Glossary of Tagalog Loan Terms: Pautang, Utang, Hulugan and More

Loan ads, apps, and conversations in the Philippines mix English and Filipino freely. If you're new to borrowing, or you work with Filipino customers, family members or colleagues, it helps to know the everyday words people use for loans and debts. This glossary explains the most common Tagalog and Taglish loan terms in plain English, with notes on how they're used.

Core words

Pautang

Meaning: a loan, from the lender's side, meaning "lending" or "money lent out."

Usage: "May pautang ba kayo?" ("Do you offer loans?") Online, pautang online is a common search phrase for online loans. A nagpapautang is a lender (person or business).

Explore options on our pautang page.

Utang

Meaning: a debt, or what you owe.

Usage: "May utang ako sa bangko" ("I owe the bank.") Mangutang means "to borrow," and nangutang is the past tense ("borrowed"). Umutang is also commonly used for "to borrow."

Visit our utang page for help understanding and managing debts.

Hulugan / Hulog

Meaning: installment or installment plan; hulog is a single installment payment.

Usage: "Hulugan ko na lang" ("I'll pay it in installments.") "Magkano ang hulog kada buwan?" ("How much is the monthly installment?") You'll see hulugan in ads for appliances, gadgets, and motorcycles as well as loans.

Bayad / Magbayad

Meaning: payment / to pay.

Usage: "Kailan ang bayad?" ("When is the payment due?")

Bayarin

Meaning: bills or amounts that must be paid.

Interest and cost

Interes

Meaning: interest, the cost of borrowing, usually expressed as a percentage.

Tubo

Meaning: profit or interest earned on money lent. Patubuan means lending money at interest. In everyday talk, "Magkano ang tubo?" means "How much is the interest?"

5-6 (Five-six)

Meaning: an informal lending arrangement where you borrow ₱5 and repay ₱6. That's about 20% interest over a short period, often collected daily or weekly. Five-six lenders are typically unregistered individuals. The effective annual cost can be extremely high, and borrowers have little legal protection. Compare with registered lenders before using these arrangements. See interest rates, EIR and fees explained.

Multa

Meaning: a fine or penalty, such as a late payment fee.

Singil / Maniningil

Meaning: singil is a charge or the act of collecting payment; maniningil is a collector. "Sinisingil na ako" ("I'm already being asked to pay.")

Timing and terms

Takdang petsa / Due date

Meaning: the due date. Many people simply use the English "due date" or "due."

Palugit

Meaning: a grace period or extension. "Puwede bang humingi ng palugit?" ("Can I ask for an extension?") Always ask whether an extension adds fees or interest.

Kinsenas / Akinse at katapusan

Meaning: semi-monthly paydays: the 15th (a-kinse) and the end of the month (katapusan). Many loans and installments are scheduled around these dates.

Sweldo / Sahod

Meaning: salary or wages. A salary loan is often called "sweldo loan" informally. Compare options in salary loan vs personal loan.

Paunang bayad

Meaning: down payment or advance payment. Be careful: a legitimate lender doesn't require you to send an "advance fee" before releasing a cash loan.

Security and guarantees

Sangla / Isangla

Meaning: a pledge or pawn, meaning to use an item as collateral. Sanglaan is a pawnshop. "Isinangla ko ang alahas ko" ("I pawned my jewelry.")

Prenda

Meaning: collateral or pledge, similar to sangla (from Spanish). Common in phrases like "may prenda" (with collateral).

Kolateral

Meaning: collateral, or property used to secure a loan, such as a vehicle (e.g. OR/CR) or real estate title.

Co-maker / Guarantor

Meaning: a person who agrees to be responsible for the loan if the borrower can't pay. Usually used in English. Being a co-maker is a serious commitment. The lender may collect from you.

Saving and community lending

Paluwagan

Meaning: a rotating savings group. Members contribute a fixed amount regularly, and each member takes turns receiving the full pot. It's not a loan from a company, but it functions like interest-free credit for those who receive early. Risk: if a member stops paying, others lose out.

Ipon

Meaning: savings. "Mag-ipon muna" ("Save first.") Building an emergency ipon is the best protection against high-cost borrowing.

Credit and approval

Aprubado / Na-approve

Meaning: approved. Na-disapprove or hindi naaprubahan means declined. No legitimate lender can guarantee you'll be aprubado before assessing your application.

Kredit / Credit

Meaning: credit, meaning your ability to borrow, or the loan itself. Your credit record in the Philippines is maintained through the Credit Information Corporation (CIC) and accredited credit bureaus.

Explore credit options on our kredit page.

Culture note: utang na loob

Utang na loob literally means "debt of the inner self", a debt of gratitude. It isn't financial, but it shapes how many Filipinos think about borrowing from family and friends. Feeling obligated can make it hard to say no to lending or to ask for repayment. Writing down informal family loans (amount, purpose and when it will be paid back) can protect relationships.

Quick reference table

Now that you know the vocabulary, learn how to choose wisely with our guide to comparing personal loans and our first-time borrower guide, or browse registered lenders on the comparison page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between pautang and utang?

Pautang is the loan from the lender's point of view (money lent out). Utang is the debt from the borrower's point of view (what you owe).

What does hulugan mean?

Hulugan means an installment plan; a single installment payment is a hulog.

What is 5-6 lending?

An informal arrangement where you borrow ₱5 and repay ₱6, about 20% over a short period, often collected daily or weekly by unregistered lenders.