kirey

Tagalog

Alternative forms

• kirei

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 綺麗(きれい) (kirei) via a name of a brand of hand and body lotion. For the aggressive sense, possibly a play on kiri.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /kiˈɾej/ [kɪˈɾɛɪ̯]
• Rhymes: -ej
• Syllabification: ki‧rey

Adjective

kiréy (Baybayin spelling ᜃᜒᜇᜒᜌ᜔)

1. (slang) pretty
   • 2001, Genoveva Edroza Matute, Walo at kalahating dekada ng isang buhay: nobela‎^[1], Anvil Publishing, →ISBN, page 96:

     "Um, kirey,” sabi. “Daraga?" Lalo akong nanlamig ngunit hindi ako sumagot. “Daraga, kirey?" sabi na naman. “Hoy, sumagot ka,” sabi ng babae sa likuran. “Huwag kang suplada,” sabi ng isa pa, “baka tayo saktan ...

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. (slang) aggressive; passionate; ardent

   Synonym: mapusok

Further reading

• Zorc, R. David, San Miguel, Rachel (1993) Tagalog Slang Dictionary, Manila: De La Salle University Press, →ISBN, page 76
• Potet, Jean-Paul G. (2016) Tagalog Borrowings and Cognates, Lulu Press, →ISBN, page 344