In the

context Context may refer to: * Context (language use), the relevant constraints of the communicative situation that influence language use, language variation, and discourse summary Computing * Context (computing), the virtual environment required to su ...

Philippine culture The culture of the Philippines is characterized by cultural diversity. Although the multiple ethnic groups of the Philippine archipelago have only recently established a shared Filipino national identity, their cultures were all shaped by the ...

, the Tagalog word ''"kilig"'' refers to the feeling of

excitement Excitation, excite, exciting, or excitement may refer to: * Excitation (magnetic), provided with an electrical generator or alternator * Excite Ballpark, located in San Jose, California * Excite (web portal), web portal owned by IAC * Electron e ...

due to various love circumstances such as making first eye contact with one's crush or watching another person propose to someone. The term kilig can also refer to having a butterfly in one's stomach, and the feeling of being flushed that only a certain person can make one feel. It is a romantic excitement. There is no exact equivalent English term for kilig.

Definition

There is no clear definition of the concept or a definite translation into English. Some of the not so accurate translations include "giddiness," "shudder," "tremble," "tingle" and "thrill." The word is much closer to the

idiom An idiom is a phrase or expression that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase; but some phrases become figurative idioms while retaining the literal meaning of the phrase. Categorized as formulaic language, ...

atic expression " tickle pink." According to

Ateneo de Manila University , mottoeng = Light in the Lord , type = Private, research, non-profit, coeducational basic and higher education institution , established = December 10, 1859 , religious_affiliation = Roman Catholic (Jesuits) , academic_aff ...

Sociology Anthropology Department faculty member Skilty Labastilla, kilig is usually felt in the first phase of romance, particularly during

courtship Courtship is the period wherein some couples get to know each other prior to a possible marriage. Courtship traditionally may begin after a betrothal and may conclude with the celebration of marriage. A courtship may be an informal and private m ...

honeymoon A honeymoon is a vacation taken by newlyweds immediately after their wedding, to celebrate their marriage. Today, honeymoons are often celebrated in destinations considered exotic or romantic. In a similar context, it may also refer to the phase ...

phase in a relationship. In scientific terms, according to

neuropsychologist Neuropsychology is a branch of psychology concerned with how a person's cognition and behavior are related to the brain and the rest of the nervous system. Professionals in this branch of psychology often focus on how injuries or illnesses of t ...

Dr. Danilo Tuazon,

hormone A hormone (from the Greek participle , "setting in motion") is a class of signaling molecules in multicellular organisms that are sent to distant organs by complex biological processes to regulate physiology and behavior. Hormones are required ...

s play a role when someone feels kilig. Those hormones that stimulate emotions include

testosterone Testosterone is the primary sex hormone and anabolic steroid in males. In humans, testosterone plays a key role in the development of Male reproductive system, male reproductive tissues such as testes and prostate, as well as promoting secondar ...

produced by the

Leydig cell Leydig cells, also known as interstitial cells of the testes and interstitial cells of Leydig, are found adjacent to the seminiferous tubules in the testicle and produce testosterone in the presence of luteinizing hormone (LH). They are polyhedral ...

adrenaline Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone and medication which is involved in regulating visceral functions (e.g., respiration). It appears as a white microcrystalline granule. Adrenaline is normally produced by the adrenal glands and ...

and

norepinephrine Norepinephrine (NE), also called noradrenaline (NA) or noradrenalin, is an organic chemical in the catecholamine family that functions in the brain and body as both a hormone and neurotransmitter. The name "noradrenaline" (from Latin '' ad'', ...

, both produced by the

adrenal medulla The adrenal medulla ( la, medulla glandulae suprarenalis) is part of the adrenal gland. It is located at the center of the gland, being surrounded by the adrenal cortex. It is the innermost part of the adrenal gland, consisting of chromaffin cel ...

. Testosterone is for motivation while adrenaline is for the increase on one's heart rate and norepinephrine is for the regulation of emotions. Sociologist Bro. Clifford Sorita, defines kilig as an initial attraction; either having a crush or infatuating over someone. Sorita insists that on this phase, it can't be defined that if one feels kilig over someone, the person already has a deep relationship with that certain someone and asserts that kilig is not yet love. However, the sociologist also added that kilig may lead to love if it becomes an avenue for more meaningful interaction with the person. Filipino journalist

Bernadette Sembrano Bernadette Lorraine Palisada Dominguez Sembrano-Aguinaldo (; born February 18, 1976) is a Filipino reporter, newscaster, television host, and musician. Career Newscasting career Sembrano started with IBC as a newscaster in 1997 before mo ...

states in her column in ''

The Philippine Star ''The Philippine Star'' (self-styled ''The Philippine STAR'') is an English-language newspaper in the Philippines and the flagship brand of the Philstar Media Group. First published on July 28, 1986, by veteran journalists Betty Go-Belmonte, ...

'' that aside from infatuated love, kilig can also refer to intense passion or interest that leads a person to jump for joy or shout with high-pitched voice. One can also feel kilig while watching another pair in a romantic relationship in film or television shows. The word "kilig" was added to the

Oxford English Dictionary The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED'') is the first and foundational historical dictionary of the English language, published by Oxford University Press (OUP). It traces the historical development of the English language, providing a com ...

in March 2016. As a noun, it is defined as "shudder" or a "thrill", while as an adjective it is defined as "exhilarated by an exciting or romantic experience".

References

{{Reflist Philippine culture Tagalog words and phrases

Definition

See also

References