Teh.

Such a tiny word but packed with so much meaning. Depending on the tone used, it can convey curiosity or disappointment or encouragement or something else.

It can be a question or a statement. It can assign blame or prove a point. It’s meaningful but also meaningless. It’s a punctuation. A breath between thoughts. It conjoins with other words (“ay, teh”) yet can stand on its own. It can anchor a story.

It’s, for the most part, an Ilonggo expression. And one of my most favorite words.

Teh, maano ka?