maharlika

Tagalog

Alternative forms

Etymology

From a metathesis of Sanskrit महर्द्धिक (maharddhika, “prosperous”). Compare Kapampangan mardika, Maranao maradika' / mirdika, Tausug mahardikaꞌ, Buginese maradeka, Javanese ꦩꦂꦢꦶꦏ (mardika), Balinese mardéka, Indonesian mahardika, and Malay merdeka. The gay slang sense is due to the similarity with the word mahal, which also came from Sanskrit.

Pronunciation

  • (Standard Tagalog)
    • IPA(key): /mahaɾliˈka/ [mɐ.hɐɾ.lɪˈxa], (nonstandard) /maˌhaɾliˈka/ [mɐˌhaɾ.lɪˈxa]
      • Rhymes: -a
    • IPA(key): /mahaɾliˈkaʔ/ [mɐ.hɐɾ.lɪˈxaʔ]
      • Rhymes: -aʔ
  • Syllabification: ma‧har‧li‧ka

Noun

maharliká or mahárliká or maharlikâ (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜑᜇ᜔ᜎᜒᜃ)

  1. (historical) freeman; a member of the feudal warrior class in ancient Tagalog society
  2. (obsolete) act of freeing someone
    Synonym: laya

Derived terms

  • kamaharlikaan
  • magmaharlika
  • maharlikain
  • Maharnilad
  • pagkamaharlika
  • pagmaharlika

See also

Adjective

maharliká or mahárliká or maharlikâ (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜑᜇ᜔ᜎᜒᜃ)

  1. noble; aristocratic
    Synonyms: dakila, noblesa, kagalang-galang, kamahalan, dugong bughaw
  2. (gay slang) expensive
    Synonyms: mahal, (gay slang) Mahalia Jackson
  3. (obsolete) free (from slavery)
    Synonym: malaya
  4. (obsolete) plebeian; common
    Synonym: karaniwan

Usage notes

  • The word maharlika used to refer to the middle class of ancient Tagalog society. During the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan era in the Philippines, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. claimed that maharlika referred to the nobility of ancient Tagalog society. Because of this, maharlika evolved into modern use to mean “nobility” but the correct terminology for it was the maginoo class.

References

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