Usage Note
Siyansi is a native Filipino term for the flat cooking utensil used to flip, stir, or spread food in a pan or wok — the kitchen spatula. It is used in everyday cooking conversation and is more commonly heard in many households than Spanish-derived alternatives, making it a practical word for learners to know early.
Examples
" Nasaan ang siyansi? "
Natural Translation
Where is the spatula?
Literal Translation
Where the spatula?
" Ginamit niya ang siyansi sa pagluluto. "
Natural Translation
He/she used the spatula in cooking.
Literal Translation
Used he/she the spatula in cooking.
" Iabot mo nga ang siyansi para mabaligtad ko ang pritong isda bago pa ito masunog. "
Natural Translation
Please hand me the spatula so I can flip the fried fish before it burns.
Literal Translation
Hand you please the spatula so-that flip I the fried fish before still it burn.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
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