How to say “My Dear”?

      Bismillah. Another commonly asked question is “How do we say ‘My Love’ or ‘My Dearest’ in Tausug?” This, and other questions falling under the subject “Calls of endearment” is what we will talk about in this post.

       There a number of form of calls indicating one’s affection or endearment to another person (be it a child, another family member, or a loved one). We will introduce only the most common ones and their literal meanings, implications and differences with one another.

Lasa Ku (My Love)

      First is Lasa Ku. It literally stands for “My Love” (lasa is “love” and ku is a possessive pronoun for “I”, its equivalent is “my”). This is the most common form of endearment that we often hear in Bahasa Sug. It can be used when calling your beloved someone (ehem). It is also used by senior family members when calling their beloved relatives who are more or less minor in age. (Like an Aunt to her beloved nephews; or a Grandfather to his beloved grandchildren; and of course, the loving parents to their children). It is used regardless of gender of the one being called.
    (I often hear female-friends calling each other with this term. And oh yes, I haven’t heard male-friends doing the same thing. LOL.)

Dayang Ku (My Princess or My Dear or Dearest)
    Then we have Dayang Ku. The word Dayang came from the term Dayang-Dayang which in English is “Princess” (Dayang-Dayang are names given to daughters of the Sultans and other Royal Families way back in the Sulu Sultanate.  It is still used until today). Thus the literal meaning of Dayang-Dayang ku which eventually became Dayang ku is “My Princess”; then only used for females.   
    But through time, the term Dayang ku had evolved and is now used to indicate one’s “showing of importance” to the other person. It can now mean “My dearest”. Although Dayang ku is usually feminine, it is now sometimes used to refer to males also. Dayang ku can be used both for couples (married couples) and also by elder family members to their beloved “children”.

Dang Ku (My Dear)
    Dang ku is the shorter form of Dayang ku, but is more affectionate and less gender-strict. This term are only used by married couples (Husband to wife or wife to husband). Nothing more, nothing less.

Langga’ Ku (My Love)
    The origin of the term Langga’ is from the Bisayan word: Palangga’ (loved one). It is now used in Bahasa Sug to express affection to another person. It is alternatively used for Lasa ku, again used by couples and elder members of the family.

Jantung Ku (My Heart)
      Jantung ku is the least used among the examples we have. It is more poetic and figurative to its meaning (Jantung is “Heart”). We don’t have to discuss why “heart” is preferably used in this sense. We all get the message =)

    So that’s it! We now know the different kinds of calls Tausug used to call their loved ones.

    Please use these terms wisely. (hehe)

    Salam Kasilasa!
    Anak Iluh