kamay

Kamay is the Filipino word for the human hand. In Tagalog, it refers to the entire hand, from the wrist to the fingertips, and is used both in literal descriptions and in figurative language related to touch, contact, and capability. Anatomically, kamay includes the palm (palad) and fingers (daliri), with the thumb called hinlalaki. The hand is a fundamental tool in daily life, involved in writing, gripping, cooking, farming, and crafts.

In language and culture, kamay appears in various expressions and practices. Hawak-kamay, meaning “hand in hand,” expresses unity or cooperation. Kamayan, the practice of eating with the hands, is common in social and ceremonial meals and is used to describe a style of dining. In religious and literary contexts, phrases like kamay ng Diyos (the hand of God) convey blessing, power, or intervention. The word also features in proverbs and idioms about skill, care, and assistance, reflecting the hand’s association with action and help.

Regional use and variation: kamay is the Tagalog term for hand, while other Philippine languages use different roots for the same body part. The concept of kamay extends into compound words, idioms, and even place names or institutions, illustrating the cultural prominence of the hand in everyday life and in language.