aswang

English

Alternative forms

• asuang

Noun

aswang (plural aswangs)

1. A shapeshifting evil creature in Philippine mythology

Anagrams

• Gnawas

Cebuano

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: as‧wang
• IPA^(key): /ˈʔaswaŋ/ [ˈʔas̪.wɐŋ]

Etymology 1

Unknown.

Noun

áswang

1. (folklore) aswang (shapeshifting evil creature in Philippine mythology)
2. (humorous, somewhat offensive) a person who acts or has the characteristics of an aswang

Etymology 2

From taas + suwang. By rhyming.

Noun

áswang

1. (humorous, somewhat offensive) someone who has an extended chin

   Synonym: babalu

Central Bikol

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: as‧wang
• IPA^(key): /ʔasˈwaŋ/ [ʔasˈwaŋ]

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

aswáng

1. (folklore) aswang (shapeshifting evil creature in Philippine mythology)

Hiligaynon

Noun

aswáng

1. (folklore, mythology) aswang (shapeshifting evil creature in Philippine mythology)

Tagalog

Alternative forms

• asbang — obsolete
• asuvang — obsolete, Spanish-based spelling
• asuang
• asuwang
• uswang

Etymology

From Greater Central Philippine *aswang (“witch”). Compare Aklanon aswang, Cebuano aswang, Hiligaynon aswang, and Malay ason (“evil spirit of the night”). See also Malay suangi (“evil spirit; spirit shaman”). Possibly related to Sanskrit असुर (asura) +‎ -ng.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ʔasˈwaŋ/ [ʔɐsˈwaŋ]
• Rhymes: -aŋ
• Syllabification: as‧wang

Noun

aswáng (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜐ᜔ᜏᜅ᜔)

1. (folklore, mythology) aswang (shapeshifting evil creature in Philippine mythology)

Derived terms

• aswangin
• mag-aswang
• pag-aswangan
• umaswang

Descendants

• → Spanish: asuán

See also

• manananggal
• wakwak

Further reading

• “aswang”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, 2018

Anagrams

• nagwas, sagwan