wakang

Cebuano

Alternative forms

• kwakang
• gwakang

Etymology

From ellipsis of earlier limericks, such as Insik wakang, kaon, kalibang (literally “Chinese (laborer), eat, and shit!”)^[1] or Insek kwakang baboy tikangkang (literally “Chinese (laborer), pig (with) legs up in the air!”), which were old derogatory visayan limericks repeatedly sang by children on the streets during the late 1800s. The word itself in the limericks is likely originally borrowed from Hokkien, possibly 我工 (góa kang, “I work”) or 我空 (óa-khàng!, “my heavens!; OMG!; wow! (expletive)”) through wakanga, as per Wolff (1972) who describes it similar to ching chong. Compare with Tagalog beho.

Interjection

wákang!

1. (ethnic slur, slang, derogatory, offensive) Expression used to tease Chinese people or Filipinos of Chinese descent.

Noun

wakang

1. (offensive, ethnic slur) a person with Chinese-like facial features; a Chinese person or Filipino of Chinese descent

Usage notes

• Usage of the term is usually particularly offensive or provocative as a derogatory ethnic slur from its crude or pejorative connotations in the past, especially to Chinese Filipinos.

Synonyms

• Tsekwa
• tsibay
• Insik

Derived terms

• wákang insik, tsíbay!

See also

• wakanga

References

1. John U. Wolff (1972) A Dictionary of Cebuano Visayan‎

Dupaningan Agta

Noun

wakang

1. step; pace; stride

Synonyms

• laksang