SALAWIKAIN

Ang Tagalog ay mayaman sa mga sawikain. Ang sawikain ay mga salita o pagpapahayag na karaniwang ginagamit sa araw-araw.  Ang mga pagpapahayag na mga ito ay nagbibigay, hindi ng tiyakang kahulugan ng bawat salita, kundi ng ibang kahulugan. The introduction and selections on this page were taken from C.S. Canonigo's MGA BUGTONG, SALAWIKAIN, SAWIKAIN at mga PILING TULA (Book I) © 1996 Cebu City, Philippines
A
agaw-buhay -- naghihingalo	between life and death (literal=life about to be snatched away)
anak-pawis -- magsasaka; manggagawa	farmer; laborer; blue-collar worker
anak-dalita -- mahirap	poor
alilang-kanin -- utusang walang sweldo, pagkain lang	house-help with no income, provided with food and shelter
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B
balitang kutsero -- hindi totoong balita	rumor, gossip, false story
balik-harap -- mabuti sa harapan, taksil sa likuran	double-faced person, one who betrays trust
bantay-salakay -- taong nagbabait-baitan	a person who pretends to be good, opportunist
bungang-araw -- sakit sa balat	prickly heat (literal=fruit of the sun)
bungang-tulog -- panaginip	dream (literal=fruit of sleep)
BALAT	(SKIN)
balat-sibuyas -- manipis, maramdamin	a sensitive person (literal=onion-skinned)
balat-kalabaw -- mahina ang pakiramdam, di agad tinatablan ng hiya	one who is insensitive; with dense-face (literal=buffalo-skinned)
buto't balat -- payat na payat	malnourished (literal=skin-and-bone)
BIBIG	(MOUTH)
tulak ng bibig -- salita lamang, di tunay sa loob	insincere words (literal=pushed-by-the-mouth)
dalawa ang bibig -- mabunganga, madaldal	nagger, talkative person (literal=two-mouthed)
BITUKA	(INTESTINE)
halang ang bituka -- salbahe, desperado, hindi nangingiming pumatay ng tao	a person with no moral compunction (literal=with a horizontal intestine)
mahapdi ang bituka -- nagugutom	a hungry person (literal=sore intestine)
BULSA	(POUCH/POCKET)
makapal ang bulsa -- maraming pera	rich, wealthy (literal=with a thick pocket)
butas ang bulsa -- walang pera	poor (literal=with a hole in the pocket)
sukat ang bulsa -- marunong gumamit ng pera, marunong magbayad at mamahala ng kayamanan	someone who knows his ability to pay
BUTO	(BONE)
nagbabatak ng buto -- nagtatrabaho ng higit sa kinakailangan	one who works hard
matigas ang buto -- malakas	a strong person
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K
kidlat sa bilis -- napakabilis	exceedingly fast
kusang palo -- sariling sipag	initiative
KAMAY	(HAND)
mabigat ang kamay -- tamad magtrabaho	a lazy person (literal=heavy-handed person)
magaan ang kamay -- madaling manuntok, manapok, manakit	one who easily hits another person, easily provoked (literal=light-handed person)
mabilis ang kamay -- mandurukot	a snatcher, pickpocket (literal=fast-handed)
malikot ang kamay -- kumukuha ng hindi kanya	one who has the habit of stealing things (literal=listless hand)
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D
di makabasag-pinggan -- mahinhin	a very demure, prim-and-proper  person (literal=someone who can't break a plate)
di mahulugang-karayom -- maraming tao	overcrowded place (literal=where one cannot throw a pin)
DIBDIB	(CHEST/HEART)
pag-iisang dibdib -- kasal	wedding (literal=to be of one heart)
kabiyak ng dibdib -- asawa	spouse (literal=the other half of the heart)
daga sa dibdib -- takot	worry, fear (literal=mouse in the chest)
nagbukas ng dibdib -- nagtapat na nais pakasalan ang kasintahan	a man who proposed marriage (literal=opened his heart)
DILA	(TONGUE)
bulaklak ng dila -- pagpapalabis sa katotohanan	exaggeration (literal=flower of the tongue)
magdilang anghel -- magkatotoo sana	to wish that what has been said will come true
makati ang dila -- madaldal, mapunahin	talkative person (literal = one with itchy tongue)
