pugita
/puˈɡita/
The Tagalog word for octopus is pugita. Wiktionary also lists salabay.
Meaning: mollusc (noun)
Ways to say it
| Tagalog | IPA |
|---|---|
| pugita | /puˈɡita/ (Standard Tagalog) /puˈɡitaʔ/ (Standard Tagalog) |
| salabay | /saˈlabaj/ (Standard Tagalog) /salaˈbaj/ (Standard Tagalog) |
Both pugita and salabay are used to refer to the mollusc known as an octopus.
Which one should you use?
pugita is the standard term, whereas salabay is an alternative form.
How do you pronounce it?
/puˈɡita/
Did you know?
- The word pugita shares a common ancestor with the Malagasy word horita spoken on the island of Madagascar, thousands of miles from the Philippines.
- In the Philippines, the octopus is often used in traditional 'kinilaw' dishes, where it is 'cooked' using the acidity of vinegar or citrus rather than heat.
Examples in context
- Excuse me, do you have any information about the pugita exhibit at the aquarium?Excuse me, do you have any information about the octopus exhibit at the aquarium?
- May nakita akong pugita sa dagat.I saw an octopus in the sea.
- Masarap ang luto nilang pugita.Their cooked octopus is delicious.
- Ang laki ng pugitang iyon!That octopus is huge!
Example conversation
Jasmine and Mark are looking at a seafood menu.
- JasmineGusto mo bang subukan ang pugita?Do you want to try the octopus?
- MarkOo, mukhang masarap iyan.Yes, that looks delicious.
- JasmineOrder tayo ng isa para sa atin.Let's order one for us.
- MarkSige, order na tayo.Okay, let's order now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “octopus” translations and entries pugita, salabay, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pugita, salabay, CC BY-SA 4.0.
