28/07/2026
MATH IN FILIPINO ๐
Can advanced mathematics be written in Filipino?
For UP Diliman BS Mathematics graduate Andrei Clyde Chua Arellano, the answer is yes.
In his thesis, โIsang Computational na Pagsusuri sa mga Heuristic nina Cohen at Lenstra para sa mga Quadratic Number Field,โ Arellano used Filipino/Tagalog to discuss advanced mathematics, marking a first for UP Dilimanโs mathematics program according to Radar PH.
While many mathematical terms in his paper were still borrowed from English, Arellano also used several Filipino translation choices and writing conventions.
Among them:
Odd โ Gansal
Even โ Tukol
Part โ Bahagi
If X, then Y โ Kung X, ay Y
Let X โ Sabihing X
Assume X โ Ipagpalagay na X
Finite/Infinite โ May/Walang Hangganan
Without loss of generality โ Nang walang kawalan ng pagkapanlahat
Value โ Halaga
Unique โ Natatangi
Arellano also clarified that these translations are not official or fixed standards.
According to him, mathematics does not have a regulatory board that decides which terms must be used. Even in English mathematics, terms develop through repeated use, writing, discussion, agreement, and disagreement among mathematicians over time.
Furthermore, even the terms used in English Mathematics are also loanwords from ancient languages such as Greek and Latin. An example would be the word hypotenuse coming from the Greek word hypo (under) and teinein (to stretch).
In the Philippines, the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino helps promote and enrich Filipino as the national language under Republic Act No. 7104, but Arellano noted that technical terms in fields like mathematics are still shaped largely by the people who actually write, teach, study, and use them.
Despite existing legislation and legal frameworks governing language and terminology, individuals working within these fields albeit having the authority to independently alter or translate technical terms, do not have the power to force the people to use them. Ultimately, it is the general public, through everyday usage and practical applications that dictate the change and usage of these terms.
For now, his work adds to the growing attempt to show that Filipino can be used not only for everyday speech, but also for proofs, theories, and advanced mathematics.
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