buwaya

Ilocano

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /buˈwaja/, [buˈwa.ja]
• Hyphenation: bu‧wa‧ya

Noun

buáya (Kur-itan spelling ᜊᜓᜏᜌ)

1. Alternative form of buaya

Limos Kalinga

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Philippine *buqaya, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *buqaya, from Proto-Austronesian *buqaya.

Noun

buwaya

1. crocodile

Lubuagan Kalinga

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Philippine *buqaya, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *buqaya, from Proto-Austronesian *buqaya.

Noun

buwaya

1. crocodile

Tagalog

mga buwaya

Alternative forms

• buaya
• buhaya
• bwaya

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *buqaya, from Proto-Austronesian *buqaya. Compare Malay buaya, and Eastern Bontoc fowaya.

Senses of “corrupt police officer; greedy and corrupt, etc.”, from the 1970s and 1980s, are an allusion to the brown color of the Philippine Constabulary (PC) uniform.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /buˈaja/, [ˈbwa.jɐ]
• Hyphenation: bu‧wa‧ya

Noun

buwaya (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜓᜏᜌ)

1. crocodile; caiman

   Synonym: kokodrilo

2. (by extension) alligator
3. (slang) corrupt police officer
4. (figuratively) greedy or corrupt person (especially a politician)
   • 1987, Alfredo Navarro Salanga, Kamao: Tula Ng Protesta 1970–1986:

     Inaayunan pa nito, sa halip na bakahin ang nagmamalasakit na mga pinuno ng bayan. Ang mga buwaya at baboy sa Kongreso'y patuloy na nasasandat.

     He still agrees with them, instead of taking up the struggle of concerned national leaders. The "crocodiles" and "pigs" in Congress still remain in their positions.

   • 1992, Rebolusyonaryong panunuring masa sa sining at panitikan: mga dokumento ng 1971 ng Panulat para sa Kaunlaran ng Sambayanan (PAKSA) at Nagkakaisang Progresibong Artista-Arkitekto (NPAA)., →ISBN:

     Ipinakikita si Marcos bilang isa sa mga buwaya na hawak-hawak ang tali ng gusaling kinaroroonan ng Con-Con.

     Marcos is shown as one of the "crocodiles" [corrupt politicians] holding a rope tied on the building where the Con-Con [Constitutional Convention] is held.

   • 2003, Jay De Castro, At tumestigo ang asintado: Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson:

     Maraming beses silang kinutya at tinakot ng mga buwaya sa Kamara at ahas sa Malacanang na walang ... Itinuloy nila ang kanilang sinimulang laban sa Kongreso sa iba't ibang pulong sa mga paaralan at rally sa mga lansangan.

     They are ridiculed and intimidated many times by the "crocodiles" (corrupt politicians) in the Batasang Pambansa and the "snakes" (turncoats) in Malacañang who have no ... They continued what they started against Congress at various conferences in schools and rallies in the streets...

Adjective

buwaya (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜓᜏᜌ) (figurative)

1. greedy; avaricious; rapacious

   Synonyms: ganid, suwapang, masakim, makamkam

2. corrupt

   Synonyms: korap, kurakot, tiwali

   buwayang pulis ― corrupt policeman

3. tricky

   Synonyms: suwitik, magdaraya, manlilinlang

Derived terms

• balat-buwaya
• buwakaw
• buwaya sa katihan
• buwayahin
• buwayang-lubog
• dilang-buwaya
• luha ng buwaya
• mabuwaya

 

Further reading

• “buwaya”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018
• Rosario Torres-Yu, Lilia F. Antonio, Ligaya Tiamson-Rubin (1999) Talinghagang Bukambibig, National Bookstore, →ISBN
• Zorc, R. David, San Miguel, Rachel (1993) Tagalog Slang Dictionary‎^[1], Manila: De La Salle University Press, →ISBN
• Blust, Robert, Trussel, Stephen (2010–) “*buqaya”, in The Austronesian Comparative Dictionary