Kenyo Vocabs: 'Pumarine' ka na sa Bulacan!

By: Caitlyn Rose Apuntar

Bulakenyo vocabulary are Tagalog terms that are regularly used in Bulacan but are not as frequent in everyday conversations in the country's other Tagalog-speaking provinces. These words may also be known in other Tagalog-speaking provinces. However, these are not used as frequently or in the same context as they are in Bulacan.

Bulakenyos are characterized as being poetic and having a strong affection for the Tagalog language, which helps to preserve the language's grace. The title of this Bulakenyo vocabulary, 'pumarine,' is one of the most common Bulakenyo expressions that means to come here.

Study up on your Filipino / Tagalog by reading through these 10 examples of Bulakenyo vocabulary.

1. Inin

Meaning / English Translation: Inin – to be fully cooked / fully ready (as in rice).

Example: Na-inin na po ang sinaing. Maaari na po tayong kumain. (The rice is fully cooked. We can now all eat.)

2. Supil

Meaning / English Translation: supil – headband.

Example: Ang ganda ng supil nya. (Her headband looks nice.)

3. Kilik

Meaning / English Translation: kilik – to carry against one’s hips.

Example: Paki kilik nga ang aking sanggol. (Please carry my baby.)

4. Pangko

Meaning / English Translation: pangko – carried in one’s arms.

Example: Paki pangko ang prinsesa at inaantok na. (Please carry my princess as she is already sleepy.)

5. Tahip

Meaning / English Translation: tahip – up and down movement of rice grains being winnowed on a flat basket to remove the rice hulls / husks.

Example: Tahipin mo na ang bigas para mas malinis ang isasaing mamaya. (Winnow the rice already to remove the hulls, so that it’s cleaner when we cook it later.)

6. Hilam

Meaning / English Translation: hilam – pain in the eyes due to accidental application of soap / other chemicals, as if while washing the face (hilamos)

Example: Aray! Nahilam ako. (Ouch! My eyes are in pain as the soap got into my eyes.)

7. Paragan

Meaning / English Translation: paragan – tuck in; (nakaparagan – tucked in).

Example: Dapat naka-paragan ang panloob mong damit. (You should tuck in your undershirt.)

8. Tagasaw

Meaning / English Translation: tagasaw – weaver ants; Also called as “hantik” or “Ibok” in other parts of Bulacan.

Example: Nakagat ka na ba ng tagasaw? (Have you experienced being bitten by a weaver ant?)

9. Urong

Meaning / English Translation: urong – to move the plates to the sink for washing. Contextually, in Bulakenyo vocabularies, it is also used to mean the actual washing of the dishes.

Example: Ako na ang mag uurong. (I will do the dishes.)

10. ‘Ika / ‘Eka

Meaning / English Translation: ika / eka – As they say; according to; as per.

Example: “Galit ako sa droga”, eka nga ng pangulo. (“I hate drugs,” said the president.)