They usually feature the masterful use of two to three letters, playful modifications of Tagalog words, and Taglish (a combination of Tagalog and English).
Below, we have listed 20 words that we can guarantee you will hear among your friends or colleagues of Filipino descent!
1. Oops – Nyek
Do note that this Tagalog word can also be used interchangeably with nge, nye, or ngek, but they all mean the same thing.
2. Boyfriend/Girlfriend – Jowa
You can use this when referring to your special someone in Tagalog. Additionally, if you want to say that someone is girlfriend/boyfriend material, you can say jowable.
3. Joking – Charot
Also used as char, this word is widely used and is synonymous with the English phrase “just joking” or “just kidding.”
4. Food – Chibog
This can be said to refer to food in Tagalog or to signify eating time.
5. Idol – Lodi
This is the reversed version of the English word “idol.” You can use this word when speaking with someone whom you look up to. For example, you might tell a talented friend, Ang galing mo, lodi! – “You’re so good, idol!”
6. Awesome – Petmalu
This is the reversed version of the Tagalog word malupet or malupit, which is synonymous with the English words “amazing” or “awesome.”
7. Mother – Mumshie
This is a cute way of calling your biological mother or any female who is significantly older than you.
8. Power – Werpa
This word is part of everyday Tagalog conversation and can be used to show the utmost support to someone.
9. Can Do – Keri
When someone asks if you can do something and the answer is yes, you can use this word instead to signify that you are confident you can.
10. Best Friend – Bes/Beshie
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You can use this as a term of endearment for your closest friends. It can be added in both oral and digital conversations.
11. Crazy – Praning
This one is used to describe someone who is out of their mind. Do note that you should use this only with your close friends, as this can be viewed as rude by other people.
12. Gossip – Chika
If you want to ask someone what’s up with them, then you can simply say, anong chika?
13. Big Brother – Kyah
This is a playful take on the Tagalog word kuya or “big brother” in English. You can use this when speaking with men whom you do not know well.
14. Car – Tsikot
This Tagalog slang refers to “kotse” or car in English.
15. Dead – Tigok
Aside from this, you can also use the word dedo to say that something/someone is dead.
16. Handsome/Beautiful – Wafu/Wafa
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You can use this term to refer to someone who is good-looking.
17. No – Dehins
This is another playful take on the Tagalog word hindi or “no” in English.
18. Jesus, Mary, And Joseph – Susmaryosep
This is one of the most used interjections, which combines the Holy Names of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
19. Ghost/Cheap – Mumu
This Filipino slang can be used to refer to ghosts or spirits, but it can also be used to describe something that is of low price or make.
20. Just Because – Basta
If you don’t want to explain something, you can use this word to end a statement.
How Do You Say ‘Slang’ In Tagalog?
The Tagalog word for slang is balbal.
If you want to ask, “How do you say this slang in Tagalog?”, you can say, Paano mo sasabihin itong balbal na ito sa Tagalog?
However, most people don’t use the word balbal nowadays; it’s a rarely used Tagalog word. Instead, you can just ask them, Ano ang mga alam mong slangs sa Tagalog?
More Tagalog Slang Terms: Vocabulary List
Here is a list of common Filipino slang words that can make a tourist sound like a local when visiting the Philippines:
| English Meaning | Tagalog Slang | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| A casual term used to address a close friend. | Bro/Brod/Sis/Sissy | |
| Gossip or casual conversation. | Chika | |
| A young man who is fond of showing off and flirting with women. | Chickboy | |
| Someone who constantly seeks attention or acts boastfully. | Epal | |
| An urge to pinch or squeeze something that is irresistibly cute. | Gigil | |
| A feeling of excitement or butterflies in your stomach. | Kilig | |
| Drunk. | Lasing/Lasheng | |
| Know or understand. | Sabe | |
| Delicious or enjoyable. | Sarap | |
| Come on / let’s go. | Tara | |
| A term used to address an older person, similar to “aunt” or “uncle.” | Tito/Tita | |
| Don’t worry about it. | Wag ka nang mag-alala |
Before using these words, don’t forget that Tagalog slang terms can have different meanings and connotations in different regions and contexts in the Philippines. So, always use them carefully and in the right context.
Decoding The Online Lingo: What Are Some Filipino Internet Slang Words?
Conversations don’t just happen face-to-face anymore, right? A few common Filipino internet slang words are “Hey” – Oi, “Where are you” – Wer na u?, and “God bless you” – GBU.
