ipis
/ˈʔipis/
The Tagalog word for cockroach is ipis.
The term refers to the common insect known as a cockroach.
Meaning: type of insect (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʔipis/
Did you know?
- In Filipino slang, comparing a person to an ipis can imply they are 'hard to kill' or incredibly resilient in the face of adversity, mirroring the insect's biological survival skills.
- The ancient root *Sipəs is still found in the languages of indigenous Taiwanese tribes, such as the Amis people who use dadipis.
- The variation in vowels within the word across different Philippine languages can actually help linguists identify which specific ethnic group is speaking.
Examples in context
- Ipinampatay ni Tom ng ipis ang walis.Tom killed the cockroach with a broom.This sentence shows how to use ipis when describing an action involving the insect.Tatoeba #12354227 by qwertzu, translation #5144087 by Airvian
- May ipis sa kusina.There is a cockroach in the kitchen.
- Ang laki ng ipis na ito!This cockroach is so big!
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is cleaning the kitchen late at night.
- ChristinaRicardo, may nakita akong ipis dito.Ricardo, I saw a cockroach here.
- RicardoNasaan? Baka malapit sa lababo.Where? It might be near the sink.
- ChristinaAy, ang bilis ng ipis!Oh, the cockroach is so fast!
- RicardoHayaan mo, kukunin ko ang spray.Don't worry, I'll get the spray.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cockroach” translations and entries ipis, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ipis, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
