bitso

Tagalog

Alternative forms

• bicho

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Hokkien, possibly 米粞 (bí-chhè, “rice mash”) or 米棗／米枣 (bí chó, literally “rice ball”). Compare Philippine Spanish vicho-vicho.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbit͡ʃo/, [ˈbi.t͡ʃo]
• Hyphenation: bit‧so

Noun

bitso (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜒᜆ᜔ᜐᜓ)

1. youtiao (especially the Philippine version)

   Synonym: bitso-bitso

Derived terms

• bitso-bitso
• bitso-bitsuhan
• magbibitso
• magbitso

 

Related terms

• bihon
• biko
• bithay

 

See also

• bilo-bilo
• pinisi
• siyakoy

 

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Hokkien 米醬／米酱 (bí-chiùⁿ), according to Manuel (1948). Compare Hokkien 米醋 (bí-chhò͘, “rice vinegar”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /biˈt͡ʃo/, [bɪˈt͡ʃo]
• Hyphenation: bit‧so

Noun

bitsó (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜒᜆ᜔ᜐᜓ)

1. a kind of starchy sauce for fried food

See also

• suam

 

Further reading

• “bitso”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018
• Manuel, E. Arsenio (1948) Chinese elements in the Tagalog language: with some indication of Chinese influence on other Philippine languages and cultures and an excursion into Austronesian linguistics, Manila: Filipiniana Publications, page 18
• Chan-Yap, Gloria (1980) “Hokkien Chinese borrowings in Tagalog”, in Pacific Linguistics, volume B, number 71 (PDF), Canberra, A.C.T. 2600.: The Australian National University, page 137