LINGUISTICS 170 AQUINO | 1 Not So Deadly Words: A Descriptive Analysis of Tagalog Euphemisms for Death Linguistics 170 Ira Maria Ma. M. Aquino Abstract This study investigates the euphemisms of death that are used by Filipino speakers. Generally, metaphors are often used to describe social constructs such love, and happiness. However euphemisms are expressions that aim to lessen derogatory meanings of statements regarding culturally sensitive topics like death. Death or its Filipino counterpart kamatayan may be described in a wide array of categories shaped by cultural beliefs and practices. Although directly acknowledging the death of an individual is not frowned upon, many Filipinos usually have a tendency to downgrade or euphemize terms of death in order to make the matters slightly less unpleasant to hear, or know of. This colorful list of expressions shall be studied, and analyzed in this paper. Data has been elicited from Filipino speakers, as well as online sources, which the researcher as analyzed by delving into the sociocultural aspects represented by these euphemisms. The results of this study was found that the expressions may be divided into eleven categories, that offer varying connotations to slang terms for death. It has been observed that politeness and appropriacy may be considered by speakers on which expression may be used for a particular situation. Keywords: death, euphemism, politeness, appropriacy I. Introduction Death, by definition is the absence of life, wherein the body ceases to function. Everyone will face death eventually, yet the concept of death itself is deeply rooted in one‟s cultural beliefs and practices. In the Philippines, conversations regarding death is heavily construed with negative connotations. Braun and Nichols (1996) have conducted interviews with five ethnic groups regarding their perception of death. The Filipino informants claimed that Catholicism has influenced them into not fearing death for it is God‟s way of taking back the life He had given. They noted that although Filipinos generally do not like talking about death, however may have preparations such as purchasing cemetery plots, and writing wills to benefit or help the bereft loved-ones. Indeed, it is considered a sensitive topic where many Filipinos would scratch their