sampaguita

[ sam-puh-gee-tuh ]

noun

1. (in the Philippines) an Arabian jasmine.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sampaguita¹

< Philippine Spanish < Tagalog sampag ( a ) Arabian jasmine + Spanish -ita diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

Cunanan and Dungca have taken the Bloomin’ Onion, a dish whose only association to the Philippines is its quasi-resemblance to the sampaguita flower, and grounded it in the country’s gastronomy with an ingenious chile-crab fat dipping sauce.

From Washington Post

The connection between Pogiboy and Outback is more poetic than literal: Cunanan and Dungca noticed how the Bloomin’ Onion, when sliced, splayed and fried, resembles a sampaguita, the national flower of the Philippines.

From Washington Post

“Okay, young lady, if you’re done parading around like Miss Preteen Sampaguita, then it’s bedtime. Last day of seventh grade tomorrow!”

From Literature

Mom hands me a bouquet of red mums, which I cradle like a Miss Preteen Sampaguita.

From Literature

Dessert is another crowd of plates: airy turon, lumpia with oozy guts of caramelized banana; a threesome of dense cassava cake, jammy ube halaya and leche flan, akin to crème caramel; and langka ice cream, made by Nenette Albenio, the chef’s sister, which tastes of sheer voluptuousness and, improbably, the scent of sampaguita, Philippine jasmine.

From New York Times