Tausoti

Tausoti, more commonly written Tausug (Tausūg), is the ethnolinguistic group native to the Sulu Archipelago in the southwestern Philippines, and the language they speak. The term is sometimes encountered in older or alternate spellings as tausoti. The Tausug are predominantly Muslim and have long engaged in seafaring and trade.

They inhabit the Sulu Archipelago, including the islands of Jolo and Basilan, as well as coastal areas of Mindanao. Diaspora communities are present in Sabah, Malaysia, and elsewhere. Estimates of population vary; the group is among the largest Moro ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines.

Language: Tausug is an Austronesian language, part of the Sama-Bajau subbranch within the broader Malayo-Polynesian family. It is written today mainly in the Latin alphabet, with historical use of Arabic-based scripts (Jawi) for religious and cultural texts. It features dialectal variation across islands.

Cultural practices include the pangalay dance, a distinctive form of traditional arm and hand movements, performed in celebrations. Music often features kulintang gong-chime ensembles. Traditional dress includes the malong and other textiles. The Tausug have a maritime heritage, relying on fishing and trading.

Historically, the Tausug were integral to the Sultanate of Sulu, which was established in the 15th century and resisted Spanish colonization. In modern times, they are citizens of the Philippines with significant political and social influence in the region, while maintaining distinct language and customs amid urbanization and diaspora.