26 Best Household Items Vocabulary In Tagalog
Original blog post: https://ling-app.com/fil/household-items-vocabulary-in-tagalog/
They say you can learn many things in a Filipino household. So today, let’s learn about them from this household items vocabulary in Tagalog to understand further what makes a “Pinoy na Pinoy” home.
In the latest Spiderman movie, we had a glimpse of what a typical Filipino household looks like through Ned’s and Lola’s houses. But of course, actual Filipino houses are different in the Philippines. From the wooden furniture and decorations to oddly beautiful wall decorations and religious artifacts, a Filipino household is really worth discovering.
So today, we will learn some household items vocabulary in Tagalog. You will also learn some culture behind the words, making things more interesting. Many household items' vocabulary in Tagalog was derived from foreign languages like Spanish and English, making them easier to learn.
So, why don’t we start learning?
Essential Household Items In The Tagalog Language
A Filipino house is not just a structure where people live to survive. For Filipinos, a house is where people can be with their family and take care of each other because a house is their home. So, it’s no surprise that Filipinos are very particular about every household item they own, and that’s what we’re going to begin our lesson with today.
This list of household items vocabulary in Tagalog ranges from traditional to modern household items. It’s also important to learn that most everyday household items do not have Tagalog translations. So, here is the list of standard household items vocabulary in Tagalog:
Abaniko (Fan)
The Philippines is a tropical country with humid temperatures, so Filipinos always have their abaniko with them. It came from the Spanish word abanico, and the Tagalog word for this is pamaypay.
Abaniko is a hand-held fan that can be made of different things. The most common and traditional is the one made of anahaw leaves. There is also another kind which is made of lace or pineapple silk and wood handles.
Aside from beating the heat, abaniko is also used by women back then to cover their faces. Remember that Filipino women were taught to be conservative and modest. When they smile or laugh, they usually use abaniko to cover their face.
Altar (Altar)
The first household item vocabulary in Tagalog that you’ll learn is the altar. There’s no actual translation of the altar in the Filipino language but the pronunciation is different. The pronunciation in Filipino is faster than the English word.
Catholicism was brought to the Philippines by the Spaniards. Now, the Philippines is one of the largest Catholic countries in the world. In fact only a Catholic country in Asia. So, it’s not surprising that one of the first things you’ll see in a typical Filipino house is an altar.
An altar typically has a small crucifix, a small Sto. Niño statue, bible, rosary, candles, prayer books, religious images, and flowers. The altar usually found in a Filipino house is small but it can be bigger. It is very uncommon to see a Filipino house without an altar.
Arinola (Chamber Pot)
Almost every traditional Filipino household has an arinola at their home. It is commonly used as a urinal since the comfort rooms are usually outside the house. Because of this, it’s very inconvenient to go outside to take a pee so, arinola is very useful. When you visit the house of your Filipino grandmother (lola)you’ll more likely to find a chamber pot.
Banig (Mat)
You’ll seldom find a mattress in a traditional Filipino house because they usually use banig. It is a hand-woven mat that Filipinos use for sleeping. Typically, a simple family has one banig in the house but some always have extra banig for guests.
Baunan (Reusable Containers)
If you wanna live a long life in a Filipino household, do not ever lose any baunan or reusable containers that your mom lets you use for your packed food. Native Filipinos will agree that Filipino moms are really weird about plastic containers like Tupperware. They would get angry if you lost it. Even if it is an empty ice creak basin is no difference. Even the comedian Jo Koy has his own story about this.
Baunan is one of the typical household objects that you can find in Filipino houses. These containers are used in different ways. It can be used for your packed lunch in school or at work. During celebrations, these reusable containers are used to take some food home.
Most of all, it can also be used to store leftover food to be put in the fridge. So, don’t be disappointed if you’ll open the fridge and you’ll find an ice cream container with marinated fish inside.
Bayong (Woven Basket)
Another important item in the household is a bayong. It is a woven basket that is typically used by Filipino moms when buying in the market. It is colorful most of the time, and it’s spacious. They can literally put everything inside it.
Bentilador — Electric Fan
Bentilador is also one of the common words you should know when learning about household items vocabulary in Tagalog. The houses of the ordinary or average Filipinos do not use air conditioning units even though it’s usually hot in the Philippines. Instead, they use bentilador or electric fan.
The word bentilador has a Spanish influence. It is preferred more by the ordinary Filipinos because aircon will make electric bills high, so they typically use bentilador. Typical houses are also made of wood so, aircon is not really ideal.
