Most common health terms translated to Filipino

Some Filipinos refer to the language as “intellectual Manila Tagalog” — and for good reason.

Filipino as spoken in the capital is interspersed with a lot of English terms, even in daily conversations between Pinoys born and raised.

This is certainly the case in topics like health, where locals are wont to say “exercise” just as much as “ehersisyo.”

The list below is a compilation of the most common health terms in Filipino for when you’re stumped for the vernacular term of the symptom you’re experiencing.

Filipino words are usually pronounced the way they are spelled.

sakit pain/ illness “Karamdaman” is also another word for illness.

masakit painful may sakit = the state of being sick

– stroke Most Filipinos use the English term.

– sore eyes or conjunctivitis Most Filipinos use the English term.

malabo poor/blurry malabo ang mata = poor eyesight

hatsing/ bahin sneeze humahatsing/ bumabahin = sneezing

lalamunan throat makati ang lalamunan = scratchy or itchy throat

malat hoarseness namamalat ang boses = hoarse voice

pasta (dental tooth filling) magpapapasta = to undergo dental restoration by having a dental filling

puso heart sakit sa puso = heart problem

pangangalay fatigue; also numbness Often felt when one part of the body is stuck in the same position for too long

hapdi (a stinging sort of pain) mahapdi ang mata =refers to the type of pain when your eye stings

mahapdi ang balat =refers to the type of pain when your skin stings, as in minor burns

mahapdi ang sikmura = stomach pain that often refers to ulcer

makati itchy makati ang balat = itchy skin

sikmura/ tiyan stomach sakit sa simura = stomach pain

pangangasim ng sikmura/ pangangasim ng tiyan heartburn/ acid reflux asim = sour

buntis pregnant pagbubuntis = the state of being pregnant

pampalabnaw ng dugo anticoagulant/ blood thinner

kasukasuan joint sakit sa kasukasuan = joint problem

injury pinsala pinsala sa paa = foot injury

pasma – This is a well-known Filipino folk illness and is not part of Western medicine. Musculoskeletal spasm may be the closest term for it.

pasmado – The state of having “pasma” (see description above). “Pasma” is often the reason cited behind hand tremors, sweaty palms, numbness, and pain.