Kilig

Filipino: butterflies and blushing from romantic excitement.

Family Untranslatable
Valence strongly positive
Arousal high activation
Intensity Moderate

Filipino: butterflies and blushing from romantic excitement. The body holds this signal first, often before the mind has named what is happening. Kilig is a Filipino term that captures something many languages do not have a single word for.

Where kilig lives in the body

Face
Heat, flush, expression building
Moderate
Chest
Tightness or warmth
Moderate
Stomach
A sinking pull or knot
Moderate

Related emotions

InfatuationLove familyKoi no yokanUntranslatable familyExcitementAnticipation family
A note on this entry: The data on this page (definition, body sensations, valence, arousal, related emotions) reflects a structured reference for kilig. A full long-form entry is being added gradually. If you have research, a translation, or a body-mapping correction to suggest, please get in touch.