Random Words From Cordillera Songs

Word : Language : Part Of Speech: English Translation

ginawang : Kankanaey : noun: River
nakay : Kankanaey : noun (may be used as adjective to mean old for a male gender): old man
kedyat : Kankanaey : noun: wink ( act of wink of an eye with a nod of the head)
mankedyat: Kankanaey: verb: to wink
li'ked : Kankanaey : verb: roam around
nabakes : Kankanaey : noun( may be used as adjective to mean old for  a female gender): old woman
nabakesan : Kankanaey: adjective : spinster
sakyab : Kankanaey: verb : climb
bumala/bumela : Kankanaey : verb: go out
egyat : Kankanaey : noun: scare
saliw-a : Kankanaey : noun: consolation
gub-aw : Kankanaey : adjective: Toothless person
siyek : Kankanaey : verb: to laugh
masis-iyek : Kankanaey : adjective: smiling
maka-an : Kankanaey : verb: be removed/ get rid of
seg-ang : Kankanaey : verb: to sympathize/to pity
baken : Kankanaey : adverb:  not
labi' : Kankanaey : adverb: night
mansese-ed: Kankanaey : verb: waiting
talaw : Kankanaey : noune: star
dat(e)ngan : Kankanaey : reach
adi-ak : Kankanaey : I will not
sangaw: Kankanaey : verb: to cause confusion/disturbance
nasangaw : Kankanaey : verb: confused/disturbed
dawat: Kankanaey: verb: to give
indaw(a)tam: Kankanaey : verb+pronoun : You gave
napno : Kankanaey: adjective: full
buway : Kankanaey: verb: to tire
nabb(u)ay : Kankanaey: adjective : tired
langpay : Kankanaey: verb : to exhibit immature/childish behavior



NOTE: In Kankanaey, nouns and verbs substitute each other depending on the context of the statement.

Enggay Pay Tan

What is "Enggay Pay Tan"?
"Enggay Pay Tan" is a Kankanaey phrase that semantically translates to "You should feel regretful."
When somebody does not get a favorable outcome because he/she has not done what he/she is supposed to do(For example, X's crush gets engaged to Y because  X has never made Y aware of X's feeling), the person may hear the remark "Enggay Pay Tan". ( Z tells X "Enggay Pay Tan").

Pipiyan taha.

"I love you." in Ibaloi can be "Pipijan taha."   j is pronounced as y.

"It is you that I like." = "Si'kham eh pijan ko."
"It is you that I saw." = "Si'kham eh inun-an ko."
"What is your name?" = "Sipay ngaran mo?"
"Where will we go?" = "Tuvay davan ta?"   v is pronounced as w
"I am shy." = "Enbainnak."
"I have something to tell you." = "Waray ikuwan ko son si'kham."

Kugaban

Kugaban is the Kankanaey word equivalent to Yesterday.
Luman is the Kankanaey word for Tomorrow
Lawas is Kankanaey word for Weekdays
The days of the week in Kankanaey are the same with other local languages(Lunes, Martes, Miyerkules, Huwebes, Biyernes, Sabado, Domingo.) However, native Kankanaey speakers would use different spellings. It seems like, any l, r and d are substitutes to each other if they are within a word. H and K seems to substitute each other if they are first letters of a word. Hence, Martes=Maltes=Madtes, Miyerkules=Miyedkules=Midkules, Huwebes=Kuwebes=Kwebes.

What is ngantoy?

"Ngantoy?" is the Ibaloi equivalent of "Why?".

The word, however, may have been the contraction of the words "ngaran", "to" and "aya". "ngaran=name", "to"=it/his/her, "aya"=interjection for begging a response for a what interrogation..  "Ngaran to aya?" could transliterate to "What is its name?" or "What is his name" or "What is her name?" These questions are figuratively similar to the question of "Why?" or "What did it do to you?" or "What did she do to you?" or "What did he do to you?".

