Deciphering the Filipino Gay Lingo

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:



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



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; the slang is often called to an old gay man)

Pagoda Cold Wave Lotion - Pagod (tired)



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.



Here are some sample of Filipino game songs translated in gay lingo!



Bubukesh and floweret ~ Bubuka ang bulaklak (the flower will open)
Jojosok ang reynabelz ~ Papasok ang reyna (the queen will enter)
Shochurva ang chacha ~ Sasayaw ng chacha (she willl dance chacha)
Pa jempot jempot fah ~ Pa kembot kembot pa (with swinging hips)
Boom tiyayavush chenes ~ Boom ti yah yah

Song Title: Pen Pen de Sarapen ~ Rhyming chant like eenie meenie miney mo
Pen pen de chorvaloo ~ Pen pen de sarapen
De kemerloo de eklavoo ~ De kutsilyo, de almasen (kutsilyo=knife, almasen=warehouse)
Hao hao de chenelyn de big yuten ~ Haw, haw de karabaw de batuten (karabaw=water buffalo, batuten=stinky)
Sfriti dapat iipit ~ Sipit namimilipit (claws that pinch)
Goldness filak chumochorva ~ Ginto`t pilak namumulaklak (gold and silver flourishing)
Sa tabi ng chenes ~ Sa tabi ng dagat (next to the sea)
Shoyang fula, talong na fula ~ Sayang pula, tatlong pera (red skirt, three pesos)
Shoyang fute, talong na mafute ~ Sayang puti, tatlong salapi (white skirt, three pesos)
Chuk chak chenes, namo uz ek ~ Sawsaw sa suka, mahuli ay taya (dip in vinegar, last is out)

Song Title: Tagu-taguan (hide and seek)
Shogu-shoguan ~ Tagu-taguan (hide and seek)
Ning ning galore ang buwan ~ Kabilugan ng buwan (fullmoon)
Pagcounting ng krompu ~ Pagbilang ng sampu (after i count to ten)
Naka-shogu na kayey ~ Nakatago na kayo (you're already hidden)
Jisa ~ isa (one)
Krolawa ~ dalawa (two)
Shotlo ~ tatlo (three)
Kyopat ~ apat (four)
Jima ~ lima (five)
Kyonim ~ anim (six)
Nyotert ~ pito (seven)
Walochi ~ walo (eight)
Syamert ~ siyam (nine)
Krompu ~ sampu t(en)
Mga beki, andetrax na si atashi ~ Mga bata, andyan na ako! (kids, I'm coming!)



GAY LINGO SAMPLE:



Tom Jones ang mga bekla kaya gora ever sa mall para lumafang. Una nilang jonta ang nyudkort, kaya lang maraming utaw. Go naman sa Nyorbaks, kaya lang can't afford pala ang drama ng iba. Sey nga ni Kimberly, Mahalia Mendez daw ng kape, juwi na lang siya later para mag-Nescafe. Warla ngayon si Georgette, ang Rica Boom Boom ng federasyon. Tom Cruise na talaga siya't wai na patience, kaya shuwag ever siya sa kanyang chimini ah ah. "Yaya, dalhin mo ditech ang anda," sey ng bakla.

Translation:
"The gays are very hungry so they went to the mall to eat. First they went to the food court, but there's a lot of people. Then they went to Starbucks but most of them can't afford the price. Kimberly said that coffee is expensive, that's why she'll just drink Nescafe at home. Georgette is not present, the prettiest of all gay. She was too hungry and was very impatient that's why she called her maid. "Yaya, bring the food here" says the gay."
Baboo!