jowa

Tagalog

Alternative forms

• diyowa, dyowa

Etymology

Alteration of asawa using gay slang prefix jo-. Also, possibly a metathesis of the first syllables of the words in walang joga, with the second element from Spanish jugar, literally, “no play”, implying a serious relationship.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒoaʔ/ [ˈd͡ʒoː.ɐʔ], /ˈd͡ʒoa/ [ˈd͡ʒoː.ɐ]
  • IPA^(key): (no yod coalescence) /ˈdjoaʔ/ [ˈd̪joː.ɐʔ], (no yod coalescence) /ˈdjoa/ [ˈd̪joː.ɐ]
• Rhymes: -oaʔ, -oa
• Syllabification: jo‧wa

Noun

jowà or jowa (Baybayin spelling ᜇ᜔ᜌᜓᜏ) (slang, originally gay slang)

1. lover; boyfriend or girlfriend

   Synonyms: kasintahan, (male) nobyo, (female) nobya, karelasyon, katipan, kasuyo, (slang) siyota, (colloquial) bata

   • 2015, Gretisbored, THE JILTED BRIDE, Margaret S. Sanapo

     Ganyan lang iyan dahil may pinagdadaanan," anas ko din sa bakla. "Baka nagdududa sa ating dalawa, hindi kaya? Baka iniisip na jowa mo ako. Yuck, kadiri! Hinding-hindi kita papatulan" "As if naman papatulan kita. Bwisit kang bakla ka!

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2002, Corazon D. Villareal, Lily Rose R. Tope, Patricia May B. Jurilla, Ruptures & Departures, →ISBN:

     Sobrang majubis naman ang jowa mo, sister. May unan ka na, may kama ka pa! In the name of fun.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. spouse; husband or wife

   Synonym: asawa

See also

• jowawiz
• jusawa
• juwawa

 

Further reading

• “jo wa”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018