What does the Filipino term 'kuya' mean?

It means 'older brother'. You can use it as honorific formally like for example: “Kuya Peter”. Or you can just use the word “Kuya” to call your older bro informally, or to talk to male acquaintances a few yeas older than you. It is quite similar with the Chinese 'gege' , the Japanese “onii-san/aniki” and the Korean “oppa/hyung”. read more

Kuya means Big brother. We call people “kuya” even if they are not related as long as they are older than us. If a parent have 3 children, and if the eldest is a boy , the mother will call his eldest “kuya” or if it’s a girl assuming it’s the second child , she will be called “ate” or big sister. read more

A term that Charles detests because people only a year younger use it on him to make him feel older 1. A filipino term used as a sign of respect to an older male relative such as a brother, cousin, or family friend 2. read more

The term kuya is actually likely to be applied to any older male who is within her generation and should be treated with respect, perhaps even the very close friends of her brother. Thus, the terms used are often intended to show the degree of the relationship and the type of relationship, rather than literal biological relationship. read more