# Spelling question:- Philippines/Filipino **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 15, 2000, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-question-philippines-filipino/19599 "2000-05-15T20:03:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DKD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@DKD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKD)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2000, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-question-philippines-filipino/19599/1 "2000-05-15T20:03:51Z")
A trivial question I know, but one that has been bothering me for several days. I’ve asked friends etc but no-one knows the answer or is sufficiently interested in pursuing it. So…Why is “Philippines” spelt with a “PH” and “Filipino” spelt with an “F”? Is there some language rule in effect that I am blissfully unaware of? What’s it all about? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2000, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-question-philippines-filipino/19599/2 "2000-05-15T20:09:44Z")
I don’t know. Probably because “that’s the way it’s always been.” However, IIRC, the Tagalog (native language) actually spells it with a “P” because there is not “F” sound native to that language. ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2000, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-question-philippines-filipino/19599/3 "2000-05-15T20:27:22Z")
I suspect that it is because the natives of the _Islas Filipinas_ (the name under Spanish colonism) decided that they were Filipinos, period, no matter who was in charge. After the Americans bought the Phillippines in 1898 (Treaty of Paris: $20M; the Spanish also ceded Guam and Puerto Rico for free, and agreed to leave Cuba) I imagine they chose to use the most different variant spelling they could, to show their ownership. But it’s easier to change a map than a person’s identity. If the natives still consider themselves ‘filipinos’, and we have to deal with them, it’s best just to go along. I think I’ll start a separate thread on this practice… ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2000, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-question-philippines-filipino/19599/4 "2000-05-15T20:28:53Z")
All I could say is that the Philippines are names after King Philip of Spain, and that Filipino comes from the Spanish, and originally referred to a person specifically of Spanish decent in the Philippines. I’m assuming Filipino reflects the Spanish spelling, but exactly what the reason is…hmmm…maybe there’s a hint in there for someone with a more intuitive mind… ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2000, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spelling-question-philippines-filipino/19599/5 "2000-05-15T20:31:04Z")
What he said: > [@](#): > > Main Entry: _Phil·ip·pines_ > Pronunciation: -'pEnz, -"pEnz > Usage: geographical name > or Spanish Re.pú.bli.ca de Fi.li.pi.nas > \re-'pü-blE-kä-[th]A-“fE-lE-'pE-(”)näs\ or Pilipino Re.pu.bli.ka ng Pi.li.pi.nas -nä[ng]-“pE-lE-'pE-(”)näs\ country E Asia comprising the Philippine Islands; a republic; once a Spanish possession & (1898-1945) a U.S. possession capital Manila land area 115,651 square miles (299,536 square kilometers), population 64,954,000 > > Main Entry: _Fil·i·pi·no_ > Pronunciation: -'pE-(")nO > Function: noun > Inflected Form(s): plural Filipinos > Etymology: Spanish > Date: circa 1889 > 1 : a native of the Philippine islands > 2 : a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines The native Filipino decided to stick with the Spanish name of the islands. They were using it at least 9 years before the U.S. took over. Esprix