For the specific context of asking someone's name:
"Sipay ngaran mo?" = "What is your name" : "Sipa"="what", "y" =helping verb "is" that is made an inclitic, "ngaran"= "name", "mo"="your"(second person, singular).

For the specific context of asking the names of more than one subjects.
 "Sipay ngaran jo?" = "What are your names" : "Sipa"="what", "y" =helping verb "are" that is made an inclitic, "ngaran"= "name", "yo"="your"(second person, plural).

From some native speakers of Ibaloi, you would hear the query statement "Nganto?" as their way to request a repetition of what you have said.  "Nganto?"="What is it?"

Inmeyam? Intoy nadipdiposam?

The future-oriented Kankanaey boyfriend decided to leave for work abroad. He politely informed his girlfriend. Below is a part of their conversation.

girlfriend: "Kas-ano ak ngin?" (How about me?)

boyfriend: "Wadan sik-a no mas-ed mo sak-en tano man tauli-ak et duwa ta pay dedan, adita met nan asawa sunga wadan sik-a, ay sino pay kayman di kabakesam". (It is up to you if you will wait for me because we can still be a couple when I will get back, we are not married so it is really up to you, i cannot be the reason for you to grow old unmarried.)


The intelligent girl took it as a break-up line. He leaves and she gets another man for marriage. Later, when the boyfriend seemed to be back, the already married girl asks "Inmeyam? Intoy nadipdiposam?" (Where did you go? Where have you been..)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8A7zyRtlrk

What is "calajo"?

A restaurant in Baguio has the name "Calajo".

"Calajo" is an Ibaloi phrase which means "you come" ["cala"=come and "jo"=you].  "Calajo" is the Ibaloi counterpart of the Kankanaey phrase "Umali kayo".

"Calajo" and "Umali kayo" are used for expressing an invitation.  Essentially, the phrases mean "You are welcome here".

Other indigenous terms used as names of local establishments:

"Solibao": "Solibao" literally refers to the Percussion musical instrument used during grand part celebrations
"Ganza": "Ganza" is the local term for the Gong. Togther with the "Solibao" and the "Takik", the "Ganza" is used to create the music on which the local would dance to the "Tayaw=Tayao".
"Kansharu": "Kansharu" is the ibaloi term for the pot, the cooking implement
"Ynazdi":  "Ynazdi" is not in the Kankanaey Lexicon.  It must have been coined from the Kankanaey phrase "Uway nas di".  "Uway nas di" means "It is up to fate" or "Come what may".  When someone is not certain of his/her decision towards an invitation or any concern that demands one's response,  the folk would say "Uway nas di".  "Uway nas di" seems to be an appropriate label for the happy go lucky.

I Told You So ( Kankanaey Translation)

I Told You So

Kanak dedan en Sik-a

Suppose I called you up tonight and told you that I loved you

No ngata tawagak sik-a enwani ay labi ya ibagak ya nilaylayad nika

And suppose I said "I wanna come back home".

No ngata ibagak ay laydek ay suma-a san baey ta.

And suppose I cried and said "I think I finally learned my lesson"

No ngata man-uga-ak ya ibagak ay enggay na-i-nemnemanak

And I'm tired a-spendin' all my time alone.

Ya engay nabayyak ay nan-bibyag ay es-essa.

If I told you that I realized you're all I ever wanted

No ibagak ay na-inemnemannak ay uwat sik-a ni laydek

And it's killin' me to be so far away.

Ya kamannak matey begwe sin inma-adawi-ak

Would you tell me that you loved me too and would we cry together?

Ibagam ngata ay nilay-layad mo abe sak-en asi ta et man-ug-uga ay duwa

Or would you simply laugh at me and say:

Ono wat kan kasiyek en sak-en asika ka ibaga ay:

"I told you so, oh I told you so

Kanak dedan en sik-a, kanak dedan en sik-a

I told you some day you'd come crawling back and asking me to take you in

Kanak dedan en sik-a en man-taulika si esay agew ya engka manpaka-asi ay tauli-ek sik-a

I told you so, but you had to go

Kanak dedan en sik-a, ngem inpapatim ay kinma-an

Now I found somebody new and you will never break my heart in two again".

