Pasko
/pasˈko/
Christmas in Filipino is Pasko.
The word Pasko is used to refer to the holiday itself. To wish someone a Merry Christmas, the standard phrase is Maligayang Pasko!
Meaning: festival or holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ which in Western Christianity is celebrated on December 25 in most places (name)
Which one should you use?
While Pasko refers to the holiday generally, Kapaskuhan refers specifically to the Christmas season. If you are referring to the specific date of December 25th, you can use Araw ng Pasko, which translates to Day of Christmas.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Bisperas ng Pasko is the term for Christmas Eve and is commonly used in the northern part of the Philippines. In some regions, Araw ng Pasko is used specifically to denote Christmas Day.
How do you pronounce it?
/pasˈko/
When do people say it?
The Christmas season in the Philippines is heavily associated with Simbang Gabi, a series of nine dawn masses held leading up to Christmas Day.
Did you know?
- The Philippines is famous for having the longest Christmas season in the world. Many people begin counting down to Pasko as early as September 1st, known as the 'Ber months'.
- The word Pasko is actually a linguistic relative of the word for 'Passover'. It originates from the Latin pascha, which traces back to the Hebrew word for the Passover festival.
- A traditional symbol of Pasko is the parol, a star-shaped lantern. These lanterns represent the Star of Bethlehem and are hung outside almost every home during the season.
Examples in context
- Uuwi ka ba sa Pasko?Will you be home for Christmas?This sentence is useful for asking if someone will be home for Pasko.Tatoeba #4643655 by saluyot, translation #1125715 by CM
- Malapit na ang Pasko.Christmas is near.This sentence is useful for stating that Pasko is near.Tatoeba #11368829 by qwertzu, translation #9667048 by kremel
- Uuwi ka ba para sa Pasko?Are you going home for Christmas?This sentence is useful for asking if someone is going home for Pasko.Tatoeba #8635592 by artemio, translation #7653908 by CK
- Maligayang Pasko! Sana ay magkaroon kayo ng masayang pagsasama ng pamilya sa Araw ng Pasko.Merry Christmas! I hope you have a joyful time with your family on Christmas Day.
- Pasko na naman! Excited na ako sa mga handa at regalo!It's Christmas again! I'm excited for the food and gifts!
- 35 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are talking about their holiday plans in a cafe.
- JuanMay plano ka na ba para sa Pasko?Do you have plans for Christmas already?
- ChristinaOo, magbabakasyon kami sa probinsya.Yes, we are going to vacation in the province.
- JuanMasaya ang Pasko sa probinsya.Christmas is fun in the province.
- ChristinaTotoo 'yan, Juan.That is true, Juan.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “Christmas” translations and entries Pasko, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Pasko, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
