buwenamano
Tagalog
Alternative forms
- buena mano
- bwenamano
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish buena mano (“good hand”), due to the supposed good pick or fine hand of the first customer of the day. It is said that the concept originally came from the Sangley Chinese who are believed to be good at running a business.
Pronunciation
- Hyphenation: bu‧we‧na‧ma‧no
- IPA(key): /buɛnaˈmano/, [bʊɛnɐˈmɐno]
Noun
buwenamano
- (business) first customer of the day
- (business) first sale of the day
Usage notes
In the Philippines, it is believed that usage of this term invites luck into the business throughout the day, so business owners tend to welcome the first customer with a bigger smile.
Related terms
- manigo
- pasinaya
Further reading
- http://www.shellyviajeratravel.com/2017/08/filipino-phrases-borrowed-from-spanish.html