Ways to say it
| Ilocano | IPA |
|---|---|
| kabsat a lalaki | |
| kabagis | |
| manong | /ˈmanoŋ/ |
| ading a lalaki |
In Ilocano, the word you choose for brother depends on whether you are describing a general male sibling, a specific birth order or a relative.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase kabsat a lalaki literally means "sibling male".
Which one should you use?
kabsat a lalaki is a general term for a male sibling. If you want to be specific about age, use manong for an older brother and ading a lalaki for a younger brother. The term kabagis is also used to mean a sibling or a relative of the same generation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Manong is used as a polite and respectful way to address an older brother or any older male peer. Kabagis serves as a more formal or literary term for a sibling or relative.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say "my older brother," you can add the enclitic -ko to manong to form manongko.
Did you know?
- The word manong may have evolved from a combination of the Spanish word hermano and a local suffix -ng.
- While kabsat refers to a sibling, it is also used in Ilocano culture to describe a very close friend or a fellow member of the same community.
- Because manong is a sign of respect, failing to use it when addressing an older male peer can be perceived as rude or overly blunt.
Examples in context
- Tallokam nga agkakabagis. Siak iti maudi, ni manongko iti maikadua, kenni manangko iti naunaan.We are three brothers and sisters. I was the last, my big brother is second, and my elder sister is the first.This sentence is useful for describing the birth order of siblings using manong.
- Adda kabsat a lalaki ni Maria.Maria has a brother.
- Siasino ti kabsat a lalaki ti kabsatmo?Who is your brother's brother?
Example conversation
Cristina and Ricardo are looking at an old family photo.
- CristinaSiasino daytoy a kabsat a lalaki?Who is this brother?
- RicardoIsu dayta ni tito ko.That is my uncle.
- CristinaHaan ko ammo a kabsat a lalaki ti tataymo.I didn't know your father had a brother.
- RicardoWen, maysa isuna a kabsat a lalaki.Yes, he is a brother.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “brother” translations and entries manong, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lalaki, manong, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
