Kapampangan Words

Marilo It was Yellow Day yesterday! Did you know that the Kapampángan and Spanish/Galician words for ‘yellow’ are similar but not related? Here are two words for “yellow” in Kapampángan! How do you say “yellow” in your language? False Cognates: “yellow”Kapampángan: MARILÓ Spanish: AMARILLO& Galician: MARELO It may look like Kapampángan mariló was borrowed from … Read more

Sunis Happy World Music Day! This Kapampángan word encompasses different musical concepts! Atin Cu Pung Singsing (Kapampángan Folk Song) performed by world-renowned Kapampángan singer Lea Salonga (@msleasalonga) SÚNIS • (SOO-nis)music, sound, tune, melody, harmony, rhythmSynonym & Tagálog (Filipino): músika (music)Tagálog (Filipino): músika (music), tunóg (sound), tóno (tune), hímig (melody) EtymologyFrom Spanish sones “sounds”, plural of … Read more

Pinanari Did you know that the Kapampángan word for “rainbow” literally means “king’s loincloth”? As we end Pride Month, let’s take a look at one of the most etymologically interesting words in Kapampángan! PINANÁRÎ • (pi-nuh-NAH-ree’)rainbowTagálog (Filipino): bahaghárì EtymologyPinanárî literally means “king’s/sun’s loincloth” (parallel to Tagálog (Filipino) bahaghari) and is a compound of: pináng “loincloth” … Read more

The Kapampangan Naga The old Kapampángan word naga was recorded in Fray Bergaño’s 1860 dictionary as “that figure that is placed on the prow”, likely referring to the naga (serpentine dragon) figureheads found in boats in other Asian cultures. Nagas are semi-divine serpent creatures in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions. Their mortal enemy is the … Read more

Naga Last week was the Dragon Boat Festival! Did you know that dragon figureheads were also found in ancient Kapampángan boats? NÁGA • (NAH-guh)serpentine dragon figure carved on the bow of ancient Kapampángan boats EtymologyFrom Sanskrit नाग (nāgá) “large snake”, via Malay naga “dragon” Background: Boat at the Um Phra Dam Nam Festival in Phetchabun, … Read more