VERNACULAR TERMS Parts of the kitchen:

IFUGAO HOUSE Dapogan – table with river stone & kalan (shoe-shaped stoves)

Tukud – four posts Bangahan, Banggera – where pots are kept

Kuling – girder Batalan – exposed porch where child size jars are placed for drinking and

Halipan – wooden disk washing

Hagpo – floor sills Kamalig – separate from main structure; where un-hulled rice is kept

Dotal – floor boards

Wanan/Huklub – tie beams BAHAY NA BATO

Gaob – wall boards GROUND FLOOR:

Bughol – roof rafters Zaguan- carriage and carozas (floats for procession) are located
Bodega- borders the zaguan where old furnitures, broken carriages and storage for

ISNEG HOUSE palay are kept

Tadawag – rafters Patio- enclosed countryards

Sinit – inner posts supporting main flooring Quadra- where horses are kept

Adixi – outer posts supporting roof Entrasuelo - a mezzanine raised a meter where money is kept as well as jewelleries

Toldog – floor joists Descanso/meseta – landing for the first 3 steps made of marble tiles

Talaxatag – laths SECOND FLOOR:

Xassaran – flooring of mat bamboo grass or rattan Caida – first room seen from the stairway; a spacious hall with calado (form of
ventilation for the caida)

NIPA HOUSE Sala – living room; (has plateras or cabinets) divided into smaller areas of non-

Silong – Space fenced for animals; fenced with lattice made of bamboo; function as a permanent free-standing screens (biombo)

poultry shed Comedor – dining room; has plateras or cabinets for display of silverwares

Bulwagan – living area; partitions are made in sawali Cocina – kitchen with food cabinet (paminggalan), dispensa (where rice and other

Silid – private room; tampipi made of woven materials are found there; where food are stored)

personal belongings are kept Comun or Letrina – toilet where water closet is located

Paglutuan or Gilir – kitchen Lanu or Paliguan – bathroom

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 Azotea – tiled terrace Punkah – overhead cloth fan
Volada – flying/cantilevered gallery Cuarto:
Media aguas/tapancos – window awnings Cama – single or double four-poster bed
SOME INTERIOR DETAILS Aparador – clothes closet
Persianas - window slats to filter the light capiz- paneled windows Baul – chest
Ventanilla - louvered second windows Ropero – dirty clothes hamper
Banggerahan - Pots are kept to drain Comoda – chest-of-drawers
Barandilla - traceries on the wall Tremor – full-length mirror with two adjustable side mirrors
Calado – pierced panel above each room door to circulate the light and air Almario – rock for pillows and mats
Espejo – immobile windows Cama Redonda – mat
FURNITURE AN D FURNISHINGS Urimon – service chair with chamber pot underneath
Antesala: Cocina:
Bastonera- where hats, canes, umbrellas deposited Paminggalan – food cabinet
Kapiya – long bench with straight back Nivera – non-electrified refrigerator
Escritorio – writing desk with roll top Zaguan:
Sala: Papag – bamboo bed
Consolas – side tables Gallinera – bench with chicken coop underneath
Mesitas – two or three suites of straight backed chairs grouped around small tables
Silla failuna, silla perezosa, butaca – lounging chairs
Kolumpyo – rocking chairs
Estantes – cabinets containing bric-a-brac
Comedor:
Mesa – long rectangular table for eight to 36 people
Vajillera – glass cabinets for china and glassware
Mesa Platera – silverware cabinet
Trinchante – serving table

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BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Baytang – tread Baldosa – cement tile
HOUSE PARTS Takip (silipan) – riser Ladrilyo – cement brick
Halige, poste – post Gabay – handrail Batidora – door fillet
Guililan – girder Muldura – moulding Kanal – groove
Suleras – Joist Sibe – eave Haspe – good grain
Sahig, suelo – flooring Bolada – projection Plantilya – pattern or schedule
Sepo – girt Kanal – gutter Bisagra – hinge
Biga – beam OTHER BUILDING CONSTRUCTION TERMS De bandeha – panelled door
Barakilan – bottom chord Alulod – conductor Escombro – earthfill
Kilo – truss Planchuela – W.I. strap Lastilyas – masonry fill
Tahilan – top chord Pierno – bolt Liyabe – adobe anchor
Reostra – purlin Balangkas – framework Hinang – solder
Senepa – fascia board Plancha – scaffolding Estanyo – nicolite bar
Kostilyahe – ceiling joist Estaka – stake Suban, subuhai – temper (metal work)
Tabike – siding (external) Kusturada – plastered course Pie de gallo – diagonal brace
Pilarete – stud (vertical) Palitada – stucco or plaster Punsol – nail setter
Pabalagbag – stud (horizontal) Rebocada – scratch coat Poleya – wiring knob
Pasamano – window sill Piketa – pickwork (on masonry) Espolon – cabinet hinge
Sumbrero – window head Monyeka – varnish finish References:
Zialcita, F.N. and M. I. Tinio. Philippine Ancestral Houses
Hamba – window or door jamb Biento – spacing or gap
(1810-1930). QC: GCF Books, 1980.
Sinturon – collar plate Larga masa – concrete slab (rough) Klassen, W. Architecture in the Philippines: Filipino
Building in a Cross-cultural Context. Cebu: USC, 1986.
Hardinera – stringer (open) Asintada – alignment
Fernandez, E.G. Tropical Design Handout on Vernacular
Madre (de escalera) – stringer (closed) Hulog – plumb line Terms. UP College of Architecture.

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