Denotation,

Connotation and
Words with
Confusing
Meanings
JAEVON V. BINGAYAN

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Semantics
- the study of meaning in language.
- the Greek word “seme”, meaning sign.
- The word meaning can be defined in many
ways, but the definition most pertinent to
linguistics and the one we will use is that
meaning is "the function of signs in
language."
- This understanding of meaning corresponds
to German philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein's
definition: 'the meaning of a word is its use
in the language' (in other words, the role a
word plays in the language).
English Words That Have
Totally Different Meanings in
Other Languages
By Molly Pennington, PHD, RD.com
• 1. Brat
Siblings with little bros across the globe can probably
relate to the Russian word for brother: brat which
derives from Latin words for brothers and pals. In
English, brat and its meaning have slang origins related
to child beggars wearing torn cloaks. Poor little brats!

• 2. Fart
European languages love the word fart, but not in the
same exact way as English speakers. In Norwegian,
Danish, and Swedish, fart is the word for speed or
moving objects. If you see I Fartin Denmark, it means
the elevator is in use. Fartplan means schedule, and
road signs say Fart-kontrol. The variation fahrt means a
journey or drive in Germany. Have a safe journey!
• 3. Gift
In Scandinavia, the word gift has two meanings. The first
one means getting married, which makes sense
because it derives from Old English words for wedding
gifts or dowries. The second meaning is a little less
celebratory. Gift is the word for poison in German, as
well as Danish, Norwegian and Swedish. It probably
derives from an archaic verb form meaning to give—
because what is poison for if not to give to someone?

• 4. Crap
The next time you’re in Romania, don’t call
anything crap unless you want someone to hand you a
fish sandwich. In Romania, they did the old switcheroo
on the letters a and r, so carp, the fish, became crap.
• Cookie
Things can get extra wacky when it comes to
anatomical terms in other languages. For instance,
in France you say bite (pronounced
like beat) for penis. And in Hungary, you say koki,
pronounced like cookie, if you’re referring to a small
penis.
• Salvage
In the Philippine context it means to
apprehend and execute (a suspected criminal)
without trial.
• advanced – of a clock or watch: indicating a
time ahead of the correct time.
• bahala na– expressing an attitude of
optimistic acceptance or fatalistic
resignation, esp. in acknowledging that the
outcome of an uncertain or difficult
situation is beyond one’s control or is
preordained; ‘que sera sera’. Hence also as
noun (n): an approach to life characterized
by this attitude.
• balikbayan– a Filipino visiting or returning to
the Philippines after a period of living in
another country.
• balikbayan box– a carton shipped or brought
to the Philippines from another country by a
Filipino who has been living overseas, typically
containing items such as food, clothing, toys,
and household products.
• baon– money, food, or other provisions taken
to school, work, or on a journey.
• barangay– in the Philippines: a village, suburb,
or other demarcated neighborhood; a small
territorial and administrative district forming
the most local level of government.
• barkada– a group of friends.
• barong– short for barong tagalog n.
• barong tagalog– a lightweight, embroidered shirt for
men, worn untucked and traditionally made of piña or a
similar vegetable fiber.
• baro’t saya– a traditional Philippine costume for
women, consisting of a collarless blouse and a long
wrap-around skirt.
• batchmate– a member of the same graduation class as
another; a classmate. Also in extended use.
• buko– the gelatinous flesh of an unripe (green-husked)
coconut.
• buko juice– a drink made from the clear watery liquid
inside unripe coconuts; coconut water.
• buko water– buko juice
• carnap– to steal (a motor vehicle).
• carnapper– a person who steals a motor vehicle; a car thief.
• comfort room– a room in a public building or workplace
furnished with amenities such as facilities for resting,
personal hygiene, and storage of personal items (now rare);
(later) a public toilet (now chiefly Philippine English)
• despedida– more fully despedida party; a social event
honoring someone who is about to depart on a journey or
leave an organization; a going-away party.
• dirty kitchen– a kitchen where every day cooking is done by
household staff, as distinct from a kitchen that is purely for
show or for special use by the owner of the house.
• estafa– criminal deception, fraud; dishonest dealing.
• gimmick– a night out with friends.
• go down (to get off a vehicle)- to get off a vehicle
• halo-halo– A dessert made of mixed fruits, sweet beans, milk, and
shaved ice, typically topped with purple yam, crème caramel, and ice
cream.
• high blood (adjectival use)- angry, agitated.
• kikay– a flirtatious girl or woman. Also: a girl or woman interested in
beauty products and fashion.
• kikay kit– a soft case in which a woman’s toiletries and cosmetics are
stored.
• KKB– ‘kaniya-kaniyang bayad,’ literally ‘each one pays their own’,
used especially to indicate that the cost of a meal is to be shared. Also as
adjective.
• kuya– an elder brother. Also used as a respectful title or form of
address for an older man.
• mabuhay– an exclamation of salutation or greeting: long live! good
luck (to you)! hurrah! cheers!
• mani-pedi– a beauty treatment comprising both a manicure and a
pedicure.
• pan de sal– a yeast-raised bread roll made of
flour, eggs, sugar and salt, widely consumed
in the Philippines, especially for breakfast.
• pasalubong– a gift or souvenir given to a
friend or relative by a person who has
returned from a trip or arrived for a visit.
• presidentiable– a person who is a likely or
confirmed candidate for president.
• pulutan– food or snacks provided as an
accompaniment to alcoholic drinks.
• salvage– to apprehend and execute (a suspected
criminal) without trial.
• sari-sari store– a small neighborhood store
selling a variety of goods.
• sinigang– in Filipino cookery: a type of soup
made with meat, shrimp, or fish and flavored
with a sour ingredient such as tamarind or guava.
• suki– a buyer or seller involved in an
arrangement whereby a customer regularly
purchases products or services from the same
provider in exchange for favorable treatment.
Also: the arrangement itself.
• utang na loob– a sense of obligation to return a
favor owed to someone.
Bongga! More Filipino words
now in Oxford English Dictionary
Frank Cimatu
Published 6:22 PM, October 11, 2018
• Trapo - a politician perceived as belonging to a
conventional and corrupt ruling class.
• Bongga -extravagant, flamboyant, impressive, stylish, or
(more generally) excellent.
• Bagoong is defined as “a sauce or paste made from
fermented or salted fish, used as a condiment.”
• Bihon is “very long, thin noodles made with rice flour, or a
dish made with these noodles.”
• Sorbetes, instead of Filipinos’ definition as “dirty ice
cream,” has been narrowed to ice cream especially made
from coconut milk.
• Carinderia is a food stall with limited seating, typically near
the market or roadside.
• Turon, which was said to have been based on the Spanish
turron (nougat), is “sliced bananas or other fruit rolled in a
thin layer of pastry and deep-fried, served as a dessert or
snack.”
'Kilig' is now a part of the Oxford
English Dictionary-March 2016
• As a adjective, kilig means, "Of a person:
exhilarated by an exciting or romantic experience;
thrilled, elated, gratified," or "Causing or expressing
a rush of excitement or exhilaration; thrilling,
enthralling, captivating."
• As an noun, on the other hand, kilig is described
as, "Exhilaration or elation caused by an exciting or
romantic experience; an instance of this, a thrill."
• The phrases "kilig to the bones (utterly thrilled or
thrilling)," "kilig factor (an element which generates
excitement, or a romantic thrill)," and "kilig moment
(a thrillingly romantic moment)," are also part of the
Oxford Dictionary entry.
Phrases whose words
no longer make sense
when taken literally
are called idioms.
Commonly confused words