Kapampangan Words

Ginu  How do you say “God” in your language? GINU • (gi-NOO)lord, master; the Lord, GodHispanicized spellings: Guinu/GuinoSynonym: DiosTagálog (Filipino): Panginoón, DiyosTagálog cognate: ginoó (gi-noh-‘OH) “gentleman” Kapampángan ExpressionGinú ko! / Nú ko! [Kap]Diyos ko! / Juskó! (colloquial) [Tag]My God! / Ugh [Eng] This Kapampángan expression is often used like “ugh god” to express annoyance or … Read more

Pasiun The most significant piece of Philippine literature that is featured during Holy Week is the Pasiun/Pasyon, an epic of Christ’s Passion written in the different languages of the Philippines and chanted solemnly throughout the Holy Week. PASIUN / PASYUN • (puh-SHOON)a Kapampángan / Filipino epic narrative of Christ’s Passion that is chanted during the … Read more

Mayap Did you know that one of the Kapampángan words for “good” is related to “health” or “wellness”? MÁYAP • (MAH-yuhp)good, well, nice (intrinsically/morally)Root: áyapContraction: mápTagálog (Filipino): mabúti (good, not bad/evil), magandá (“beautiful”, used for greetings) Noun FormKÁYAP • (KAH-yuhp)(1) goodness (physical and moral)(2) wellness, health; (to) healRoot: áyapContraction: kápTagálog (Filipino): (1) kabutíhan (“goodness”, root: … Read more

BURILIUS / BURÍLYUS • (boo-REE-lyoos)local flagellum or whip made of bundled cylindrical bamboo rodsTagálog (Filipino): bulyós EtymologyFrom Spanish buríos (burillos in Honduras), plural of burío (burillo in Honduras), a Central American tree (Heliocarpus appendiculatus) from which ropes are made from its bark. You may want to read: Palaspas

The famous Lenten rites of San Fernando where penitents are nailed on the cross originate from this play staged every Holy Week depicting the Passion of Christ. SINÁKULU • (sih-NAH-koo-loo)Passion play, a Filipino dramatization of the life, suffering, and death of Jesus ChristTagálog (Filipino): senákulo EtymologySpanish cenáculo “cenacle, room in Jerusalem traditionally held to be … Read more