Nay enggay waday na-ilak ay sukat mo et adika lan mabalin ay magud-wa nan pusok.

If I got down on my knees and told you I was yours forever

No ngata manparintumengak asak ibaga en uwat sak-en di para en sik-a

Would you get down on yours too and take my hand?

Manparintumeng ka ngata abe asam ala-en takkay ko

Would we get that old time feelin', would we laugh and talk for hours

Mantauli ngata din sigod ay rikna ta asi ta mansiyek ay mangalat si ad-ado ay ay oras

The way we did when our love first began?

Kaman sin nan-rugrugi-an ta ay nan-nilayad

Would you tell me that you'd missed me too and that you've been so lonely

Ibagam ngata inana-anap mo sak-en ya pagkan nansasadot sin maga-ak

And you waited for the day that I return.

Ya sin-sin-ed mo nan agew ay eyak nan-tauli

And we'd live in love forever and that I'm your one and only

Ya manbiyag ta ay manlilinayad ing-inggana ya uwat si sak-en di laylaydem

Or would you say the tables finally turned?

Ono ka-ibaga ka ay enggay nabaliktad san riknam

Would you say

Ibagam ngata ay

"I told you so, oh I told you so

Kanka dedan en sik-a, kanak dedan en sik-a

I told you some day you come crawling back and asking me to take you in

Kanak dedan en sik-a en man-taulika si esay agew ya engka manpaka-asi ay tauli-ek sik-a

I told you so, but you had to go

Kanak dedan en sik-a, ngem inpapatim ay kinma-an

Now I found somebody new and you will never break my heart in two again".

Nay enggay waday na-ilak ay sukat mo et adika lan mabalin ay magud-wa nan pusok.

"Now I found somebody new and you will never break my heart in two again".

Nay enggay waday na-ilak ay sukat mo et adika lan mabalin ay magud-wa nan pusok.

How have my Kankanaey folks say "Good Morning", "How are you?", etc.

Of course I heard some Kankanaey folks say "Good morning!", "Good afternoon!", etc.  as they are said in English.  They are not really uttered as Kankanaey lines.

The reality amongst us, kins, when we see each other, is that we do not necessarily say "Good morning", "Good day!" or the like.  Rather than a verbal greeting, facial expressions are made to let someone feel the welcome.  Instead of saying "Good morning", you get an eye-to-eye contact or a smiley face from a kin and that suffices to feel the sincere  greetings.  In some cases, the welcome look is followed up by query statements like "[Intoy] napu-am?" which literally means "Where were you before coming here?" but an allusion to "It is good that you are here." Sometimes you are asked "[Ka]datdateng mo?" which literally means "Have you just arrived?" but just the same an allusion to "It is nice that you here."

Together with my siblings and parents, we do farming work back then. Some old folks would pass by us.  The pathway (called "danan") from the town to the far abodes stretches along farms (called "nem-a") including ours.  People, most of whom are relatives, would walk to and from town to their homes.  Vehicles were limited then.

A passing folk would say "Malabasak" [I am passing by] and we would say "Aw" [Yes!].  The dialogue is essentially a concrete  form of the hypothetical "How are you?-Fine thank you-Take care" dialogue.

Some of the old folks would let you notice the weather situation as they pass by. ("Nay mayat di sesegitan na" = The sunshine is nice;  "Doy umal-ali udan"= The rain is coming; "Enggay nasdem"= Its is already late afternoon).  Such is their way of saying, "enjoy the day" or "take care".

