Philippine Kinship - Terms Based On Biological Relationships - Ego's Generation

Ego's Generation

As a child you would refer to your parents as "Ama" (Tagalog formal for Father) or "Tatay" (Tagalog informal for Father) and "Ina" (Tagalog formal for Mother) or "Nanay" (Tagalog informal for Mother). Your parents' siblings and their cousins would be your "mga Tiyo" (Tagalog for Uncles) or "Tiyo" (singular Uncle) or "mga Tiya" (Tagalog for Aunts) or "Tiya" (singular Aunt). You would call your godparents as your "Ninong" (Tagalog for Godfather) and "Ninang" (Tagalog for Godmother).

Family friends one generation above you, like your parent's friends, are called "Tito" (for males) and "Tita" (for females), although they should not be confused with Tiyo and Tiya which are for blood relatives (which may also be family friends) no matter how far removed they are. Filipinos are very clannish and are known for recognizing relatives up to the 10th or even the 20th degree.

Your "mga kapatid" (Tagalog for siblings) would be your brothers or sisters. The terms "Kuya" and "Ate" are used to address an older brother and sister respectively as a sign of respect. Any children of your Tiyo (Uncle) or Tiya (Aunt) would be your "mga pinsan" (cousins) so you can either address them as "pinsan" or use the more commonly used "Kuya _____" (fill in the cousin's first name) or "Ate _____" (fill in the cousin's first name) if they are older than you, or simply address them with their first name or nickname. Your godparent's children are your kinakapatid (which literally means someone made into a sibling). The term "Kuya" is used in Tagalog for older brother and "Ate" is used in Tagalog for older sister, and those terms are what you also usually use to refer to or respect other people (including cousins and other strangers) who are in the same generation as you are but a little older, or you could use the older term Manong (big brother) and Manang (big sister) for the much older people that you don't know up to two generations ahead of you, unless they are too old and then they should be called Lolo and Lola. Manang and Manong is also commonly used to vendors, drivers, guards, and most of the service people.

The children of your "mga kapatid" (siblings) and "mga pinsan" (cousins) would be your "mga pamangkin" (nephews/nieces).

If you are a "Amang/Lolo" (Tagalog for Grandfather) or "Inang/Lola" (Tagalog for Grandmother), your "mga apo" (Tagalog for grandchildren) would be the offsprings not only of your "mga anak" (Tagalog for children) but also the offspring of your children's "mga pinsan" (Tagalog for cousins). Unless you have a different title (like "Atty.", "Dr.", "Mayor", etc.) that you are known for, you may also be addressed as "Lolo" or "Lola" by complete strangers or neighbors just by virtue of your age (usually when you are above 60 years old or already considered a senior citizen), as a form of respect.