
Want to know more about Filipino food culture? Then you’ll have to get familiar with some Filipino food terms. But first, here’s a brief background on the Philippines.
The Philippines, which is a group of appromixately 7,640 islands in southeast Asia, was colonized by Spain in the 16th century and named after King Philip II. The Spanish influence can still be seen in many areas of Filipino culture. Most Filipinos are Catholic due to Spanish colonization. Its national language, Tagalog (pronounced ta-GA-log), has many words that are similar to Spanish. Many last names of Filipinos are also Spanish, like Lopez or Rodriguez. Even traditional Filipino dishes show the great influence left by Spain.
Japan and the United States also colonized the Philippines and left their mark in Filipino culture and cuisine.
Filipino cuisine
Filipino cuisine is the original fusion cuisine. It not only reflects the influence of the Spaniards, Japanese and Americans; but also neighboring Asian countries like China and India.
Filipino food tends to lean towards salty, sour, bitter or sweet flavors. The Philippine national dish, adobo, epitomizes the salty and sour flavors with its generous use of soy sauce and vinegar.
Rice is a staple to any Filipino meal, even for breakfast (like silogs), and is often topped with a flavored, saucy protein like adobo.
Filipinos are known to eat at all times of the day. Besides breakfast, lunch and dinner, there are in-between meals or snacks enjoyed at all times of the day called “merienda.”
Filipino food terms (Tagalog)
Expand your international dining vocabulary with these basic food-related words translated from English to Tagalog.
meat – karne
- pork – baboy
- beef – baka
poultry – manok
- turkey – pabo
- duck – pato
- chicken – manok
seafood – pagkaing-dagat
- fish – isda
- shrimp – hipon
- oyster – talaba
- shellfish – “shellpish”
meatless/no meat – walang karne
- vegetables – gulay
- fruits – prutas
- eggs – itlog
- tofu – tofu
- nuts – mani
- vegetarian – vegatarian
- vegan – vegan
drinks – inumin
- water – tubig
- alcohol – alak
- beer – serbesa
- wine – alak
other eating/dining-related terms
- yes – oo
- no – hindi
- good – mabuti
- yummy – masarap
- eat – kumain
- cook – magluto
- I’m hungry – gutom na ako
- I’m full – busog na ako
- more – higit pa
- less – mas kaunti
- only – lamang
- please – paki
- thank you – salamat
- baked – nagluto
- fried – pinirito
- grilled – inihaw
- roasted – inihaw
- steamed – sumingáw
- hot – mainit
- warm – mainit
- cold – malamig
- bitter – mapait
- salty – maalat
- spicy – maanghang
- sweet – matamis
- allergic – alerdyik
- bathroom – banyo
Filipino food to try
- adobo – meat (usually chicken or pork) cooked in vinegar and soy sauce
- lechon – roasted pig with crispy skin
- pancit – Filipino noodles
- sisig – sizzling grilled meat in lemon guice or viengar
- tapsilog – meat, garlic rice and a fried egg
- pan de sal – Filipino bread rolls
- halo-halo – Filipino ice cream sundae
- ube – purple yam
Interested in learning about other cuisines around the world? Discover food terms from other countries here.
Ube Donuts: purple glaze all in my brain
Ube donuts (also ube doughnuts) have gained prominence as international flavors became more sought after…
Ube Pancakes: flap these purple jacks
Ube pancakes, a purple version of the traditional breakfast pancake, have gained mainstream attention thanks…
Ube Ice Cream: stay cool in these shades of purple
Ube ice cream is the most popular type of ube dessert across the world. While…
Moringa (a.k.a Malunggay): the new green superfood on the block
Where Can I Get it? | How Can I Make It? What is moringa? Moringa (technically moringa oleiferaa.k.a….
Pandan: eat your greens in a sweet new way
Know what pandan is and where to buy it. Find out what pandan leaves taste like including…
Ube: purple yam is what’s for dessert
What is ube? Ube is a naturally purple-colored tuberous root also known as the purple…

Kristina Reynolds is the Founder & CEO of Glutto and an alumna of the University of California, San Diego. She writes articles & posts for Glutto Digest with insights from fellow industry experts. Furthermore, she is the author of The Fittest Food Lovers: How EVERY BODY Can be Incredibly Fit and Still Enjoy Food, a collaborative philanthropic book with proceeds going to charities that fight world hunger.
0 Comments