The Tagalog language has a vast number of synonyms.
Synonyms can be created in a number of ways. One interesting way synonyms are made is by introduction of vocabulary from other languages. For example in English, because of England’s history of being a conqueror and being conquered by foreign kingdoms, the language has absorbed vocabulary from the languages of the conquerors or conquered. When England was ruled by the Normans from France, the elite spoke Norman French, which was Latin-based while the peasants spoke Old English, which was Germanic-based. The lower classes of England would later absorb the French words into their own language. England was also part of the Roman Empire. These are reasons why English has so many vocabulary from Latin, French and Germanic languages.
Tagalog and other languages in the Philippines, on the other hand, had a history of influences from Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and from the Chinese. Then the language/s would be radically changed again when the Spaniards conquered the archipelago for 300 years and then by the Americans for 50 years. So within that time, Tagalog (and other Philippine languages) absorbed vocabulary from Malay, Arabic, Sanskrit, Chinese languages, Spanish and English among others.
Comparisons
This article will be listing the various synonyms found in the Tagalog language. The list of synonyms would usually compare each Eastern/Original synonym, which is from either Malay, Chinese, Arabic, Sanskrit, other Asian languages or even an original Tagalog word with synonyms from Spanish and English.
It should also be noted that in spoken Tagalog, the Spanish or English equivalent is usually preferred. The words in the Eastern/Original column are mainly used in formal written articles especially for Filipino classes in school.
NOTE: If there are any errors, please inform me.
| Eastern/Original | Spanish-based | English-based | Translation |
| pluma* | bolpen | pen | |
| banyo* | CR (comfort room) | bathroom | |
| agham | siyensiyes | science | |
| aklat | libro | book | |
| aklatan | laybrari | library | |
| ama | tatay ** | father | |
| awit | kanta | song | |
| baka | siguro | maybe | |
| barangay | barrio* | village/suburb | |
| bisig | braso | arm | |
| bughaw | asul | blue | |
| dalaw | bisita | visit | |
| damit | kamisa | shirt | |
| dingding | pader | wall | |
| guro | maestro* | titser | teacher |
| halaga | presyo | price | |
| ina | nanay ** | mother | |
| kinakabahan | nerbiyoso | nervous | |
| lunti | berde | green | |
| mag-aaral | estudiyante | student | |
| mahalaga | importante | important | |
| paaralan | eskuwela(han) | school | school |
| padjak | bisikleta | bicycle | |
| pamahalaan | gobiyerno | government | |
| pamantasan | unibersidad | university | |
| pamaypay | abaniko | fan | |
| parisukat | kwadrado | square | |
| pinggan | plato | plate | |
| pogi | gwapo | handsome | |
| salimbabaw | eroplano | airplane | |
| sandata | armas | weapon | |
| saya | palda | skirt | |
| tabak/kalis | espada | sword | |
| talatinigan | diksyonaryo | dictionary | |
| tinig | boses | voice | |
| ube | biyoleta | purple/violet | |
| unggoy | tsonggo | monkey | |
| upuan, salumpuwit* | silya* | chair | |
| watawat | bandila | flag | |
| wika | lingwahe | language |
*Not used as much anymore in spoken conversations
** Actually originated from Nahuatl, introduced via Mexican Spanish
This is not a complete list of synonyms as there is literally a longer list. This is just a list of some of the more common words spoken in everyday usage.
Synonyms may refer to the same thing but with different characteristics. For example, pader may refer to a stone wall while dingding may refer to a wall made of wood or plaster. Or how unibersidad refers to a university while a pamantasan is an institute.
Nowadays, when using numbers, days of the week, months or colours, Filipinos majority of time use either the Spanish but increasingly popular, English.
JonaTagalog 