Pasalubong, gigil: What Filipino words do you struggle to translate in English?

A teacher instructs a schoolgirl in a high school class

Words like kilig, tampo, pasalubong, and diskarte have no exact English equivalents. Credit: Monkey Business Images

In this episode of Usap Tayo, we explore uniquely Filipino words that cannot be directly translated into English, in line with International Translation Day.


Key Points
  • International Translation Day on 30 September is observed by the United Nations to honour translators and their role in fostering unity, dialogue, and peace among nations.
  • Words like kilig, tampo, pasalubong, and diskarte have no exact equivalents in English.
  • Experts explain that untranslatable words are deeply tied to cultural, historical, and social contexts that shape each language.

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