Filipino puns, dad jokes or uncle jokes

Last updated December 19, 2024

When I was a Kuya in my teens i’d crack jokes and everyone would laugh and think I was cool, because everyone else was 10 years old and below.

But when you reach a certain age, I think that’s around 38 or whatever age you were when you finally decided that skinny jeans were cool, you become what we call an Uncle. That’s when all your younger peers have children and you decide you have another chance at being cool and funny again with a new generation of people shorter than you.

This is the period where you experiment with the kind of jokes you never used when you were younger because they weren’t fresh and original. Kinda like how you used to be. 

Puns are part of this new arsenal, and some studies have shown that puns and other jokes of this genus are the “transition jokes” to overall dad jokes.

If you’re an english-speaking Filipino uncle like me, then you might have used puns of Filipino words. If you have, we are on another level because we have to come up with puns that transcend a single language, yet instill pity and cringe from pre-teens and significant others. These are jokes that our fore-uncles would have been proud of.

If you are entering the Uncle phase of your life, look no further for I come bearing gifts from our Elvis-look-a-like uncles of yore.

I “hopia” like them!

Filipino food puns, and some general puns too

• Why do therapists cry after eating spicy coconut-based dishes? “Bicol they express themselves.”
• What is half a designer hand bag? “Louis Bitin.”
• What do you call spirit fingers that cause confusion among Tagalogs? “Diliri-ous.”
• What is a good condiment in the Visayas? “Maayo-naise.”
• What do you call a Tagalog buried alive? “A libing thing.”
• What do you call a person who takes pictures of kakanin? “Puto-grapher.”
• What is a thankful Ilokano chicken called? “Agya-manok.”
• Why is it bad to add salt to holy water? Because it is aSIN.
• Anong tawag sa flan nagkagalit? “Leche.”
• What is design software that makes you hungry? “Adobo Putoshop.”
• What do you call a group of dogs? “Aso-ciation.”
• When is the best time to take medicine? “Alas-dose.”
• What do you call a dirty ship in Cebu? “Sagboat.”
• What do you call luxury slippers? “Chanel-as.”
• What do you call the loading icon that appears after ordering a jacket on a Tagalog website? “E-coat.” (from ikot or turn, spin)
• What is Tagalog for “nice butt”? “Ma-booty.” (from mabuti or good)
• What is Tagalog for a jacket that makes you sad? “Malung-coat.“
• What do you call a very secretive uncle? “Incogtito“
• What do you call Tagalog spirit fingers that understand? “Intindi-hands.”
• What happens when you drop a kalabasa? Squash!
• Anong sabi ng paniki nung pinagbibintangan siya? “Bat ako?” (What did the bat say when it was accused? “Why me?” or “Bakit ako”)
• What is the father of all pulutan dishes for Ilocanos? Papa Ethan.
• Why are lechon and turkey BFF’s? They are baste friends forever!
• What do you say to a scared taco? “Taco’t ka ba?”
• What do you call someone who is not afraid of vampires? “Matafang“
• What noodle brand gets you pregnant right away? Instant mami.

Do you have any Filipino puns? Puns in other Filipino languages are welcome, comment below or email me at albert@filipeanut.art.

Filipino pun artprints & printables!

Sometimes Filipino puns are so amazing, I make downloadable art of them. Check them out below and get one as a gift for yourself or that fellow pun-lover you know, and hate.

Filipino puns for “tsinelas“

• Who is the king of slippers? Godz-inelas (or Tsin-zillas).
• What is the capital of the country that wears the most slippers? Metro Tsinelas.
• What do you call slippers with a goatee? CHIN-nelas!

Filipino puns for bread

• What do you call pan de sal that’s no longer warm? Fan de Sal. Printable on Etsy.
• What do you call Fast and Furious pan de sal? Vin de Sal. Printable on Etsy.

More Filipino puns for the word “fan”

• Who kept Tinkerbell cool when Captain Hook’s aircon stopped working? Peter Fan. Printable on Etsy.
• What is something you slice, and keeps you cool at the same time? Pay-pie.

Filipino food jokes and puns

Funny company logos and puns by other artists

Another popular and hilarious artform is funny company logo designs, especially when international brands and logos are made into Filipino puns. To see a few that I saw at the 2022 Paskomiket, check out some of them in sticker form here. Be sure to follow the artists there too!

Photos of funny puns, signs, and more

Whenever I travel or simply go out to bike or eat, I’ll find an occasional funny pun on a sign, or a hilarious product. I took photos of some I’ve seen and posted them in a blog post. If you have any you’ve seen on the street, do share them and I’ll cite you as the PUTOgrapher.

See comics of Filipino food puns and jokes I drew here!

• “PUTOgrapher” printable on Etsy.
• “Tickets to MONGGO-lia, I HOPIA like it” printable on Etsy.
• “I GATA go, why are you LAING” printable on Etsy.
• “GOTO your room!” printable on Etsy.