by CARMELA BLAZADO
This resource attempts to list all Spanish loanwords in Tagalog that have masculine-feminine gender distinctions. It does not list loanwords that do not show masculine-feminine gender distinctions, like those ending in -e (e.g. estudyante 'student') or -ista (e.g. artista 'artist'). A large part of Tagalog's gendered content exists due to the influence of Spanish colonialism, which formally lasted from 1565 until 1898. During this time, hundreds of Spanish loanwords were borrowed into Tagalog, many of them with canonical (e.g. amerikano/amerikana 'American') or noncanonical (e.g. abyadór/abyadóra 'aviator') Spanish inflectional gender morphology. Others were lexical gender items in Spanish (pairs which do not differ maximally by gender morpheme, but by some other feature) which subsequently became lexical gender items in Tagalog (e.g. kabalyero 'gentleman', dama 'lady'). The first 17 sections of this resource list Spanish loanwords with inflectional gender morphology alphabetically. The final section lists lexical gender items in Tagalog derived from Spanish.
MASCULINE
FEMININE
abád
'abbot'
abandonado
'abandoned'
abarisyoso
'greedy'
abenturero
'adventurer'
abenturero, abenturoso
'adventurous'
abnegado
'selfless'
abogado, abugado
'lawyer'
abonado, abunado
'subscriber'
abusado
'abused'
abusero
'abuser'
abyadór
'aviator'
abyerto
'open'
adiposo
'adipose'
adúlteró
'adulterer, adulterous'
aéreó
'aerial'
agnóstikó
'agnostic'
agraryo
'agricultural'
agrasyado
'charming'
agustino
'Augustinian'
akadémykó
'academic'
aktór
'actor'
albino
'albino'
alehandrino
'from Alexandria'
alemán, ulimán
'German'
alemánikó
'Germanic'
alternatibo
'alternative'
alerto
'alert'
alhebraiko
'algebraic'
alkalino
'alkaline'
alternatibo
'alternative'
alumno
'student'
ambisyoso
'ambitious'
amerikano, kanô
'American'
amigo
'friend'
amoroso
'loving'
andino
'Andean'
anémikó
'anemic'
anghelito
'little angel'
anglómanó
'Anglomaniac'
anónimó
'anonymous'
antátrikó
'Antarctic'
antilyano
'Antillean'
antipátikó
'mean, disagreeable'
apgano
'Afghan'
apirmatibo
'afirmative'
arhentino
'Argentine'
aristokrátikó
'aristocratic'
armadór
'shipowner'
armenyo
'Armenian'
ártikó
'arctic'
artsiduke
'archduke'
asado
'roasted'
atomikó
'atomic'
atraktibo
'attractive'
australiano, australyano
'Australian'
austriako
'Austrian'
abadesa
'abbess'
abandonada
'abandoned'
abarisyosa
'greedy'
abenturera
'adventurer'
abenturera, abenturosa
'adventurous'
abnegada
'selfless'
abogada, abugada
'lawyer'
abonada, abunada
'subscriber'
abusada
'abused'
abusera
'abuser'
abyadóra
'aviator'
abyerta
'open'
adiposa
'adipose'
adúlterá
'adulterer, adulterous'
aéreá
'aerial'
agnóstiká
'agnostic'
agrarya
'agricultural'
agrasyada
'charming'
agustina
'Augustinian'
akadémyká
'academic'
aktrís
'actress'
albina
'albino'
alehandrina
'from Alexandria'
alemána
'German'
alemániká
'Germanic'
alternatiba
'alternative'
alerta
'alert'
alhebraika
'algebraic'
alkalina
'alkaline'
alternatiba
'alternative'