Bilao (Nigo/ Traditional Rice Winnowing)
Another essential household item in a Filipino household is a bilao. It is primarily used to separate the rice grain from its hull. Since rice is a staple in a Filipino meal, this is definitely a must-have in a Filipino household.
Nowadays, Filipinos also use a bilao to put their rice cakes or kakanin such as biko, pichi-pichi, palitaw, and more. Even in these modern times, a bilao is still one of the things that are very essential in Filipino culture.
Bolo
Bolo is a kind of knife that almost every Filipino household has. It is a cutting tool that originated in the Philippines. It can be used to cut different things such as tall grass, coconuts, tree branches, and more.
Bunot (Coconut Husk)
Bunot or a coconut husk is used to make a wooden floor shiny and clean. A traditional Filipino house is not made of tiles or cement. If you go to rural places, even in some old houses in Manila, wooden floors are still used.
It’s pretty easy to use a bunot but it’s tiring and requires lots of energy. You’ll basically scrub the floor but instead of hands, you’ll use your feet. It’s a good exercise because you will be moving a lot. Making these wooden floors shiny and clean using a bunot is a very important task for Filipino children, especially the bunso or the youngest one.
Dekorasyon Sa Dingding or Palamuti Sa Dingding (Wall Decorations)
If you’re a Filipino, or at least visited a Filipino house, raise your hand if you saw a painting or a picture of The Last Supper. How about the big wooden fork and spoon? You’ll typically see these few wall decorations in a Filipino house.
Dekorasyon or palamuti means “decorations” while dingding or pader means “wall.” Filipinos love to decorate their houses, and the most common decorations aside from the two mentioned above are the following:
- Graduation pictures
- Family pictures
- Cross stitches
- Wedding pictures
- Painting of fruits
- Painting of animals like horses
- Painting of angels
Bidyo Geyms/ Mga Laro (Video Games/ Family Game Console)
Although this word does not have a Tagalog translation, I will still include this on the list because it’s very relevant. Aside from the Larong Pinoy or the traditional Filipino games, the video games and family game consoles make the 90s kids’ childhood really memorable.
There’s no actual translation of video games in Tagalog, so they just spell and pronounce them in Tagalog. They also use the word mga laro which means “games,” but this is a general term since laro (games) can also include traditional Filipino games and other kinds of games.
Family game consoles and video games usually have more or less a hundred different games to choose from that can be played by the whole family. The iconic games that are usually included in these consoles are Pacman, Super Mario Bros., Contra, and more.
Kalendaryo (Paper Calendar)
Calendars or kalendaryo in the Filipino language are really essential in a Filipino household. But I’m not talking about just an ordinary calendar. I’m talking about the one with blueprints usually given by companies, bakeries, stores, and more.
There is another kind of calendar that is typically found in a house of a Filipino. This is the calendar from liquor companies like Tanduay. These are the ones with pictures of sexy models. If you’re a native Filipino, I’m pretty sure that you know what I’m talking about.
Karaoke
Don’t get me started on how great Filipinos are when it comes to singing because we’re gonna need more time to discuss that. But, what I’m trying to say is that a Karaoke machine or smart Karaoke is part of every Filipino’s household so, it’s no wonder why they are really good at singing.
Kompyuter (Computer)
Back then, computers are not part of an ordinary Filipino household. but because of the advancement of technology and continuous modernization, it is now one of the most essential household items.
Computers or komputer in Tagalog are really useful nowadays, especially when the pandemic blew up. Students and workers are forced to study and work from home. Aside from educational and work purposes, computers become a source of entertainment for online gamers.
Kulambo (Mosquito Net)
You’re not a true Filipino if you don’t know what a kulambo is. A kulambo or mosquito net that prevents a mosquito from biting you while you are sleeping. Some houses, especially in the rural areas, do not have electricity, so they use a kulambo to have a good sleep.
Aside from a kulambo, they also use a thing called katol or mosquito coil to get rid of mosquitoes at night. It can be bought in a local convenience store for a very affordable price.
Palanggana (Basin)
Back in the days when there was still no washing machine, Filipinos used palanggana or basin to wash their clothes. They usually soak their laundry and leave it for hours before washing it. The word palanggana came from the Spanish word palangana, which means bowl, dishpan, or sink.
Palaspas (Dried Palm leaves from Palm Sunday)
The palaspas are also one of the household items that you’ll usually see in a typical Catholic Filipino house. Palaspas are dried palm leaves that are blessed by a priest during Palm Sunday. You’ll mostly see this hung on their door or on the altar for the entire year until the next Palm Sunday.
