pilyo
/ˈpiljo/
In the Philippines, a rascal in Tagalog is pilyo.
pilyo describes a cheeky, mischievous person, often a playful child or a teasing friend.
Meaning: cheeky person (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
It comes from a Spanish word for a rogue.
How does it change in a sentence?
For a girl or woman the final o changes to a.
How do you pronounce it?
The stress falls on the first syllable, as the IPA /ˈpiljo/ shows.
Did you know?
- While pilyo is often used for children, using it to describe an adult can subtly imply they are a flirt or a 'player' in romantic contexts.
- The root of the Spanish word from which pilyo was borrowed, 'pillo', is linked to the Latin 'pīlum', which is an unexpected connection to a word meaning 'hair' or 'tuft'.
- While English speakers might use 'rascal' to describe a criminal, using pilyo in the Philippines almost never implies actual illegal or malicious intent.
Examples in context
- Pilyo ang alaga kong aso.My pet dog is a rascal.
- Huwag kang maging pilyo sa harap ko.Don't be a rascal in front of me.
Example conversation
Juan is teasing Christina about a prank she played.
- JuanBakit mo itinago ang susi ko, Christina?Why did you hide my key, Christina?
- ChristinaGusto lang kitang biruin, Juan.I just wanted to joke with you, Juan.
- JuanTalagang pilyo ka!You really are a rascal!
- ChristinaAminado ako, nakakatawa kasi.I admit it, because it was funny.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry pilyo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pilyo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
