“Cod fish” is commonly translated into Tagalog as bakalaw. For clarity, especially on first mention, write cod fish (bakalaw). The dictionary entry describing this translation identifies cod as a marine fish in the Gadidae family, though it is not a definitive authority on every regional or conversational use of the word.
What does bakalaw mean?
Bakalaw is the Tagalog word commonly listed for cod. A translation gives the fish’s general name; it does not necessarily identify the exact species in a meal, market, or product label.
Does “cod” refer to one fish species?
No. The U.S. FDA identifies Atlantic cod as Gadus morhua, and its Seafood List also includes Pacific cod, Gadus macrocephalus, among species that may use Cod as a market name. The FDA list distinguishes pollock from Cod, so the names should not be treated as interchangeable.
If you need to identify a particular fish—for example, when checking a seafood label—use the market name and scientific name when available, rather than relying on the translation alone.
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Is bakalaw a confirmed name for cod in every Philippine context?
The available dictionary entry supports bakalaw as a common translation, but it includes algorithmically generated material and does not establish every regional or conversational usage. A Philippine National Trade Repository entry classifies cod fish maws for import; that is trade information, not evidence of a Tagalog translation or of how commonly fresh or frozen cod is sold locally.
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