alumna
'student'
ambisyosa
'ambitious'
amerikana
'American'
amiga
'friend'
amorosa
'loving'
andina
'Andean'
anémiká
'anemic'
anghelita
'little angel'
anglómaná
'Anglomaniac'
anónimá
'anonymous'
antátriká
'Antarctic'
antilyana
'Antillean'
antipátiká
'mean, disagreeable'
apgana
'Afghan'
apirmatiba
'afirmative'
arhentina
'Argentine'
aristokrátiká
'aristocratic'
armadóra
'shipowner'
armenya
'Armenian'
ártiká
'arctic'
artsidukesa
'archduchess'
asada
'roasted'
atomiká
'atomic'
atraktiba
'attractive'
australiana, australyana
'Australian'
austriaka
'Austrian'
MASCULINE
FEMININE
babilónikó
'Babylonian'
bailarín, baylarín
'dancer'
balensyano, valenciano
'Valencian'
bandolero
'bandit'
banidoso
'vain'
bárbaro
'barbarian'
barón, baronés
'baron'
beato
'sanctimonious'
bedwino
'Bedouin'
benediktino
'Benedictine'
benepisyaryo, benepisaryo
'beneficiary'
benesyano
'Venetian'
berlinés
'from Berlin'
bibliógrapó
'bibliographer'
bibliyotekaryo
'librarian'
bilyako, belyako
'wicked'
birtuoso, birtuwoso
'virtuous'
biskonde
'viscount'
bisiro
'bull calf'
bisyoso
'vicious'
biyahero
'traveler'
biyudo
'widow'
bobo, bubo
'idiot'
boluntaryo, buluntaryo
'volunteer'
botánikó
'botanical'
botikaryo, butikaryo
'pharmacist'
brasileyno
'Brazilian'
británikó
'British'
bruho, buruho
'wizard'
búlgaró
'Bulgarian'
bulkánikó
'volcanic'
burdadór
'embroiderer'
babilóniká
'Babylonian'
bailarína, baylarína
'dancer'
balensyana, valenciana
'Valencian'
bandolera
'bandit'
banidosa
'vain'
bárbara
'barbarian'
baronesa
'baroness'
beata
'sanctimonious'
bedwina
'Bedouin'
benediktina
'Benedictine'
benepisyarya
'beneficiary'
benesyana
'Venetian'
berlinésa
'from Berlin'
bibliógrapá
'bibliographer'
bibliyotekarya
'librarian'
bilyaka, belyaka
'wicked'
birtuosa, birtuwosa
'virtuous'
biskondesa
'viscountess'
bisira
'bull calf'
bisyosa
'vicious'
biyahera
'traveler'
biyuda
'widow'
boba
'idiot'
boluntarya, buluntarya
'volunteer'
botániká
'botanical'
botikarya, butikarya
'pharmacist'
brasileyna
'Brazilian'
britániká
'British'
bruha, buruha
'witch'
búlgará
'Bulgarian'
bulkániká
'volcanic'
burdadora, burdadera
'embroiderer'
MASCULINE
FEMININE
daltonyano
'color blind'
danés
'Danish'
dansarín
'dancer'
danubyano
'Danubian'
dekano
'dean'
delikado, dilikado
'delicate'
demostino
'Demosthenian'
desesperado
'desperate'
desidido
'decided'
deskarado
'shameless'
despatsadór, dispatsadór
'fast'
desposado
'newlywed'
diborsiyado
'divorced'
dinamarkés
'from Denmark'
diplomátikó
'diplomatic'
direkto
'direct'
direktór
'director'
disgrasyado
'wretched'
disípuló
'disciple'
doktór
'doctor'
doméstikó
'domestic'
dormitoryano
'resident of dormitory'
dramátikó
'dramatic'
dudoso
'suspicious'
duke
'duke'
daltonyana
'color blind'
danésa
'Danish'
dansarina
'dancer'
danubyana
'Danubian'
dekana
'dean'
delikada
'delicate'
demostina
'Demosthenian'
desesperada
'desperate'
desidida
'decided'
deskarada
'shameless'
despatsadóra, dispatsadóra
'fast'
desposada
'newlywed'
diborsiyada
'divorced'
dinamarkésa
'from Denmark'
diplomátiká
