20 English Words You Didn't Know Came From the Philippines!

Summary

The video presents 20 words and expressions that it connects to Filipino languages, culture, or Philippine English. Its central message is that English has borrowed from the Philippines, just as Filipino languages have borrowed from other languages. The narrator frames the words as examples of Filipino cultural influence and encourages viewers to take pride in them.

The 20 words, from the video’s countdown

1. Amok — Described as going into a violent rage or frenzy. The narrator links it to Malay and Tagalog usage and says it spread beyond the region.

2. Bolo — A long, sharp Filipino knife used for tasks such as clearing land and harvesting crops. The video says American soldiers encountered it during the colonial period and brought the word into wider English use.

3. Abaca — Also called Manila hemp, this strong fiber is presented as an important Philippine product used in items such as ropes, bags, tea bags, and banknotes. The narrator says it was the first Filipino word added to an English dictionary, in 1884.

4. Ylang-ylang — A fragrant flower whose name the video traces to Tagalog. It highlights the flower’s use in perfume, including Chanel No. 5.

5. Arnis — A Filipino stick-fighting martial art. The narrator says it is practiced abroad and notes UNESCO’s recognition of it as intangible cultural heritage.

6. Barong — Short for barong Tagalog, the video describes it as Filipino formal clothing and a symbol of cultural identity.

7. Barangay — Presented as the Philippines’ smallest community or local administrative unit, with a sense of belonging that the narrator says is not fully captured by English words such as “village” or “neighborhood.”

8. Barkada — A close-knit group of friends. The video notes that the word has Spanish roots but has developed a distinctive Filipino meaning.

9. Baon — Food or money taken along to school or work. The narrator emphasizes the care and affection often associated with someone preparing or giving a baon.

10. Balikbayan — A Filipino returning home after living abroad; also associated with the balikbayan box of gifts sent or brought home to family. The video connects the word to migration and family ties.

11. Halo-halo — A Filipino dessert of mixed ingredients, commonly including crushed ice, sweet beans, milk, fruit, and ube. The name is glossed as “mix-mix.”

12. Lumpia — A Filipino-style spring roll, presented as a dish shaped by Chinese influence and made part of Filipino celebrations and family gatherings.

13. Pancit — Filipino noodle dishes with a name the narrator says has Chinese origins. The video links pancit to birthdays and the wish for long life.

14. Sari-sari store — A small neighborhood shop selling a wide variety of everyday goods, often in small quantities. The narrator stresses its social role as well as its commercial one.

15. Jeepney — A distinctive Philippine public vehicle. The video says the word combines “jeep” and “jitney” and describes jeepneys as both transportation and a visible expression of Filipino creativity.

16. Boondocks — A word for a remote or rural area. The narrator traces it to Tagalog bundok, meaning “mountain,” and says “boonies” later developed as a shortened form.

17. Batchmate — Someone from the same school or graduating batch. The video identifies it as a feature of Philippine English and says it was added to the Oxford Dictionary in 2015.

18. Carnap — A term meaning to steal a car, which the narrator says originated in the Philippines and was added to the Oxford Dictionary in 2015.

19. Comfort room — The Philippine English expression for a public toilet. The video contrasts it with terms such as “restroom” and “toilet” used in the United States and Britain.

20. Videoke — A video-based karaoke machine or activity. The narrator attributes its creation to Roberto del Rosario in 1975 and distinguishes it from karaoke by the addition of video.

Overall takeaway

The video uses examples from everyday speech, food, clothing, community life, transportation, and entertainment to argue that Filipino words and cultural practices have traveled beyond the Philippines. Its main lesson is that Filipino English and Filipino cultural vocabulary are presented as creative contributions to global language and culture.

Speakers and sources featured

• Speaker: One unnamed narrator or host; no other speakers or interviewees are identifiable in the subtitles.
• Sources and people mentioned by the narrator: Oxford Dictionary/Oxford English Dictionary, UNESCO, American dictionaries, unnamed historians, American soldiers, and Roberto del Rosario. Chanel No. 5 is also mentioned as an example of perfume using ylang-ylang.