While most Filipinos know the word “lolo” in Tagalog as “grandfather”, it actually means a completely different thing in Kapampángan—courtship!
Filipinos have a very elaborate and valued culture of courtship, one that involves many stages of proving their love before they win the hearts of the objects of their affection. This is traditionally done through different rituals; one that always comes to mind is a young man serenading a young woman looking out the window during a home visit.
LOLO • (LOH-LOH)
to court or woo a love interest
Tagálog (Filipino): lígaw
False Friends:
Tagálog (Filipino):
LÓLO = grandfather
maglólo = grandfather and grandchild
(The Kapampángan word for “grandfather” is “ingkúng“)
Kapampángan:
LÓLÓ = root word for “courtship”
máglóló (long a!) = suitor
(The Tagálog (Filipino) root word for “courtship” is lígaw)
Derived words:
MÁGLÓLÓ – (n.) suitor
Tagálog: manlilígaw
PÁGLÓLÓN – (n.) person being courted Tagálog: nilíligáwan
PÁMAGLÓLÓ – (n.) courtship
Tagálog: panlilígaw
Verb conjugation
maglóló, máglóló, miglóló – to court or woo a love interest (Actor Focus)
paglólon, páglólon, piglólon – to court or woo a love interest (Object Focus)
Example sentence:
Alá pang máglóló kéka? [Kap]
Walá pa bang nanlílígaw sa’yo? [Tag]
Don’t you have any suitors yet? / Isn’t there anyone courting you yet? [Eng]
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