'diplomatic'
direkta
'direct'
direktóra
'director'
disgrasyada
'wretched'
disípulá
'disciple'
doktóra
'doctor'
doméstiká
'domestic'
dormitoryana
'resident of dormitory'
dramátiká
'dramatic'
dudosa
'suspicious'
dukesa
'duchess'
MASCULINE
FEMININE
edukado
'educated'
ehipsyo, ehípsiyó
'Egyptian'
eksterno, esterno
'external'
elektibo
'elective'
embahadór
'ambassador'
emperadór
'emperor'
empermero
'nurse'
empleado, empleyado
'employee'
enamorado
'in love'
enemigo
'enemy'
engkantado, ingkantado
'enchanted'
enkarnadino
'blood red'
enkarnado
'red, flesh colored'
ensíklikó
'circular'
entremetido
'meddlesome'
eredero
'heir'
eskandaloso, iskandaloso
'scandalous'
eskosés
'Scottish'
eskotado, iskutado
'low-cut'
eslobako
'Slovakian'
espanyol
'Spanish'
estétikó
'aesthetic'
estranghero
'foreign, foreigner'
estrikto, istrikto
'strict'
eurupeo
'European'
edukada
'educated'
ehipsya, ehípsiyá
'Egyptian'
eksterna, esterna
'external'
elektiba
'elective'
embahadóra
'ambassador'
emperatrís
'empress'
empermera
'nurse'
empleada
'employee'
enamorada
'in love'
enemiga
'enemy'
engkantada, ingkantada
'enchanted'
enkarnadina
'blood red'
enkarnada
'red, flesh colored'
ensíkliká
'circular'
entremetida
'meddlesome'
eredera
'heir'
eskandalosa, iskandalosa
'scandalous'
eskosesa
'Scottish'
eskotada, iskutada
'low-cut'
eslobaka
'Slovakian'
espanyola
'Spanish'
estétiká
'aesthetic'
estranghera
'foreign, foreigner'
estrikta, istrikta
'strict'
eurupea
'European'
MASCULINE
FEMININE
gago
'stuttering'
galés
'Welsh'
gastador
'big spender'
gástrikó
'gastric'
gautso
'cowboy'
grasyoso
'funny'
griego, griyego
'Greek'
guwapo
'good-looking'
gaga
'stuttering'
galésa
'Welsh'
gastadora
'big spender'
gástriká
'gastric'
gautsa
'cowboy'
grasyosa
'funny'
griega, griyega
'Greek'
guwapa
'good-looking'
MASCULINE
FEMININE
habanés
'Javanese'
hako
'old horse'
hakobino
'Jacobin'
hapón
'Japanese'
hayitano
'Haitian'
heneratibo
'generative'
henobés
'Genoese'
heolóhikó
'geological'
hibraltarenyo
'from Gibraltar'
higantón
'giant'
hispánikó
'Hispanic'
hitano
'gypsy'
humento
'donkey'
huwisyoso
'sensible'
habanesa
'Javanese'
haka
'old horse'
hakobina
'Jacobin'
haponesa
'Japanese'
hayitana
'Haitian'
heneratiba
'generative'
henobésa
'Genoese'
heolóhiká
'geological'
hibraltarenya
'from Gibraltar'
higantóna
'giant'
hispániká
'Hispanic'
hitana
'gypsy'
humenta
'donkey'
huwisyosa
'sensible'
MASCULINE
FEMININE
ihado
'godson'
iho
'son'
ilustrado
'illustrated'
indonesyo
'Indonesian'
ingkantador
'charming'
ingkorporado
'incorporated'
ingkilino
'tenant'
ingrato
'ungrateful'
ionospérikó
'iconospheric'
irlandés
'Irish'
iskrupuloso
'scrupulous'
isponghado
'spongy'
istérikó
'hysterical'
istúpido
'stupid'
italyano
'Italian'
ihada
'goddaughter'
iha
'daughter'
ilustrada
'illustrated'
indonesya
'Indonesian'
ingkantadora
'charming'
ingkorporada
'incorporated'
ingkilina
'tenant'
ingrata
'ungrateful'
ionospériká
'iconospheric'
irlandésa
'Irish'
iskrupulosa
'scrupulous'
isponghada
'spongy'
istériká
'hysterical'
istúpida
