EXPLORE FILIPINO WORDS IN DEPTH
EXPLORE FILIPINO WORDS IN DEPTH
mister; uncle...
tea (gossip)...
That's the tea; That's the gossip....
Pang-uri
Perpekto, tama, o walang anumang pagkakamali.
/MA-ma/
FIL: Isang magalang na tawag sa isang lalaking hindi kilala o sa isang lalaking kamag-anak, partikular na ang tiyuhin.
EN: mister; uncle
The generic term you shout to get the attention of the jeepney driver ('Mama, para!'), the street vendor, or any random adult male whose name you don't know. It's the male equivalent of 'ale'.
Etymology is debated. Possibly from Hokkien 媽媽 (mā-mah) meaning 'mother', with a local semantic shift, or from a different source.
Can be used for an uncle, but more commonly used in public as a polite but informal address for an unknown man, similar to 'sir' or 'mister'. Stress is on the first syllable.
🇵🇭 Mama, bayad po.
🇺🇸 Mister, here's the fare.
🇵🇭 Pupunta kami sa bahay ni Mama Lando.
🇺🇸 We are going to Uncle Lando's house.
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Pang-uri
Perpekto, tama, o walang anumang pagkakamali.