verb
Common
ate
teh
Ate (verb) means the past tense of "eat". Example: “I ate a big bowl of soup for lunch yesterday.”
verb
1
The past tense of "eat".
"I ate a big bowl of soup for lunch yesterday."
"The children ate all the biscuits before their parents came home."
"After we ate, everyone helped to wash the dishes."
noun
1
An older sister, or a respectful way of addressing a woman who is older than you, even if she is not a blood relative.
"She always calls her older cousin Ate Grace out of respect."
"The younger staff refer to the senior waitress as Ate even though they are not related."
"Could you pass me the salt, Ate, please?"
How to use ate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA Filipino title of respect for an older sister or older woman, similar to how "big sis" is used affectionately in English but with a stronger sense of formal respect.
Common mistake
Not a typo or the past tense of "eat" — this is an unrelated loanword from Tagalog, and it is normally capitalized when used as a title before a name (e.g., "Ate Maria").
Common pairings
Ate Maria
call her Ate
my Ate
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Word forms
- Plural
- ates
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I _____ a big bowl of soup for lunch yesterday.
Etymology
From Tagalog ate ("elder sister"), itself borrowed from a Hokkien word for "eldest sister."
Synonyms
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older sister
big sister
Rhymes for ate
See all rhymes for ate →Frequently asked questions
What does “ate” mean?
The word “ate” means an older sister, or a respectful way of addressing a woman who is older than you, even if she is not a blood relative. In plain terms, a Filipino title of respect for an older sister or older woman, similar to how "big sis" is used affectionately in English but with a stronger sense of formal respect.
How do you pronounce “ate”?
“Ate” is pronounced teh (/ˈʔɐ.te/ in IPA).
How do you use “ate” in a sentence?
Here is “ate” used in a sentence: “She always calls her older cousin Ate Grace out of respect.”
What part of speech is “ate”?
“Ate” is a noun.
Where does the word “ate” come from?
The word “ate” comes from Tagalog. From Tagalog ate ("elder sister"), itself borrowed from a Hokkien word for "eldest sister.".
Is “ate” a common word?
“Ate” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How is "ate" (older sister) different from "ate," the past tense of "eat"?
They are two unrelated words that happen to share a spelling. In Filipino (Tagalog), "ate" is a respectful term for an older sister or older woman, said with two syllables, while in English "ate" is the past tense of the verb "eat," rhyming with "late."
How is "ate" used as a term of address in Filipino?
"Ate" is used before a person's name or on its own to respectfully address an older sister or an older woman, even one who is not a blood relative — for example, "Ate Maria" or simply "Ate." It signals politeness and respect toward someone older.
What is the male equivalent of "ate"?
The male counterpart of "ate" (older sister) is "kuya," the Filipino term for an older brother or a respected older man. Both words are used to show respect toward someone older within Filipino culture.
Is "ate" capitalized in Filipino?
"Ate" is typically capitalized when used as a title directly before someone's name, as in "Ate Rosa," much as English capitalizes "Aunt" before a name. Used on its own as a common noun, it may appear in lowercase.
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