Burokán

Burokán is a term used in certain Philippine languages and related Austronesian varieties to refer to a tropical cyclone, typically a hurricane or typhoon. In regional contexts, the word appears in everyday speech, folklore, and local news as a generic label for strong windstorms, rather than as a formal meteorological category.

Etymology and scope

The word is believed to derive from roots meaning wind or storm within Austronesian language families. Related forms in neighboring languages can denote storms or significant wind events, though the precise etymology can vary by language group. Burokán is a regional term and does not correspond to an international meteorological classification.

Usage in language and culture

In the Philippines and nearby areas, burokán may be used descriptively to convey the impact or magnitude of a storm. It can appear in traditional narratives, poetry, and contemporary reporting to evoke the power of a windstorm. Because it is a vernacular expression, its connotations may differ by locality, including associations with fear, resilience, or communal response to disaster.

Relation to formal meteorology

Internationally, standard terminology comes from meteorological agencies, using categories such as tropical cyclone, hurricane, or typhoon according to basin. Burokán functions as a local or cultural label rather than an official technical term.

See also

Typhoon, Hurricane, Cyclone, Bagyo, Badai.

Notes

This article provides a concise overview of the term’s regional usage. Specific meanings can vary by language community, and authoritative linguistic or meteorological sources may offer deeper, location-specific detail.