matalas ang dila -- masakit mangusap	one who talks offensively (literal = sharp-tongued person)
maanghang ang dila -- bastos magsalita	a vulgar person (literal = spicy-tongued person)
matamis ang dila -- mahusay mangusap, bolero	a fast talker (literal = sweet-tongued person)
kaututang dila -- katsismisan	a gossip (literal = farting tongue)
sanga-sangang dila -- sinungaling	a liar
may krus ang dila -- nakapanghihimatong	one who could foretell an event
DUGO	(BLOOD)
kumukulo ang dugo -- naiinis, nasusuklam	a person who hates somebody (literal=boiling blood)
magaan ang dugo -- madaling makapalagayan ng loob	a person with whom one gets along easily (literal=light-blood)
maitim ang dugo -- salbahe, tampalasan	an evil or bad person (literal=dark-blooded)
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H
hampas-lupa -- lagalag, busabos	a bum person, without any goals in life
haligi ng tahanan -- ama	father (literal = post of the house)
I
ilaw ng tahanan -- ina	mother (literal = light of the house)
itaga sa bato -- tandaan	to remember (something) forever (literal=cast in stone)
isulat sa tubig -- kalimutan	to forget (something) forever (literal=write it on water)
ISIP	(MIND/BRAIN)
makitid ang isip -- mahinang umunawa, walang masyadong nalalaman	someone incapable of understanding (literal=narrow-minded)
malawak ang isip -- madaling umunawa, maraming nalalaman	someone who easily understands (literal=broad-minded)
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L
LOOB	(FEELINGS; LITERAL=INSIDE)
malakas ang loob -- matapang	a brave person (literal=strong-willed)
mahina ang loob -- duwag	a coward (literal=weak-willed)
mababa ang loob -- maawain	merciful person (literal=low-hearted)
masama ang loob -- nagdaramdam	a person with a grudge, painful or ill feelings against someone (literal=bad feelings)
mabigat ang loob -- di-makagiliwan	a person with whom one could not get along with (literal=heavy vibes or feelings)
bukal sa loob -- taos-puso, tapat	a sincere person, or one who gives with a pure heart (literal=pure-hearted)
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M
mahabang dulang -- kasalan	wedding
makalaglag-matsing -- nakaka-akit	enchanting look
makuskos-balungos -- mareklamo, mahirap amuin, mahirap pasayahin	hard to please, always complaining
mahaba ang buntot -- laging nasusunod ang gusto, kulang sa palo, salbahe	a person who is a spoiled brat
malapad ang papel -- maraming kakilala na makapagbibigay ng tulong	a person who is very influential
may magandang hinaharap -- may magandang kinabukasan	a person with a bright future
may sinasabi -- mayaman, may likas na talino	a wealthy person or a talented person
MATA	(EYE)
matalas ang mata -- madaling makakita	someone who could easily spot something (literal=sharp-eyed)
tatlo ang mata -- maraming nakikita, mapaghanap ng mali	a fault-finder, cynical person (literal=three-eyed person)
namuti ang mata -- nainip sa kahihintay, matagal nang naghihintay	a person who was stood up (literal=one whose eyes turned white)
matigas ang leeg -- mapag-mataas, di namamansin	snobbish person (literal=stiff-necked)
matigas ang katawan -- tamad	a lazy person (literal=stiff-bodied)
makapal ang palad -- masipag	a busy-body, industrious person (literal=thick-palmed)
maitim ang budhi -- masamang tao, tuso	an evil or bad person (literal=dark-souled)
mababaw ang luha -- madaling umiyak	emotional person (literal=tear-on-the-surface)
MUKHA	(FACE)
makapal ang mukha -- di marunong mahiya	a shameless person (literal= dense-faced)
manipis ang mukha -- mahiyain	a shy person (literal= thin-faced)
maaliwalas ang mukha -- masayahin	a joyful person (literal= bright-faced)
madilim ang mukha -- taong simangot, problemado	a problematic person (literal=dim-faced)
dalawa ang mukha -- kabilanin, balik-harap	a deceptive, two-faced person
