Kapampangan Words

Tamalis or Bobotu This Kapampángan holiday dish is known by two names which reflect the intersection of two foreign influences on Kapampángan language, culture, and cuisine. One of its names is even associated with voting due to its similarity to the Kapampángan word for “vote”! TAMÁLIS • (tuh-MAH-lis) or BÓBÓTU • (BOH-BOH-too) a Kapampángan dish … Read more

Another twin-word pair! Did you know that Kapampángan has two words for light which distinguish between natural and artificial light? SÁLÂ • (SAH-la’)light (radiant source; natural), brightness, clarityTagálog (Filipino): liwánag SULÛ • (soo-LOO’)light (point source; artificial)Tagalog (Filipino): ílaw Usage notes“Sálâ” is used for natural and very radiant sources of light, such as sunlight and moonlight. … Read more

Patcu Pampanga When “Christmas Capital” meets “Culinary Capital”, you get food literally named after Christmas! Swipe for a video on how to make patcu, the Kapampángan Christmas crêpe! PATCU • (puht-KOO)Kapampángan Christmas crêpe A patcu is a traditional Kapampángan Christmas delicacy only made in the towns of Guagua and Santa Rita. It is a crêpe … Read more

Bayit FALSE FRIENDS ALERT! While the Tagálog root word “baít” means “good, kind” (as in mabaít), the Kapampángan root word “bait” means “to be born” (as in mibaít)! BAIT / BAYIT • (buh-YIT)to be bornTagálog (Filipino): panganák (root word: anák “child”), sílang False Friends:In Tagálog, baít is the root word for “good, kind” (as in … Read more

Lubenas  An ethereal smaller display of intricate lanterns in each Kapampángan town gave rise to the famous Giant Lantern Festival of the City of San Fernando. From minute and magical to big and bright, the Kapampángan Christmas is truly for all shapes and sizes! LUBÉNAS • (loo-BEH-nuhs)a Kapampángan Christmas procession of Christmas lanterns or parul … Read more