'stupid'
italyana
'Italian'
MASCULINE
FEMININE
kahero
'cashier'
kalyehero
'from/of the street'
kamarero
'waiter'
kamelyo
'camel'
kampesino
'peasant'
kandidato
'candidate'
kanonisado
'canonized'
kantado
'predictable'
kantinero
'bartender'
kantór
'singer'
kapitán
'capitan'
kapritsoso
'capricious'
karinyoso
'loving'
kasero
'homebody, homemade'
kásto
'chaste'
katólikó
'Catholic'
kaukáseó
'Caucasian'
kebrado
'bankrupt'
kerelyadór
'plaintiff'
kerido
'dear'
kímikó
'chemical'
klásikó
'classical'
kleptómanó
'kleptomaniac'
koeredero
'coheir'
kolombiano
'Colombian'
komprometido
'engaged'
kompyado
'confident'
konde
'count'
kondensado
'condensed'
konduktór, kunduktór
'driver'
kontemplatibo
'contemplative'
kosako
'Cossack'
krusado
'crossbred'
kulado
'gate crasher, smitten'
kuryoso
'curious'
kusinero
'cook'
kutsino
'filthy'
kuwakero
'Quaker'
kahera
'cashier'
kalyehera
'from/of the street'
kamarera
'waitress'
kamelya
'camel'
kampesina
'peasant'
kandidata
'candidate'
kanonisada
'canonized'
kantada
'predictable'
kantinera
'bartender'
kantóra, kantatris
'singer'
kapitana
'capitan'
kapritsosa
'capricious'
karinyosa
'loving'
kasera
'homebody, homemade'
kásta
'chaste'
katóliká
'Catholic'
kaukáseá
'Caucasian'
kebrada
'bankrupt'
kerelyadóra
'plaintiff'
kerida
'dear'
kímiká
'chemical'
klásiká
'classical'
kleptómaná
'kleptomaniac'
koeredera
'coheiress'
kolombiana
'Colombian'
komprometida
'engaged'
kompyada
'confident'
kondesa
'countess'
kondensada
'condensed'
konduktóra, kunduktóra
'driver'
kontemplatiba
'contemplative'
kosaka
'Cossack'
krusada
'crossbred'
kulada
'gate crasher, smitten'
kuryosa
'curious'
kusinera
'cook'
kutsina
'filthy'
kuwakera
'Quaker'
MASCULINE
FEMININE
labandero
'person who does laundry'
lehiyonario
'legionnaire, legionary'
león, liyón
'lion'
lepidóptero
'lepidopterous'
listó, alistó
'ready, bright'
litúrhikó
'liturgical'
loko, luko
'crazy'
lolo, lelong
'grandfather'
lunátikó
'lunatic'
labandera
'person who does laundry'
lehiyonaria
'legionnaire, legionary'
leona
'lion'
lepidóptera
'lepidopterous'
listá
'ready, bright'
litúrhiká
'liturgical'
loka
'crazy'
lola, lelang
'grandmother'
lunátiká
'lunatic'
MASCULINE
FEMININE
masedonyo
'Macedonian'
madrilenyo
'from Madrid'
maestro, mestro
'teacher, master'
malisyoso
'malicious'
manilenyo
'from Manila'
mariano
'Marian'
markés
'marquis'
matón
'thug'
mekanógrapó
'typist'
mediteráneo
'Mediterranean'
megalómanó
'megalomaniac'
mehikano
'Mexican'
mestizo, mistiso
'mestizo'
milagroso
'miraculous'
milyunaryo
'millionaire'
mimoso
'affectionate'
misteryoso
'mysterious'
místikó
'mystic, mystical'
moderno
'modern'
monghe
'monk'
moreno
'dark-skinned'
moro
'Moor'
mutsatso
'servant'
mutsátso
'young boy'
masedonya
'Macedonian'
madrilenya
'from Madrid'
maestra, mestra
'teacher, master'
malisyosa
'malicious'
manilenya
'from Manila'
mariana
'Marian'
markésa
'marquess'
matona
'thug'
mekanógrapá
'typist'
mediteránea
'Mediterranean'
megalómaná
'megalomaniac'
mehikana
'Mexican'
mestiza, mistisa
'mestizo'
