Wander Girl
Page 13
tisay – simplified slang for “mestiza,” the Spanish word for a woman with fair skin. In the Philippines, the word is usually used for women of Spanish descent, but now can pertain to any woman of mixed Caucasian ancestry.
tita – aunt
“Tita, borrow muna Hilda, ha? – “Auntie, I’ll borrow Hilda for just one sec, okay?”
tito – uncle
tri-sikads – a vehicle for public transportation, a cross between a tricycle and a pedicab
tuk-tuks – a public transportation vehicle in Thailand, a cross between a tricycle and a jeepney
ukay-ukay – thrift store clothes
un-manang way – translate: non-fogey / non-geriatric / non-old-lady
“Um...wala lang. – “Um … nothing much. I was just …”
“Why kaya?” – “I wonder why?”
“Wow, ’day, 28 ka na, kelan pa? – Wow, girl, you’re already 28; if not now, when?
Wow, I thought, gano’n lang? – Wow, I thought, just like that?
“Yabang nito. – “What a pompous asshole. Never mind, I …”
yaya – nanny
Yes, naku, si Dindo talaga. He’s always been into jazz. Nanliligaw pa lang yan sa akin, puro ganyang music na ang pinapatugtog sa kotse. Kaya pinabayaan ko nalang. – “Yes, that’s Dindo for you. He’s always been into jazz. Back when he was still courting me, that’s the kind of music he was always playing in his car stereo. So I just let him be.”
“Yey! Dito lang ang baby ko! For a while there I thought you were going to qualify. Buti nalang hindi, otherwise, kawawa naman ako, laging maiiwan.” – “Oh, great! My baby’s staying home! For a while there I thought you’d qualify. Good thing you didn’t make it, otherwise I’d be all by myself here.”
You’re working with them na daw? – You’re working with them already?
’yung iba nga dyan wala, eh). – “other people aren’t so lucky”
About the Author
Tweet Sering graduated from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. She is the author of the novel Wander Girl. She was born and raised in Surigao City and now lives and works in Manila, Philippines. Her Web site is www.dothewritething.ph.