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The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) officially included several Philippine English words in its March 2025 update, highlighting the linguistic contributions from the Philippines.


Among the newly added terms are "gigil," "kababayan," "sando," "lumpia," and "videoke," along several other commonly used words in the Philippines.

'Gigil' was an "untranslatable" word, explaining that it refers to "a feeling so intense that it gives us the irresistible urge to tightly clench our hands, grit our teeth, and pinch or squeeze whomever or whatever it is we find so adorable," OED Executive Editor Danica Salazar described. 

The term is widely used in the Philippines to express strong emotions, particularly when seeing something perceived as endearing.

'Kababayan entered the dictionary with two definitions: the first referring to a fellow Filipino or someone from the same place, and the second as a type of small, sweet, yellow muffin-shaped cake resembling the traditional Filipino 'salakot' hat. 

Another food item added is 'lumpia,' described as a type of spring roll with Southeast Asian origins, also found in Malay, Indonesian, and Dutch cuisine.

The dictionary has also included the term 'sando,' which refers to a sleeveless undershirt commonly worn in the Philippines. Additionally, 'videoke,' the Filipino version of karaoke, has been recognized, reflecting its widespread popularity in the country.

Beyond loanwords, the update features terms from Philippine English with distinct meanings compared to standard English. For example, 'load' refers to prepaid mobile phone credits, while 'CR' is an abbreviation for comfort room, which is commonly used instead of 'toilet.' 

Furthermore, 'terror' describes a strict or demanding teacher.

A historical term included in the update is "Thomasite," which refers to the American teachers who arrived in the Philippines in 1901 aboard the U.S. Army transport ship Thomas. These teachers played a crucial role in establishing the country's public school system and promoting English as the medium of instruction.

The inclusion of this term in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) highlights the linguistic influence of the Philippines and the global recognition of its unique cultural expressions.

The adoption of these terms into English reflects the increasing interaction between languages and underscores how Filipino expressions are becoming part of the broader global lexicon.

The use of these words in both formal and informal communication in the Philippines highlights their significance in daily discourse, as well as their role in shaping Philippine English as a unique variety within the English language.

​Prior to the March 2025 update, OED last incorporated Filipino words in October 2018. 

Notable additions from that period include "trapo," a term describing a politician perceived as belonging to a conventional and corrupt ruling class, and "bongga," meaning extravagant or impressive. 

Culinary terms such as "bagoong," "bihon," "calamansi," "carinderia," "sorbetes," and "turon" were also added during that update.

The Oxford English Dictionary is a comprehensive and authoritative resource on the English language, published by Oxford University Press, based in Oxford, England. 

Renowned for its historical and descriptive approach, the OED documents the evolution of words over time.

It is updated quarterly, with new words and revisions added in March, June, September, and December each year.