TERMS USED IN BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

For most recent graduates, it quickly becomes evident that what you learn in civil
engineering school is not necessarily enough to become a confident engineer. Some things
can’t be taught in classrooms at all; instead, they're acquired through years of work on site and
solving construction problems first-hand. Among the many things you learn on site are the
terminologies used by construction workers that can sound like absolute nonsense to engineers
at first.
While it is important to have a knowledge on these terminologies, in a Philippine setting
of construction, one should also learn the vernacular term of it.
The following is a list of building construction terms and its corresponding vernacular
term:

Building Construction – English to Vernacular Terms:

1. Engineer Inhinyero
2. Architect Arkitekto
3. Carpenter Karpintero
4. Contractor Kontratista
5. Painter Pintor
6. Mason Kantero
7. Foreman Kapatas
8. Laborer Piyon
9. Plumber Tubero
10. Electrician Elektrisyan
11. Tinsmith Latero
12. Carpentry Karpinterya
13. Carpentry Karpinterya
14. Masonry Kantaria
15. Plaster Palitada
16. Plumbing Tuberia
17. Tinsmithing Lateria
18. Foot Piye
19. Meter Metro/Miter
20. Inches Pulgada
21. Weight Bigat
22. Force Pwersa
23. Gable Roof Dos Aguas
24. Hip Roof Quatro Aguas
25. Lean to Roof Sibe/Sibi
26. Astragal Balidura
27. Beam Biga
28. Balusters Barandillas
29. Baseboard Rodapies
30. Bath Tub Baniera
31. Bottom Chord Tirante
32. Brick Ladrillo
33. Canopy Media Agua
34. Cast Iron Hiero, Pondido (pondidong bakal)
35. Ceiling Kisame
36. Ceiling Joist Kostilyahe
37. Cement Semento
38. Cement Tile Baldosa
39. Column Kolumna, Poste
40. Concrete Larga Masa, Konkreto
41. Concrete Beam Biga
42. Corrugated G.I. Sheets Hiero Canalado Galbanisado
43. Closed Stringer Escalera
44. Crushed Stone Eskombro
45. Ceiling Board Kostilyahe
46. Chain Bolt Bakal de Kadena
47. Earthfill Eskombro
48. Exterior Siding Tabika
49. Eave Alero
50. Fascia Board Senepa
51. Fill Tambak
52. Filler Tapal, Dagdag
53. Fillet Batidora
54. Door Pinto
55. Door Hand Sombrero Pintuan
56. Door Jamb Hamba Pintuan
57. Downspout Tubo de Banada
58. Faucet Gripo
59. Flooring Suelo
60. Floor Joist Soleras
61. Floor Sill Guililan
62. Alternate or Staggered Uno Sinotra
63. Anchor Liyabe
64. Aligned Kalinya
65. Alignment Asintada
66. Barrel Bolt Tarankilya
67. Brace Pie de Gallo
68. Collar Sinturon
69. Reinforcing Bars Cabilla or Bakal
70. Rafters Kilo
71. Diagonal Brace Sinturon
72. Closed Stringer Escalera
73. Chain Bolt Bakal de Kadena
74. Putty Masilya
75. Flush Alahado
76. Groove Canal
77. Grooved Canalada
78. Laying of CHB Asinta
79. Level Lebel
80. Miter Kanto Mesa
81. Pickwork Piketa
82. Pattern Plantilya
83. Plaster Palitada
84. Projection Bolado
85. Plumb Bob Hulog
86. Plumb Line Hulog
87. Quarter Round Mediacana
88. Rabbet Vaciada
89. Scratch Coat Rebokada
90. Stucco Palitada
91. Shape Korte
92. Slope Bahada
93. Spacing Blento
94. Stake Istaka
95. Temper Subuhan
96. Tum Buckle Perkong Pangkabit
97. Varnished Finish Monyeka
98. Varnish Varnisado
99. Foundation Footing Pundasyon
100. Girt or Girder Sepo
101. Gravel Graba
102. Gutter Alulod, Canal
103. Hinge Bisagra
104. Horizontal Stud Trabe-Anzo
105. Hand Rail Gabay
106. Head Sombrero
107. Jamb Hamba
108. Kingpost Pendolum
109. Landing Mesa, Pahingaan
110. Lavatory Lababo
111. Machine Bolt Pierno Pasinta
112. Mixture of sand and gravel Lastilyas
113. Mortar Joints Kostura
114. Moulding Moldura
115. Newel Post Tukod
116. Nicolito Ear Estanyo
117. Nails Pako
118. Nut Tuerka
119. Oakum Estopa
120. Open Stringer Hardinera
121. Overhang or Projection Bolada
122. Panel Bandeha
123. Panelled Door De Bandeha
124. Pendulum Pendulion
125. Pan Gravel Grabita
126. Lead Tingga
127. Plank Board Senepa
128. Plug Tapon
129. Post Poste, Halige
130. Purlins Reostra, Purlina
131. Ridgeroll Caballete
132. Riser Takip Silipan
133. Rivets Rematse
134. Plain G.I. Sheet Hiero Liso Galbanisado
135. Nailers Pamakuan
136. Sketch Plan Krokis
137. Wire Alambre
138. Wrought Iron Strap Plantsuela
139. Wood Plank Tabla
140. Window Sill Pasimano
141. Screw Turnilyo
142. Septic Tank Poso Negro
143. Sheet Plantsa
144. Shower Dutcha
145. Stringer Madre
146. Solder Bar Estanyo
147. Split Knob Poleya
148. Top Chord Kilo, Tabilan
149. Transom Espeho
150. Tread Baytang per Dano
151. Truss Kilo
152. Washer Pitsa, Tsapa
153. Water Closet Inidoro
154. Bathroom Banyo
155. Window Grille Rehas
156. Window hand Sombrero Bintana