kuyan.
/ˈkuːjə/, U.S. /ˈkujə/, Philippine English /ˈkuˌjɑ/ Philippine English.
An elder brother. Also used as a respectful title or form of address for an older man. Cf. ate n.2
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinsman or relation > sibling > brother > [noun] > elder brother
big brother1809
dada1879
aiya1913
kuya1937
oppa1963
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > courteous forms of address or title > [noun] > for a man > for old or older man
kuya1937
oppa1963
Ntate1974
1937 T. A. Rojo Lang. Probl. Philippines (Philippine Res. Bureau) iv. 57 An older brother is addressed as kuya.
1972 Philippines Free Press 1 Apr. 31/2 You are so good to me, Kuya Ben.
1997 Q. N. Lee-Chua Successful Family Businesses i. 26 There exists an accepted hierarchy among siblings, with the kuya or ate as the accepted leader.
2001 Yolk (Electronic ed.) 31 Aug. 11 Once a hot-looking girl calls a guy kuya, it pretty much means that all hopes of hooking up with her are down the toilet.
2006 BOMB Fall 120/1 ‘Is kuya gay?’ I asked Moms. I was, like, twelve. ‘Your kuya's not gay!’ Moms said.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1937