To prepare you for online discussions in the Filipino community on social media, we have listed below some Tagalog internet slang words that you will undoubtedly encounter on Filipino-managed sites, forums, or online marketplaces.
| English Meaning | Tagalog Slang | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| An informal greeting, similar to “hey” or “hi,” used to get someone’s attention. | Oi | |
| This is an example of code-switching, using both Tagalog and English. It directly translates to “where are you?” | Wer na u? | |
| Another expression that combines English and Tagalog. It refers to “I am here.” | Hir na me | |
| Since the Philippines is a Catholic country, Filipinos love using this expression to wish someone “God bless you.” | GBU | |
| A three-letter slang meaning “share ko lang.” In English, it’s close to “just my two cents.” | SKL | |
| A two-letter question that asks whether the person is “online” or not. | OL? | |
| A three-letter slang standing for “sorry for the late reply.” | SLR | |
| You might think this means “long-playing,” but in the Philippines it’s used to ask “what’s the lowest price” for an item. | LP | |
| This slang is used to say “sure” or “sige” in Tagalog. | Geh |
Tips For Using Tagalog Slang Words
Want more tips for advancing your Tagalog language skills?
Hep hep! (Wait a minute!) Check out these tips before you babble your way into Tagalog fluency.
- Know the context first! You don’t want to sound rude if you’re just trying to be friendly with Filipinos, right? Although some Tagalog slang words mentioned here are not meant for insults, this can depend on the way you use them.
- Some slang words are now Gen-Z slang in Tagalog. Languages all over the world tend to change and adapt according to the latest trendy internet words, too.
- Similar to the previous point, it’s encouraged not to use old Tagalog slang. Young people (and even middle-aged Filipinos) might not understand you. But you can still use it if you’re passionate about learning Tagalog!
- There are also slang words in Filipino (not Tagalog) that may contain other Filipino dialects and languages like Visayan, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, etc.
- Use a language-learning app like Ling to explore which sentences to use them for and other grammar rules before speaking Tagalog slang.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tagalog Slang Words
What Are Some Modern Tagalog Slang?
Common modern Tagalog slang includes gorgy (gorgeous), eme (a filler after a joke), forda (short for “for the person”), sheesh (awe or disbelief), mid lang (mediocre), and dasurv (deserve). These are a fun way to keep up with how younger Filipinos talk today.
What Is The Filipino Slang For Girl?
The most common Filipino slang words for “girl” are bes, beh, teh, ate, and mami. These are casual, affectionate terms used among friends, similar to “girl” or “sis” in English.
What Is Pinoy In Tagalog Slang?
Pinoy is slang for a Filipino person or someone of Filipino descent. It can also describe things made in or associated with the Philippines, as in Pinoy food (Filipino food) or Pinoy music (Filipino music).
What Does ‘Charot’ Mean In Tagalog?
Charot (also shortened to char) means “just kidding” or “just joking.” Filipinos tack it onto the end of a sentence to signal that what they just said was a joke, much like adding “jk” in English.
Is Tagalog Slang The Same As Filipino Slang?
Not exactly. Tagalog slang comes specifically from the Tagalog language, while “Filipino slang” is broader and can include terms from other local languages like Cebuano, Ilocano, and Hiligaynon. Since Tagalog is the basis of the national language, though, its slang is the most widely understood across the country.
Why Do Filipinos Reverse Words In Slang?
Reversing syllables is a popular slang style in the Philippines, giving words like lodi (from idol), petmalu (from malupit), and werpa (from power). This wordplay, sometimes called binaliktad (reversed), started as a playful, insider way of speaking and is now common in everyday conversation.
What Are Tagalog Slang Words?
Tagalog slang words are casual, playful terms Filipinos use in everyday conversation, often built by shortening words, reversing syllables, or mixing Tagalog with English (Taglish). Common examples include ‘lodi‘ (idol), ‘petmalu‘ (awesome), and ‘jowa‘ (boyfriend/girlfriend).
Wrapping Up: Tagalog Slang Words
Let’s stroll down memory lane and recall some of the facts you’ve learned today. First, the Tagalog word for slang is balbal. Then, you’ve learned a few Tagalog slang words like jowa, nyek, chika, keri, praning, beshie, and so on.
The Filipino language borrows heavily from Spanish and English, which gives native English or Spanish speakers a helpful head start with vocabulary. Moreover, many slang words use Taglish, a combination of Tagalog and English, which makes them easier to recognize.
Although the US Foreign Service Institute says that Tagalog is Category III (meaning it will take 44 weeks or 1100 class hours to reach professional proficiency), you can memorize a lot of vocabulary quickly.
Start with these Tagalog slang terms and talk to native Tagalog speakers to become familiar with the pronunciation and the writing!
Discover The Uniqueness Of The Tagalog Language Now!
Petmalu ka talaga lodi! (You’re really amazing!) Now that’s a good combination of Tagalog slang words.
You’re going to need more than just these colloquial terms, unique Tagalog words, and slang words as you step up your Tagalog language skills.
If you want to move from beginner to intermediate quickly, you will need lots of practice and a good handful of Tagalog vocabulary.
So, how can you do this the easy way? With the Ling app, of course! Spend 10-15 minutes in the intermediate and advanced units, and you’ll start seeing progress soon.
The app also contains Grammar and Culture Notes so you can understand what the Tagalog language and culture are all about.
Don’t waste your time and learn the Tagalog language the best way now!