milagrosa
'miraculous'
milyunarya
'millionaire'
mimosa
'affectionate'
misteryosa
'mysterious'
místiká
'mystic, mystical'
moderna
'modern'
mongha
'nun'
morena
'dark-skinned'
mora
'Moor'
mutsatsa
'servant'
mutsátsa
'young girl'
MASCULINE
FEMININE
napolitano
'from Naples'
nesesitado
'needy'
negatibo
'negative'
negrito
'Black person'
negro
'Black person'
nené
'kid'
nerbiyoso
'nervous'
neumátikó
'pneumatic'
neurótikó
'neurotic'
nínyo
'boy'
nobisyo
'novice'
nóbyo
'boyfriend'
napolitana
'from Naples'
nesesitada
'needy'
negatiba
'negative'
negrita
'Black person'
negra
'Black person'
nená
'kid'
nerbiyosa
'nervous'
neumátiká
'pneumatic'
neurótiká
'neurotic'
nínya
'girl'
nobisya
'novice'
nóbya
'girlfriend'
MASCULINE
FEMININE
osyoso, usyoso
'idle'
oktabo
'eighth'
okupado, ukupado
'busy'
operaryo
'worker'
ordenado
'ordered'
orgulyoso
'proud'
oso
'bear'
ospisyano
'child who lives in an orphanage'
osyosa
'idle'
oktaba
'eighth'
okupada, ukupada
'busy'
operarya
'worker'
ordenada
'ordered'
orgulyosa
'proud'
osa
'bear'
ospisyana
'child who lives in an orphanage'
MASCULINE
FEMININE
paborito
'favorite'
palestyno
'Palestinian'
panátikó
'fanatic, fanatical'
paraguayo
'Paraguayan'
parmaseútikó, parmasyútikó
'pharmacist, pharmaceutical'
pasibo
'passive'
patron
'guardian'
penikado
'carbolic'
peynadór
'hairdresser'
pensiyonado
'pensioner'
persiyano
'Persian'
píkaró
'cunning'
pilipino, filipino
'Filipino'
pilyo
'scoundrel, thief'
pinlandés
'Finnish'
pitwitaryo
'pituitary'
piyadór
'guarantor'
polynesyo
'Polynesian'
politéknikó
'polytechnic'
póstumo
'posthumous'
prangko
'frank'
premyadór
'awarder'
preparatoryo
'preparatory'
primer, primero
'first'
primo
'cousin'
prínsipé
'prince'
priór
'prior'
pribado
'private'
pribilehiyado
'privileged'
propeso
'professed'
propesór
'professor'
propyetaryo
'owner'
probinsiyano
'provincial'
pugoso
'ardent'
paborita
'favorite'
palestyna
'Palestinian'
panátiká
'fanatic, fanatical'
paraguaya
'Paraguayan'
parmaseútiká, parmasyútiká
'pharmacist, pharmaceutical'
pasiba
'passive'
patrona
'guardian'
penikada
'carbolic'
peynadora, peinadora
'hairdresser'
pensiyonada
'pensioner'
persiyana
'Persian'
píkará
'cunning'
pilipina, filipina
'Filipina'
pilya
'scoundrel, thief'
pinlandésa
'Finnish'
pitwitarya
'pituitary'
piyadora
'guarantor'
polynesya
'Polynesian'
politékniká
'polytechnic'
póstuma
'posthumous'
prangka
'frank'
premyadóra
'awarder'
preparatorya
'preparatory'
primera
'first'
prima
'cousin'
prinsesa
'princess'
prióra
'prioress'
pribada
'private'
pribilehiyada
'privileged'
propesa
'professed'
propesóra
'professor'
propyetarya
'owner'
probinsiyana
'provincial'
pugosa
'ardent'
MASCULINE
FEMININE
repormado
'reformist, reformed'
relatibo
'related, relative'
relihiyoso
'religious'
reparado
'repaired'
romano
'Roman'
romántikó
'romantic'
rubyo
'blonde'
ruso
'Russian'
repormada
'reformist, reformed'
relatiba
'related, relative'
relihiyosa
'religious'
reparada
'repaired'
romana
'Roman'
romántiká
'romantic'
rubya
'blonde'
rusa
'Russian'
