filipina: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, demographic, neutral
Quick answer
What does “filipina” mean?
A woman or girl who is a native or inhabitant of the Philippines.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A woman or girl who is a native or inhabitant of the Philippines.
Can also refer to a woman of Filipino descent, regardless of her current nationality or residence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage between British and American English. Both varieties use the term identically.
Connotations
Neutral descriptor of nationality/ethnicity.
Frequency
Equally infrequent in both dialects, used primarily in demographic, travel, or cultural contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “filipina” in a Sentence
Filipina + from + [place]Filipina + of + [descent/heritage]a/the + Filipina + [noun phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “filipina” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Filipina community in London organised a cultural festival.
- She has strong Filipina roots.
American English
- The Filipina community in Los Angeles is thriving.
- He wrote a book about Filipina history.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, might appear in diversity reports or market demographics: 'Our new marketing campaign targets the Filipina diaspora.'
Academic
Used in sociological, anthropological, or demographic studies: 'The study focused on the migration patterns of Filipina healthcare workers.'
Everyday
Used to specify nationality or ethnicity in conversation: 'My neighbour is a Filipina.'
Technical
Not applicable in most technical fields outside of specific demographic or legal contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “filipina”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “filipina”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “filipina”
- Using 'Filipino' to refer specifically to a woman.
- Incorrect pluralisation as 'Filipinas' (the Spanish plural) in English; standard English plural is 'Filipinas' or 'Filipina women'.
- Misspelling as 'Phillipina'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is conventionally capitalised as it derives from a proper noun (the Philippines), similar to 'American' or 'Japanese'. Lowercase is sometimes seen informally.
'Filipino' is the masculine form or can be a gender-neutral term for the people or language. 'Filipina' is specifically the feminine form for a woman or girl.
Yes, it can function as a feminine adjective, e.g., 'Filipina culture', though 'Filipino' is also commonly used as a general adjective ('Filipino culture').
The plural is 'Filipinas' (following Spanish convention) or more commonly in English, 'Filipina women' or simply 'Filipinos' when referring to a mixed-gender group.
A woman or girl who is a native or inhabitant of the Philippines.
Filipina is usually formal, demographic, neutral in register.
Filipina: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɪlɪˈpiːnə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɪləˈpinə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pinay power”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: Filipina ends with an 'A', like 'woman' or 'girl'.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATIONALITY IS ORIGIN (A Filipina is from the Philippines).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'Filipina' correctly?