Filipinos are known for their sense of humor. They are built to lol at almost every practical joke, whether it is vocal or through actions.
They are also known for misunderstanding common terms, which makes other countries lol at them. Here are some common terms that Filipinos usually confuse, not arranged in order of severity:
Xerox
What it means to a Pinoy: n. a photocopier v. to photocopy. example: Punta ka nga sa xerox (Go to the xerox); Pa xerox nga nito (Xerox this)
What it actually means: n. a manufacturer of photocopiers.
The photocopy machine has been around ever since the late 60's or so. It easened the pain on typists' fingers by allowing them to copy documents easily without having to type it all over again. The machine uses lasers to both scan and print the document. One of the first photocopier machines were revolutionized by a company named Xerox.
When Xerox's photocopier machines were imported to the Philippines, probably because of the lack of typists man enough to make 15 copies of 20-page documents, Filipinos, as usual, thought the name of the machine is the big "Xerox" letters embossed on one side. So for thirty years until now, the photocopying machine is now called as a "xerox", regardless of whoever manufactured it.
Kotse (car)
What it means to a Pinoy: n. a land automobile of any kind. example: *Points to pickup truck* Sakay sa kotse (Get in the car)
What it actually means: n. a small land automobile, with four wheels. It can range from a sports car to a bulky minivan.
No, the confusion of cars with vehicles did not start because the first automobiles are cars. The first automobiles witnessed by the Filipinos are probably American military jeeps and trucks. Consumer cars did not hit the scene until the end of WWII, when the Americans thought the Philippines needed transportation and threw in some old Fords and Chryslers.
Internet
What it means to a Pinoy: n. A web browser. *Points to Firefox* Buksan mo nga ang Internet. (Activate the Internet)
What it actually means: n. A huge network of computers, also known as the World Wide Web.
I'm thinking confusing the word "Internet" with browsers came up because all Windows systems are packed with Internet Explorer. Filipinos, who learned to name things according to shortened first words, began to call every web browser as "Internet", because basically, Internet Explorer is everywhere. Probably if Macs ruled the Philippines and the world, Pinoys would call any browser "Safari". Like, "*points to Internet Explorer* Buksan mo nga ang Safari."
CPU
What it means to a Pinoy: n. The vital parts of a computer excluding the monitor and peripherals. This includes the CPU (central processing unit), motherboard, hard disk drive, removable disk drive, and RAM. Example: Ang bigat ng CPU mo. (Your CPU is heavy)
What it actually means: n. The Central Processing Unit, commonly known as "processor".
I blame those computer textbooks we read in First and Second grade for this confusion. In those books, the vital parts of the computer were simply regarded as the CPU, because they refuse to confuse the little kids with complex terms like motherboards and hard disk drives. In first grade, the parts of a computer system is just the CPU, the monitor, the keyboard, and the mouse. That's it.
Bold
What it means to a Pinoy: n. Pornography. Example: Hoy, wag ka nga manood ng bold! (Hey, don't watch bold!)
What it actually means: adj. brave, filled with courage, determined, unfearful.
I do not have any idea who termed pornography with the world bold. When I discovered CDs with nekkid people on it they called it bold and snatched it out of my hand. It's only when I got to the Internet when I discovered that it was actually called pornography, or porn, or pr0nz, or whatever.
Jeep
What it means to a Pinoy: n. A utility automobile that resembles the American Jeep Wrangler. Can also refer to jeepneys (Public Utility Jeeps)
What it actually means: n. An American manufacturer, famous for the Jeep Wrangler that is used from everyday travel to military expeditions.
Why do Pinoys call the jeepney as such? The jeepney and the owner jeep (aka privately-owned jeep)'s design is based on Jeep's Wrangler. In American bases occupying Clark and Subic in the Philippines, a Jeep Wrangler is mainly used as an everyday vehicle for everyday military use. It can be mounted with a machinegun on top for additional firepower, and it can run through rugged Philippine terrain with ease because of its 4x4 and four wheel drive capabilities. Indeed, the Wrangler was so innovative that Pinoys decided to rip off its design and called it the Jeep, in honor of the big metal letters on the back of the Wrangler.
There has been countless rip offs of the Jeep Wrangler up to now, for there are at least thousands of jeepneys roaming around the streets and another thousands of owner jeeps. And it's not only the Wrangler being ripped off, but the Hummer as well. I'm hoping they rip off Escalades so I can feel American bass thumping trucks without the American feeling.
