Examples of Filipino Idioms: 15+ Everyday Metaphors

An idiom is a phrase with a different meaning from the literal meaning of the phrase. In English a few examples of idioms are:

• Break a leg - meaning good luck or do your best
• Kick the bucket - meaning died
• Bull in a china shop - meaning reckless or careless

The meaning of an idiom in the mother language and culture has a completely different meaning than the literal definition of the phrase. Every language and culture has its own set of idioms, and Filipinos have their own idioms as well.

Tagalog is one of the many languages spoken in the Philippines. The following are examples of Filipino idioms shown as a list of Tagalog phrases along with the literal meaning and the colloquial meaning of each.

• Bungang-araw or sakit sa balat literally means fruit of the sun. When used in conversation, the phrase means prickly heat.
• Bungang-tulog is literally fruit of sleep. But when used in conversation it signifies or refers to dreams.
• Buto't balat literally translates to bones and skin but is an idiom meaning malnourished (Skin and bones is also an American idiom for someone who is very skinny or malnourished.).
• Makapal ang bulsa translates to thick pocket and is used to describe a person with a lot of cash in their possession.
• Butas ang bulsa is someone with no cash but literally means hole in the pocket.
• Mabigat ang kamay describes someone who is lazy but is literally translated as heavy-handed.
• Magaan ang kamay literally translates to light-handed. The conversational meaning is quite different. It is used to describe someone that is easily provoked and/or easily hits another person.
• Kabiyak ng dibdib literally means the other half of the heart but is an idiom for spouse.
• Daga sa dibdib describes worry or fear. The literal translation is mouse in the chest.
• Bulaklak ng dila has a literal meaning of flower of the tongue. It is used to denote exaggeration.
• Makati ang dila describes a chatterbox or talkative person and is literally translated as itchy tongue.
• Maitim ang dugo translates as dark-blooded but, when used in a conversation, signifies an evil or bad person.
• The Tagalog idiom referring to the father is haligi ng tahanan which translates as the post of the household and the mother is referred to as ilaw ng tahanan, which means light of the home.
• Itaga sa bato refers to remembering forever but holds the literal translation of cast in stone. This reference is an English idiom holding the same meaning.
• Matigas ang katawan refers to a lazy person but literally translates to stiff-body.
• Makati ang paa translates to itchy feet, describing someone that enjoys going places.

Many of the idioms make no sense when translated literally, but many have been associated with a particular trait or characteristic that may be exhibited by a person. Some of the idioms, such as the ones for spouse and father or mother are a romanticized view of the person's status.

In addition to Tagalog, you can find other languages used throughout the Philippines like Cebuano and Ilocano. Explore common Filipino idioms and expressions in these Filipino languages.

• Tubig-tubiang literally means is to have a lot of water. However, it’s used in conversation to signify someone with more money.
• Tig bitay, which means when you hang the tightest, stands for the few days before the next payday.
• Utok bolinaw means the brains of a fish. However, it is used in conversation to suggest someone with little intelligence.
• Nawong ug tadtaran is an expression used for someone with a wide face. It literally means face like a cutting board.
• Hanginon literally means to be windy. You might use this idiom for someone that is boastful.
• Ti agkutak, isu't nagitlog breaks down to the first one to talk is the guilty one. The literal definition is he who cracks laid the egg.
• Ti kamatis, di agbunga ti mangga refers to how bad families don’t make good people. The literal translation is the tomato plant doesn’t grow mangos.
• The phrase nalpas ti ani, awan ti garami is used to show how you can’t undo some deeds. Literally, this phrase means after the harvest, there is no hay.
• Sasaor banbannog no sabali ti aglamlamot means useless labor if someone else eats from it. This phrase is used when a person gets rewards for another’s work.

The last stage of learning a language is to acquire an understanding of the idioms of the language and be able to use and understand them in conversations with native speakers. This ability shows a true grasp of not only the language but also some level of understanding of the culture as well. Learn more about the Filipino language by looking at examples of Filipino slang words.