Translation of Phrases Used in some Igorot communities

"UMALI KAYO"

•  "Umali kayo" is a kankanaey phrase that literally translates to "You Come" [ Umali=Come, Kayo=You) 
• "Umali kayo", however, is used to convey "You are welcome"

 "UMALI KAYO KASIN"

• "Umali kayo kasin" transliterates to "You come again".
• I seem to have seen a road sign that reads "Umali kayo Kasin" upon exiting a place somewhere in the far north(Somewhere in Kalinga, I think?) It must figuratively mean "Please come again."  

Kankanaey Words For the Day

Dagem --> Wind
Mandadagem --> Windy

Udan --> Rain
Man-uudan --> Rainy

Segit --> Sun
Mansesegit --> Sunny

Libu-o --> Clouds
Manlilibu-o --> Cloudy

Pasyalan di kaka-ili-an ed Baguio (Hang-out of fellow "cordillerans" in Baguio)

I haven't been to gimik venues in town for a long time.

Many thanks to a long lost friend who came for a brief visit.  
He re-introduced me to the Cordilleran's country music hang-out by the night.
We've seen two: One near the Rose Garden and one along Magasaysay Avenue-the one in the hall that used to be a movie house.

Visiting the first one makes one in unison with people who are taking a break from hard labor.  Patrons are generally the mature and serious type.  A short stay in the place can bring back the thought of the Baguio of the past, that Baguio is owned by "genuine-hearted" people.

The second one is more of a venue for fun by those who have the happy go lucky tendencies. What is best is that, the setup successfully intertwined fun and culture celebration.  At certain points during the stay in the place, you seem to be celebrating the "Canao"(Dance int the style of the natives).  At a certain points, you seem to be in the "barrio-benefit-dance act"("Agsala dagit naka black"). At a certain points, you feel that you are indeed in the city wheres some souls are misguided( adda metten ag-binugbog).

Kankana-ey Song Lyrics Transliterated to English

An-Anusak

I will endure

by MPBC Kinoboyan

I.
No nemnemek san nabiit

If I remember the recent time
Ay nankoykoyog ta

When we have been going together
Kanak no nan kinaragsak ta

I thought that the happiness we shared
Et magay patengga na

is something without an end
Polos adak ninemnemnem

Never did I have in my mind
Di pansinaan ta

About us parting ways
Lumuluwa nan mata

My eyes are in tears
No nemnemnemek sik-a

Everytime I think of you

CHORUS:
Et aw adi, no say kanam

Okay then, if that is what you say
Ay enggay magay riknam

That you’ve got no more feelings
An-anusak, ikarigatak

I will endure, I will do my best
Manbiyag ay maga ka

To live without you
Tan narigat met kayman

Because it is difficult indeed
No wat sak-en di manlaylayad

If I am the only one who feels the love

II.
Narigat no mamingsan

Sometimes it is difficult
Di umas-asa ka

To have expectations
Nakarkaro no sisik-a

Especially if you are one
San pobre ay kanan da

Of those referred to as poor
Wat dakan lalasoyen

You will just be despised
Aagin di gayyemen

By the relatives of whom you love
No mamingsan san kinapobre

Sometimes your being poor
Di inda iilaen

Is what they focus upon

(Back to Chorus)

Bridge:
Ngem asak an-anusan,

But I will do my best
Sik-a di ennak liw-an

So I will forget you
Es-estek et nan biyag ko

I will just take care of my life
Ta adak wat kaseseg-ang

So that I won’t be pitiful

Wooooh (Back to Chorus)

An-anusak tan narigat

I will endure because it is difficult
No wat sak-en di manlaylayad

If I am the only one who feels the love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO03AZxGDHs

Coming Back after a long hibernation due to work.

Work has been difficult.  It got all my time. I forgot about my blog... I  am coming back though.

Linmigat din ublak, Inana amin ay oras ko.  Niliw-ak din blog ko.... Ngem nay umali-ak ay manta-uli.

Today is Friday, 10 July 2015.  It's a rainy day here in Baguio.

Biyernes edwani ay agew, 10 Julio 2015.  Man-ud-udan esnan Baguio.