Fish Name Translator
Find the English name of Philippine fish and seafood — and the Bisaya or Tagalog name of the fish you know.
| Bisaya / Cebuano | Tagalog | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lapu-lapu | Lapu-lapu | Grouper | Prized for steaming and sinigang |
| Bangus | Bangus | Milkfish | The national fish; grilled or fried |
| Tulingan | Tulingan | Bullet / frigate tuna | Often cooked as paksiw |
| Bariles | Tambakol | Yellowfin tuna | Davao and GenSan favourite for kinilaw and grilled panga |
| Malasugi | Malasugi | Swordfish / Marlin | Popular for kinilaw in Davao |
| Danggit / Kitang / Samaral | Danggit / Samaral | Rabbitfish (spinefoot) | Venomous spines; famous dried from Cebu |
| Bisugo | Bisugo | Threadfin bream | Fried whole |
| Talakitok | Talakitok | Trevally / Jack | Fried or as escabeche |
| Mangagat | Maya-maya | Red snapper | Sinigang, sweet-and-sour |
| Pantat / Ito | Hito | Catfish | Freshwater; grilled or fried |
| Tilapia | Tilapia | Tilapia | Farmed freshwater fish |
| Bodboron | Galunggong | Round scad | Everyday fish; fried |
| Anduhaw | Hasa-hasa | Short mackerel | Grilled or paksiw |
| Tamarong | Matang-baka | Bigeye scad | Fried |
| Molmol | Loro | Parrotfish | Reef fish; best left on reefs |
| Dalagang bukid | Dalagang bukid | Fusilier (yellowtail) | Fried |
| Lumahan | Alumahan | Indian mackerel | Sinigang or fried |
| Tangigue | Tanigue | Spanish mackerel | Steaks, kinilaw |
| Labahita | Labahita | Surgeonfish | Grilled |
| Pugapo | Lapu-lapu (small) | Small grouper | Name varies by area |
| Lawlaw | Tamban | Sardine | Canned or fried; Moalboal sardine run |
| Bolinao | Dilis | Anchovy | Dried dilis is a snack |
| Nukos | Pusit | Squid | Grilled or adobo |
| Kugita | Pugita | Octopus | Kinilaw or grilled |
| Pasayan | Hipon | Shrimp | Sinigang, tempura |
| Kasag | Alimasag | Blue crab | Steamed |
| Alimango | Alimango | Mud crab | Chili crab |
| Tahong | Tahong | Green mussel | Soup with ginger |
| Pakol | Pakol | Triggerfish | Grilled |
| Ibis | Ibis | Mojarra / Silver biddy | Fried |
| Mamsa | Talakitok (small) | Small jack | Fried |
| Langkoy / Pating | Pating | Shark | Many species are protected |
| Pagi | Pagi | Stingray | Cooked in coconut milk in some areas |
| Bakasi | Igat | Sea eel | Soup (Cordova/Mactan specialty) |
| Gisaw | Banak | Mullet | Grilled |
| Ulang | Ulang | Freshwater prawn | Grilled |
| Lukot | Lukot | Sea hare eggs | Eaten as kinilaw in Cebu |
| Tuyom | Tuyom | Sea urchin | Eaten raw from the shell |
| Guso | Guso | Seaweed (Eucheuma) | Seaweed salad |
| Lato | Lato | Sea grapes | Salad with tomato and onion |
Why the same fish has many names
Fish names change from island to island — even between towns. Market vendors in Cebu, Davao and Manila may use different words for the same catch, and the same word can mean different fish elsewhere. Use the table as a starting point and ask the vendor. Read more in Cebu's and Davao's different fish.