Bulakenyo Vocabularies Part 1: ‘ika Nga Namin sa Bulacan!

Last Updated on May 8, 2020 by OJ Maño

Bulacan, as a part of the Tagalog-speaking provinces in the country,  has had its own set of words and accents that set it apart from other Tagalogs. Here are selected Bulakenyo vocabularies that Bulakenyos love to use in their daily conversations.

But before we start with our Bulakenyo vocabularies, here’s a bit of trivia for everyone. The name “Bulakan” was etymologically derived from the Tagalog word “bulak,” which means cotton.  Bulacan was named as such due to the abundance of cotton growing in the region.

Read through these Bulakenyo vocabularies, and brush up on your Filipino / Tagalog.

EDITOR’S NOTE: If you are a Tagalog speaker from another region, it’ll be good to also compare your words with these Bulakenyo vocabularies. Tell us about the similarities / differences in the comments!

#1 ININ

Meaning / English Translation: Inin – to be fully cooked / fully ready (as in rice).

Example: Na-inin na po ang sinaing. Maaari na po tayong kumain. (The rice is fully cooked. We can now all eat.)

#2 SUPIL

Meaning / English Translation: supil – headband.

Example: Ang ganda ng supil nya. (Her headband looks nice.)

#3 KILIK

Meaning / English Translation: kilik – to carry against one’s hips.

Example: Paki kilik nga ang aking sanggol. (Please carry my baby.)

#4 PANGKO

Meaning / English Translation: pangko – carried in one’s arms.

Example: Paki pangko ang prinsesa at inaantok na. (Please carry my princess as she is already sleepy.)

#5 TAHIP

Meaning / English Translation: tahip – up and down movement of rice grains being winnowed on a flat basket to remove the rice hulls / husks.

Example: Tahipin mo na ang bigas para mas malinis ang isasaing mamaya. Winnow the rice already to remove the hulls, so that it’s cleaner when we cook it later.

#6 HILAM

Meaning / English Translation: hilam – pain in the eyes due to accidental application of soap / other chemicals, as if while washing the face (hilamos)

Example: Aray! Nahilam ako. (Ouch! My eyes are in pain as the soap got into my eyes.)

#7 PARAGAN

Meaning / English Translation: paragan – tuck in; (nakaparagan – tucked in).

Example: Dapat naka-paragan ang panloob mong damit. (You should tuck in your undershirt.)

#8 BATO-BALANI

Meaning / English Translation: bato-balani – magnet.

Example: Pinag-aralan nila ang bata-balani sa Agham. They studied magnets during Science class.

#9 TAGASAW

Meaning / English Translation: tagasaw – weaver ants; Also called as “hantik” or “Ibok” in other parts of Bulacan.

Example: Nakagat ka na ba ng tagasaw? (Have you experienced being bitten by a weaver ant?)

#10 TALAMPAKAN

Meaning / English Translation: talampakan – sole of your foot.

Example: Nasugatan sya sa talampakan dahil tumakbo sya sa hardin nang walang sapatos. (She wounded her foot sole when she ran out the garden bare-footed.)

#11 URONG

Meaning / English Translation: urong – to move the plates to the sink for washing. Contextually, in Bulakenyo vocabularies, it is also used to mean the actual washing of the dishes.

Example: Ako na ang mag uurong. (I will do the dishes.)

#12 PULOT-GATA

Meaning / English Translation: pulot-gata – honeymoon after the wedding.

Example: Kamusta ang pulot-gata? (How’s your honeymoon?)

#13 SIPING

Meaning / English Translation: siping – to sleep beside somebody

Example: Dapat kasal muna bago siping. (Get married first before sleeping together in one bed.)

#14 GARA

Meaning / English translation: gara – fancy; in another context, ‘unusual’.

Example: Ang gara ng bahay ng alkalde. (The house of the mayor is really fancy.)

#15 DIKO

Meaning / English translation: diko – how younger siblings would call the 2nd eldest brother, as long as he is not the youngest.

#16 SANGKO

Meaning / English translation: sangko – how younger siblings would call the 3rd eldest brother, as long as he is not the youngest.

#17 DITSE

Meaning / English translation: ditse – how younger siblings would call the 2nd eldest sister, as long as she is not the youngest.

#18 SANSE

Meaning / English translation: sanse – how younger siblings would call the 3rd eldest sister, as long as she is not the youngest.

#19 ‘IKA / ‘EKA

Meaning / English Translation: ika / eka – As they say; according to; as per.

Example: “Galit ako sa droga”, eka nga ng pangulo. (“I hate drugs,” said the president.)

#20 MAGIGI

Meaning / English translation: Magigi – low-moving, sluggish, unhurried, too relaxed. The term “makupad” can also mean the same.

Example: Masyado kang magigi.  Huli na tayo sa ating tipanan. (You’re too slow.  We are already late with our appointment.)

#21 DANTAY

Meaning / English Translation: dantay – placing or resting a leg over something or someone

Example: Hindi ako makatulog kapag walang dantay na unan. (I can’t sleep without a pillow between my legs.)

#22 ATO/INE

Meaning / English Translation: ato – young boy; ine – young girl.

#23 SAUKAN/SAWSAWAN

Meaning / English Translation: saukan / sawsawan – dipping sauce

#24 ALALAUMBAGA

Meaning / English Translation: alalaumbaga – therefore; in conclusion.

Example: Pawang walang katotohanan ang kanyang mga paratang. Alalaumbaga ay sinisiraan lang niya ako. (His allegations were totally absurd. He’s just blabbing me.)

#25 BARIBOT

Meaning / English Translation: baribot – grumpy; irritable; in a bad mood; ill-tempered.

Example: Bakit kaya baribot na naman ang bata? (Why is the kid in a bad mood again?)

#26 SUTIL

Meaning / English Translation: sutil – stubborn; hardheaded.

#27 SAMSAM

Meaning / English Translation: samsam – retrieve / collect things. Used in another context in Bulakenyo vocabularies, it can also mean confiscate / seize.

Example: Dali, samsamin na ang mga nakasampay at nandiyan na ang ulan. (It’s starting to rain, let’s retrieve all the clothes from the clothesline quickly.)

Example in another Context: Sinamsam na ng pamahalaan ang kanyang mga ari-arian. The government has seized all his property.

#28 KALUTO

Meaning / English Translation: kaluto – the recipe. In another context, it can also be used as equivalent of the local term putahe / potahe.

Example: Mga pamanang kaluto ni Lola (Inherited recipes from my grandmother.)

Bulakenyo Vocabularies Part 2!

What other special Bulakenyo vocabularies do you use?

Read: Bulakenyo Vocabularies Part 2: ‘ika Nga Namin sa Bulacan!

Follow our Facebook page as well for the related post. A lot of our fellow Bulakenyos are sharing other Bulakenyo vocabularies with us in their comments. – https://www.facebook.com/bulakenyoph/.

Learn more facets of Bulacan’s rich culture and heritage in our related feature – https://www.bulakenyo.ph/1st-stop-bulacan/.