What Exactly Is Your Filipino Carpenter Saying?

Before I ventured into interior design, I was just like you trying to build my dream home. There were times that my carpenter asked me something, and it literally took me like 2 minutes... maybe more... staring and wondering what the heck he was saying. Yes, it seemed like Greek! Most of them are derived from Spanish words but hey, no habla Español. Well, to make it easier for you, I've compiled a short list of Filipino construction terms so you finally understand what they are saying!

alulod/gutter

bisagra/hinge

haspe/wood grain

hulog/plumb line

Photo from christianunityministries.org

pasamano/window sill

palitada/plaster

roskas/thread

Turnilyo/screw

Alahado - Flush - a state of alignment, where two things are even/aligned against each other. Let's say you're asking your mason to make the tile flush to the concrete surface, "Alahado ba?"

Alambre - Steel Wire 

Ampaw/Kapak - honeycomb air pockets that form on the concrete if it isn't applied correctly. The problem with this is that your concrete won't be strong. The more air pockets, the weaker the concrete, and you don't want that! This also applies to the way tiles are layed incorrectly. That means if there's a hollow sound, there are air pockets between the tile and the concrete surface. What happens is that your tile will get loose or crack. Beware of this!!

Alulod - Gutter - usually refers to the gutter in the roof where rainwater collects and continues to a downspout 

Asintada - Alignment - To line up things so they are even. You want, let's say, your wall and your tile to be even, you tell your mason, "Asintahin mo," that means to align. Or "wala sa asintada" means out of alignment.

Bahada - Slope - Your bathroom needs to be sloping towards the drain to prevent water from pooling, thereby causing mold and mildew to your tiles.

Biga - Beam

bisagra

Bisagra - Hinge - First time I heard this, I had a blank stare! Hahahaha!

Dos Por Dos - 2"x2" - refers to lumber

Hamba - Door/Window Jamb - frame of the door/window

Haspe - Wood Grain - Normally, your carpenter will ask you what direction the wood grain (pattern on the wood) should be. When they say, "pino ang haspe" that means the wood grain is fine.

Hulog - Plumb Line - a string with a metal weight that when suspended goes vertically down. It is used to find the depth of water or to determine verticality.

Masilya - Putty - a compound used to fill holes, normally used during finishing. 

 Palitada - Plaster - the act of plastering a surface like putting cement on the wall 

Pasamano - Window Sill

Rehas - Window Grill

Roskas - Thread - the part of a pipe/screw/bolt with grooves. When your plumber/carpenter says, "maluwag na ang roskas" that means the thread is loose and you need to change it.

Tambol - Board up - If you want to cover something ugly, like wires or pipes showing, you ask your carpenter to board it up. "Tambulan mo ito."

Tumbok or Butt joint -woodwork basics.com

Tumbok - Butted/Butt Joint - a joint where two surfaces meet at right angles

Media Agua - Canopy

Poso Negro - Septic Tank - a watertight container that receives waste from a sewage system

Poste/Haligue - Column/Post

Senepa - Fascia Board - a horizontal board to cover some things like a fluorescent light 

Tambak - Fill

Turnilyo - Screw- don't confuse with pako which is a nail. Yes, it happens. Don't worry, I won't tell!

This is by no means an exhaustive resource but these are some common words I've encountered during construction.  

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