Etymology

balikbayan

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Today it means: A Filipino returning to the Philippines after spending time in another country. Full definition →

First used 20th c.Tagalog balikbayan
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The story

  1. Tagalog · borrowed frombalikbayan
  2. English todaybalikbayan

From Tagalog balikbayan, from balik (“to return”) + bayan (“home country”).

First known use, by meaning

  • from 20th c. A Filipino returning to the Philippines after spending time in another country.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.