Palo-palo (Wooden Laundry Hammer)
Before the washing machine exists, Filipinos have an interesting way to wash clothes and it was through going to the river and using a palo-palo. A palo-palo is a wooden laundry hammer that is used to wash clothes. Even in this modern times, many Filipinos still use this, especially those who are living in rural areas.
The name palo-palo came from the word Tagalog word “palo” which means “hit” or “beat.” It suits its name because when you use this, you’ll beat the clothes to remove the dirt.
Plastik (Plastic Bags)
You’ll be surprised at how many plastic bags are there in a Filipino household. These plastic bags came from groceries, markets, and more. Plastic bags are extremely useful to Filipinos. There are always situations where they need them. We all know that it’s not nature-friendly, so Filipinos reusing them is already a big help to nature. Plus, some companies and cities do not use plastics nowadays.
Plato At Baso (Plate And Glass)
If you’re in a Filipino house right now, take a look at their dish racks and try to find a plate (plato) with flowers printed on them. Try also finding a glass (baso) that used to be a Nescafe jar. If you successfully find either of them, you’re in the perfect place.
Eating utensils, especially plates and glasses, are special in a Filipino household. In fact, there are utensils that you don’t know you have because you’ll only see them on special occasions or when there are visitors. What’s interesting is your mother or grandmother won’t let you use them on regular days.
Pridyeder (Refrigerator)
Another important household item is the refrigerator. Not many families can afford to have one because, aside from its price, it can also make the electric bills high. But, if they had the money and the means to buy some, they’ll surely do because it’s essential in storing food, especially leftovers.
Suyod (Harrow/Fine Comb)
This might not sound very pleasant but let’s still include this in one of the lists of household items vocabulary in Tagalog because it’s important. Filipino children are fond of playing outside (at least for those who are not addicted to online games and gadgets). Because of this, they can easily get head lice, especially young girls. So, most Filipino households have suyod, which are fine combs to easily get rid of the lice.
Tabo (Dipper) and Timba (Bucket)
When you’re in the Philippines, do not expect to see showers and bathtubs all the time because they use a tabo or dipper and timba pail/bucket when taking a bath. You’ll seldom see an ordinary household with showers and bathtubs, so scooping the water from the pail would do the magic if you want to take a bath.
Telebisyon (Television)
Watching television or telebisyon in Tagalog is one of the bindings of Filipino families. They usually gather around the television to watch their favorite dramas. Of course, the arguments between the family members on what channel to tune in to are also a problem they usually have to deal with.
But, at the end of the day, there will always be that one TV show that everybody likes. To name some we have Maalaala Mo Kaya, Encantadia, Mulawin, Ang Probinsyano, Eat Bulaga, and It’s Showtime.
Tsinelas (Slippers)
In the Philippines, slippers are very important. They are not a sandal type, but they have different slippers used in different situations and places. They have slippers for going outside the house, slippers used inside the house, and slippers for the bathroom.
If you’re a Filipino, the most common is the one made with rubber, a white footbed, and straps in different colors. There is also that one nostalgic slipper that I know 90s kids are familiar with, called Rambo.
Walis (Broom)
In a regular Filipino household, there are two types of brooms that you’ll see. The first one is the walis tambo or the whisk broom used inside the house. The second one is called walis tingting or broomstick, which is used outside.
Tagalog Vocabulary Words Related To Household Items
Did you enjoy learning all the household items vocabulary in Tagalog? There are other essential household vocabularies that are very common in Filipinos, like the following:
So, if you wanna learn more, sit back and take a look. Here’s a list for you!
Household Items For The Bedroom
Household Items For The Kitchen And Dining Room
Household Items For The Bathroom
Household Items For The Living Room
Household Items For Electronics And Appliances
Other Household Objects
Feel At Home In The Philippines
Filipinos naturally welcome visitors, but if you want to feel at home, learning Tagalog is the key. So, if you wanna speak Filipino/Tagalog, why not take your next lesson with Ling App?
Ling App is a language learning platform that makes language learning possible despite your busy schedule and other problems. Using this, you can improve and develop your language skills without any hassle.
Every word or Tagalog vocabulary you’ll learn has an English translation and an actual recording from a native speaker. You can also practice what you have learned through dialogues. Most of all, extensive grammar explanations and blogs about the culture will help you speak confidently like the locals.
If you’re planning to go to the Philippines, better start learning Tagalog than be sorry later. So, if you’re interested in learning the Tagalog language, just go to the website or download the Ling App. Just search the app on the Play Store or App Store, and you can start your fun but a meaningful language learning experience.
