Tausug" derives from tau meaning "man" and sug meaning "current," and translates into "people of the current.“

Traditionally the Tausugs are sailors, pearl divers and traders, their ancestral homelands in the Sulu Archipelago have vigorous tidal currents that flow from the Sulu and China Seas to the Celebes Sea. This translates literally into the name people of the current.

The Tausug are considered-Faithful-Strong-Willed-Intellectual-Creative

1.) Truthfulness2.)Sincerity3.) Unselfishness4.) humility5.) Patience6.) forgiveness7.) Purity and cleanliness8.) Honesty9.) Good ness and Kindness to others10.) Consideration and respect for others11.) Courageous 12.) Cheerful

-They have good manners. They show respect to elders by kissing the hands. And they show respect to others by greeting ASSALAM-MU-ALAIKUM.

- They are generous and kind. They are good to the people around them. The rich give alms called SADAKKAH to the less fortunate Muslim brothers and sisters especially after RAMADAN.

-They are hardworking and aggressive in business.

-They are religious. They teach their children about ISLAM and teach their children how to read QURAN. They believe in the preaching of their IMAM. They pray five times a day and observe fasting during RAMADAN and do not forget religious event. They have faith and praise ALLAH

-They are studious.

-They are brave. Their bravery is supposed to be unquestionable, therefore the Tausug are often named Tau Maisug or brave people. They are proud Muslims renowned for their fierce resistance in the face of Spanish Conquerors, for 300 years the Tausug and the Spanish were engaged in almost continuous warfare, which ended when the Spaniards left the Philippines. Running away from a fight is considered shameful. Here comes one characteristic of the Tausug, and that is the preservation of the family reputation.

-They are loyal to their Tausug tribes. They protect their ethnicity.

Tausug people are intelligent and talented. Example is Rameer A. Tawasil and also other personalities like the former senator Santanina Rasul.

-Impatient

-Some tausugs do not like to do household chores.

-Some Tausugs are envious people. Some like somethings that others have.

- Some Tausugs don’t like to be intimidated. They do not tolerate who do bad things to them, so some would really fight back or take revenge. One old Tausug proverb says: Hanggang maybuhay, may pag asa, meaning; Never admit defeat as long as you live.

- The Tausug regards themselves superior to other Philippine Muslims and still live a combative way of life