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N
nakahiga sa salapi/pera -- mayaman	rich, connotes someone who is spoiled by wealth
nagbibilang ng poste -- walang trabaho	someone who is jobless, literally counting posts
namamangka sa dalawang ilog -- salawahan	a person who is unfaithful
nagmumurang kamatis -- matandang nag-aayos binata o dalaga	an old man/woman insecure about his/her looks and dresses up like a young person
naniningalang-pugad -- nanliligaw	a man courting a woman
ningas-kugon -- panandalian, di pang-matagalan	something that is not permanent, usually connotes a behavior or action not meant to last
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P
panis ang laway -- taong di-palakibo	a very quiet person
pagkagat ng dilim -- pag lubog ng araw	twilight
patay-gutom -- matakaw	glutton
pulot-gata -- pagtatalik ng bagong kasal	honeymoon
putok sa buho -- anak sa labas	an illegitimate child; out-of-wedlock child
PAA	(FEET)
makati ang paa -- mahilig sa gala o lakad	a person who is fond of going places (literal=itchy feet)
pantay ang mga paa -- patay na	one who just died (literal=level feet)
PUSA	(CAT)
nagpupusa -- nagsasabi ng mga kuwento ukol sa isang tao	telling on somebody
saling-pusa -- pansamantalang kasali sa laro o trabaho	temporarily included in a game or work, a term used to refer to little kids fond of joining games or work of grown-ups
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S
sampid-bakod -- nakikisunod, nakikikain, o nakikitira	someone who is privileged to lodge and board in house for free
samaing palad -- malas na tao	an unfortunate person, unlucky person
sampay-bakod --  taong nagpapanggap, hindi mapagkakatiwalaan ang sinasabi	a false, pretentious person
T
takaw-tulog -- mahilig matulog	a lazy person who always wants to stay in bed
takipsilim -- paglubog ng araw	twilight
talusaling -- manipis ang balat	a very sensitive person
talusira -- madaling magbago	a person who easily changes
tawang-aso -- nagmamayabang, nangmamaliit	a person who sneers
TAINGA	(EAR)
matalas ang tainga -- madaling makarinig	one who easily hears the news (literal=sharp-eared)
maputi ang tainga -- kuripot	miser, scrooge (literal=white-eared)
nakapinid ang tainga -- nagbibingi-bingihan	one who plays deaf (literal=closed-eared)
taingang kawali -- nagbibingi-bingihan	one who plays deaf (literal=wok-eared: uses metaphor of the handle of a wok)
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U
utang na loob -- malaking pasasalamat na hindi kayang bayaran ng ano pa man	(as noun) debt of gratitude
"utang na loob" -- malaking pakiusap, madalas ginagamit upang ipahiwatig ang masidhing damdamin ng nakikiusap, tulad ng "parang awa mo na"	(as expression) "please", used to express the deepest feelings of the person asking for a very big favor, equivalent to "have mercy"
ULO	(HEAD)
matalas ang ulo -- matalino	bright, intelligent (literal=sharp-headed)
mahangin ang ulo -- mayabang	arrogant person (literal=air-headed)
malamig ang ulo -- maganda ang sariling disposisyon	in a good mood (literal=cool-headed)
mainit ang ulo -- pangit ang disposisyon	in a bad mood (literal=hot-headed)
lumaki ang ulo -- yumabang	someone who became proud, arrogant (literal=one whose head grew big)
matigas ang ulo -- ayaw makinig sa pangaral o utos	one who is stubborn (literal=hard-headed)
basag-ulo -- gulo, away	chaos, quarrel, fight (literal=break head)
may ipot sa ulo -- taong pinagtaksilan ng asawa	a person who has been cheated by his/her spouse (literal=one with shit on his/her head)
sira ang ulo/sira ang tuktok -- taong maraming kalokohan ang nasa isip	a crazy or foolish person
UTAK	(BRAIN)
utak-biya -- bobo, mahina ang ulo	stupid, brainless (literal=fish-brained)
matalas ang utak -- matalino	bright, intelligent person (literal=sharp-brained)