CultureJuly 26, 2026

bayanihan

buy-ah-nee-HAHN

Definition

A Filipino cultural value characterized by the spirit of communal unity, work, and cooperation to achieve a particular goal.

Etymology

Derived from the Tagalog root word 'bayan,' which refers to a nation, town, or community. The suffix '-an' combined with the prefix 'ba-' transforms the noun into a concept describing the collective action of the people.

In the news

The term is used by an event organizer to describe the collective effort and support provided by volunteers who made the festival possible. It highlights the sense of shared community responsibility inherent in Filipino culture.

Rochester Filipino Festival draws crowd for first-ever celebration of food, music and culture

Read the full article ↗

WHEC.com

Related words

ceili

A traditional Irish social gathering or party featuring folk music, singing, and dancing.

Culture

craic

A term in Irish culture referring to fun, entertainment, enjoyable conversation, or good…

Culture

dulcimer

A musical instrument of the zither family, typically having a wooden sound box and metal…

Culture

ethnomusicology

The study of music in its cultural context, often focusing on non-Western, folk, or…

Culture

hymnody

The collective body, study, or practice of singing hymns, especially within a religious…

Culture

musicology

The academic study of music, including its history, forms, cultural impact, and the…

Culture

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.