noun
Uncommon
Filipino
fee-lee-PEENO
Filipino (noun) means a person from the Philippines, or someone descended from Philippine ancestry. Example: “Many Filipinos work abroad and send money home to their families.”
noun
1
A person from the Philippines, or someone descended from Philippine ancestry.
"Many Filipinos work abroad and send money home to their families."
adj
1
Relating to the Philippines, or to its peoples, languages, and culture.
"She cooked a traditional Filipino dish of adobo for the party."
How to use Filipino
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone or something from the Philippines.
When to use it
Capitalized, like other nationalities, when used in English.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Filipinos
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Many _____ work abroad and send money home to their families.
Etymology
From Spanish filipino, formed from the name Felipe, referring to Las Islas Filipinas ("the Philippine Islands") — named after King Philip II of Spain.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Filipino
See all rhymes for Filipino →Frequently asked questions
What does “Filipino” mean?
The word “Filipino” means a person from the Philippines, or someone descended from Philippine ancestry. In plain terms, someone or something from the Philippines.
How do you pronounce “Filipino”?
“Filipino” is pronounced fee-lee-PEENO (/fɪlɪˈpinoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Filipino” in a sentence?
Here is “Filipino” used in a sentence: “Many Filipinos work abroad and send money home to their families.”
What part of speech is “Filipino”?
Depending on how it is used, “Filipino” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “Filipino” come from?
The word “Filipino” comes from Spanish. From Spanish filipino, formed from the name Felipe, referring to Las Islas Filipinas ("the Philippine Islands") — named after King Philip II of Spain.
Is “Filipino” a common word?
“Filipino” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Filipino” have?
“Filipino” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person from the Philippines, or someone descended from Philippine ancestry.
What is the difference between Filipino and Philippine?
Filipino is most commonly used to describe people, their descendants, and cultural identity, as in "a Filipino chef," while Philippine is typically used as an adjective for official, geographic, or institutional references, as in "the Philippine government." In practice the two overlap, but Filipino carries the stronger sense of national and cultural identity.
Is Filipino always capitalized?
Yes, Filipino is capitalized because it is a proper adjective and noun derived from the country name Philippines, referring to its people, culture, or language.
Can Filipino refer to someone born outside the Philippines?
Yes. Filipino can refer to a person from the Philippines or to someone descended from Philippine ancestry, so it also applies to people of Philippine descent born or living elsewhere.
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