2. DECIPHERING THE FILIPINO GAY LINGO
BY EMPRESS MARUJA
Gay men in the Philippines, especially those who are
out, speak to each other using a colorful language that they
invented, mixing English, Tagalog, Visayan, and sometimes
even Japanese. Those who would hear (or read) Filipino gay
slang for the first time feel like they are deciphering a Da Vinci
Code.
Just like any slang, Filipino gay lingo started out with replacing
certain words with another term. For example, we say "award"
instead of "embarrassed." They say "bet" instead of "boy
crush." Eventually, gays learn to speak with a colorful
vocabulary, using certain key rules:
3. DECIPHERING THE FILIPINO GAY LINGO
BY EMPRESS MARUJA
The J Law - Replacing the first letter of a word with "J."
Example:
Jowa - Asawa (husband, boyfriend)
Jonta - Punta (to go to a place)
Jubis - Obese
The KY/ NY Law - Replacing the first letter with "Ky" or "Ny."
Example:
Kyota - Bata (Children)
Nyorts - A pair of shorts
4. DECIPHERING THE FILIPINO GAY LINGO
BY EMPRESS MARUJA
The Name Game - Replacing a word with a name (usually
that of a celebrity) that sounds like it.
Example:
Julie Yap-Daza - Huli (to get caught)
Gelli de Belen - Jealous
Carmi Martin - Karma
Tom Jones - Tomguts or gutom (hungry)
Plus - Adding an extra syllable, extra letters, or extra words to
create a different word.
Example:
Crayola - Cry
Thunder Cats - Tanda (an old person; often called to an old
gay man)
5. DECIPHERING THE FILIPINO GAY LINGO
BY EMPRESS MARUJA
The use of gay lingo was first used to avoid having other
people hear what you are talking about, especially when it
comes to sex. This is also a means of defying the cultural
norms and creating an identity of their own. Gay speak
evolves really fast, with obsolete words and phrases being
rewritten and replaced especially when non-gays learn what it
means. Saying "Ano'ng happening" (What are your plans for
tonight) would make you associated with the 1980s. This
language defines the Philippine gay culture, and it would
probably stay that way for quite a while.
It can be use also on songs especially the songs for kids
when they are playing. For example Bubuka ang bulaklak,
Pen Pen De Sarapen and Tagu-taguan.
6. DECIPHERING THE FILIPINO GAY LINGO
BY EMPRESS MARUJA
Here is the translation:
Song Title: Bubuka Ang Bulaklak
Bubukesh and floweret ~ Bubuka ang bulaklak
Jojosok ang reynabelz ~ Papasok ang reyna
Shochurva ang chacha ~ Sasayaw ng chacha
Pa jempot jempot fah ~ Pa kembot kembot pa
Boom tiyayavush chenes ~ Boom ti yah yah
7. DECIPHERING THE FILIPINO GAY LINGO
BY EMPRESS MARUJA
Song Title: Pen Pen de Sarapen
Pen pen de chorvaloo ~ Pen pen de sarapen
De kemerloo de eklavoo ~ De kutsilyo, de almasen
Hao hao de chenelyn de big yuten ~ Haw, haw de karabaw de
batuten
Sfriti dapat iipit ~ Sipit namimilipit
Goldness filak chumochorva ~ Ginto`t pilak
Sa tabi ng chenes ~ Sa tabi ng dagat
Shoyang fula, talong na fula ~ Sayang pula, tatlong pera
Shoyang fute, talong na mafute ~ Sayang puti, tatlong salapi
Chuk chak chenes, namo uz ek ~ Sawsaw sa suka, mahuli ay
24. MORE FILIPINO GAY LINGO
Enter the Dragon / Entourage — pasok (to enter) / come in
Julie Andrew / Jolina Magdangal — mahuli (caught in the act)
Antibiotic — antipatika (bitch)
48 Years / 50 Golden Years / 10,000 — matagal (after a long
time)
Crayola — iyak (to cry)
Thundercats / Chandeliers / Masyonda — matanda (old
people)
Wrangler — gurang (also means old)
Jubis / Juba — taba (fatso)
Jutay / Jutes — maliit (small)
Kangkang — sex
Reyna Elena — ulan (to rain)
X-Men — dating lalaki (formerly a man) now gay
25. MORE FILIPINO GAY LINGO
Morayta / Murriah Carrey — mura (cheap)
Pamintang Durog / Pamenthols — closet gays / acting as men
Backstreet Boys — cute boys at the back
Chiminey Cricket — chimay (maid)
Goodbye Suklay — goodbye
Fayatollah Kumenis — payat (skinny)
Anaconda — ahas (a snake) / traitor
Anong petsa na? — asked when someone is taking too long
to dress up, etc.
Charing/Tienes — jest / a joke / not serious
Kaplang — mali (error) / mistake
Barbra Streisand / Barbara Perez — bara / binara (bluntly
rejected)
26. MORE FILIPINO GAY LINGO
Purita Kalaw — walang pera (broke) / mahirap (poor)
Rica Peralejo — mayaman (rich, from the Spanish word rica)
Chova / Chovaline Kyle — chika lang (small talk)
Cookie Chua / Cookie Monster — magluto (to cook)
Clasmarurut / Klasmarurut — classmate
Cynthia Luster — hindi kilalang babae o lalake (unknown she
or he)
Daot — insulto (insult)
Eksena / Eksenadora — mahilig pumapel / mahilig sumabat
(someone who always likes to figure in a scene)
Emote — mag-inarte pa rin (one who is over-acting)
Karir/Career — sineryoso ang isang bagay like BF or work (to
be seriously involved)
27. MORE FILIPINO GAY LINGO
Lafang — kain (eat)
Lapel — malakas ang boses (someone with a loud voice)
Carry / Keri / Cash & Carry — sige (OK or alright)
Cathy Dennis — ―makati‖ (frisky) or promiscuous
Char / Charot / Charing / Charbroiled — not ok
Liberty / Statue of Liberty — libre (free)
Okray — paninirang puri (criticize)
Lucky Home Partner — live-in partner
In Fairness — pampalubag loob (to console)