'Bakya' featured as Oxford English Dictionary's word of the day

"Bakya" was featured as the Oxford English Dictionary's (OED) word of the day on Tuesday.

In OED's tweet, the bakya was described as a noun for a type of backless sandals which is commonly made of wood and is usually used in the country as part of tradition or culture.

"A backless sandal with a thick wooden sole and a strap of rattan, plastic, or some other material, traditionally worn in rural areas in the Philippines," it read.

It added that the bakya can sometimes have an "ornately carved or painted heel."

OED WOTD: bakya, n. In the Philippines: a type of backless sandal with a thick wooden sole and a strap of rattan, plastic, or some other material, traditionally worn in rural areas in the Philippines and sometimes having an ornately carved or painted heel. https://t.co/mR4fb3E8fO

— The OED (@OED) June 22, 2021

In the dictionary's website, meanwhile, its adjective form was defined as a derogatory term for someone who lacks "refinement or sophistication."

In August 2020, the English editor for the OED stressed that Philippine English is legitimate.

The Oxford English Dictionary has made room for several Filipino words over the past few years including "bongga," "mabuhay," "trapo," and "kilig."

—Franchesca Viernes/MGP, GMA News