MASCULINE
FEMININE
sabyo
'wise'
sagrado
'sacred'
santísimó
'saintly'
santo, santó
'holy, saintly'
sátiró
'satyr'
satsatero
'chattering'
sekretaryo, sektaryo
'secretary'
seloso
'jealous'
segundo, sigundo
'second'
senyór, sinyór
'sir'
síbikó
'civic'
sinyorito, sinyurito
'young gentleman'
serbidór
'servant'
seksto, sesto
'sixth'
sigarero
'cigar seller'
sirkero
'ridiculous'
sisilyano
'Sicilian'
simpátikó
'nice, kind'
sirbiyente
'servant'
sobrino
'nephew'
soltero
'single, unmarried'
soró
'fox'
subornado
'bribed'
suplado
'sneaky'
sabya
'wise'
sagrada
'sacred'
santísimá
'saintly'
santa, santá
'holy, saintly'
sátirá
'satyr'
satsatera
'chattering'
sekretarya, sektarya
'secretary'
selosa
'jealous'
segunda, sigunda
'second'
senyora, sinyora
'madam'
síbiká
'civic'
sinyorita, sinyurita
'young woman'
serbidóra
'servant'
seksta, sesta
'sixth'
sigarera
'cigar seller'
sirkera
'ridiculous'
sisilyana
'Sicilian'
simpátiká
'nice, kind'
sirbiyenta
'servant'
sobrina
'niece'
soltera
'single, unmarried'
sorá
'fox'
subornada
'bribed'
suplada
'sneaky'
MASCULINE
FEMININE
talyado
'cut, carved'
takígrapó
'stenographer'
takilyero
'box-office clerk'
tehano
'Texan'
telegrápikó
'telegraphic'
tindero
'shopkeeper'
tercero
'third'
tesorero
'treasurer'
testadór
'testator'
tibetano
'Tibetan'
tiyó
'uncle'
tísikó
'tubercular'
tokayo, tukayo, katukayo
'namesake, someone with same name'
tonto
'dumb'
tostado, tustado
'toasted, tanned'
traidór
'traitor'
tsato
'flat'
tsismoso
'gossipy'
tsongo
'old horse'
tsongo
'monkey'
turko
'Turk, Turkish'
tutór
'mentor'
talyada
'cut, carved'
takígrapá
'stenographer'
takilyera
'box-office clerk'
tehana
'Texan'
telegrápiká
'telegraphic'
tindera
'shopkeeper'
tercera
'third'
tesorera
'treasurer'
testadóra
'testator'
tibetana
'Tibetan'
tiyá, tía
'aunt'
tísiká
'tubercular'
tokaya, tukaya, katukaya
'namesake, someone with same name'
tonta
'dumb'
tostada, tustada
'toasted, tanned'
traidóra
'traitor'
tsata
'flat'
tsismosa
'gossipy'
tsonga
'old horse'
tsonga
'monkey'
turka
'Turk, Turkish'
tutóra
'mentor'
MASCULINE
FEMININE
ulandés
'Dutch'
últimó
'last'
unggaró
'Hungarian'
usurero
'money-lender'
ulandésa
'Dutch'
últimá
'last'
unggará
'Hungarian'
usurera
'money-lender'
MASCULINE
FEMININE
These noun pairs form masculine-feminine distinctions in a manner distinct from those with morphological gender, i.e. they do not differ maximally by gender morpheme (e.g. -o/-a), but by some other feature, and can have different roots. The majority of these pairs are lexical gender items in Spanish, while others are only lexical gender items in Tagalog.
kabalyero
'gentleman'
kompadre, kumpadre, kumpare
'buddy, mate'
padrastro, padrasto
'stepfather'
papá
'father'
dama
'lady'
komadre, kumadre, kumare
'buddy, mate'
madrasta
'stepmother'
mamá
'mother'
APA 7
Blazado, C. (2025). Spanish loanwords in Tagalog. Gender in Language Project. www.genderinlanguage.com/tagalog/loanwords
Oficina de Educación Iberoamericana. (1972). Hispanismos en el tagalo. Madrid: Imnasa.