Learn
Philippine phrases

with pronunciations

 

Phrase sheet

Filipino is the official and most widely spoken of the many Philippine languages and dialects. Below is my personal learn-first list of Filipino words and phrases for travelers.

Meeting people

Hello / How are you? (informal)
Kumusta  koo-moo-STAH?

I am fine
Mabuti  mah-BOO-tee

Goodbye
Paalam  pah-AHL-ahm

Civilities

Please
Paki  Pah-KEE

Thank you
Salamat  sah-LAH-maht

You're welcome
Walang anuman  wah-LAHNG ah-noo-MAHN

Directions

Where is the ...?
Saan ang ...?  Sah-AHN ahng ...?

Left
Kaliwa  kah-lee-WAH

Right
Kanan  KAH-nahn

Up
Taas  tah-AHS

Down
Baba  bah-BAH

Here
Dito  DEE-toh

There
Diyan  dee-YAHN

Money / amount / size

Money
Pera  PEHR-rah

How much? (money)
Magkano?  mahg-KAH-noh

Expensive
Mahal  mah-HAHL

Cheap
Mura  MOO-rah

How many?
Ilan  ee-LAHN

One
Isa  ee-SAH

Two
Dalawa  dah-lah-WAH

Three
Tahtlo  taht-LOH

Big
Malaki  mah-lah-KEE

Small
Maliit  mah-lee-EET

Single-word questions

What?
Ano?  ah-NOH

Who?
Sino?  see'-NOH

When?
Kailan?  kah-ee-LAHN

Why?
Bakit?  BAH-kit

How?
Paano?  pah-AH-noh

Where?
Saan?  sah-AHN

Which?
Alin?  ah-LEEN

Other key words & phrases

Yes
Oo  OH-oh

No
Hindi  heehn-DEE

Stop
Hinto  heehn-TOH

Delicous
Masarap  mah-SAH-rahp

Hot
Mainit  mah-ee-NEEHT

Cold
Malamig  mah-lah-MEEG

Okay
Sige  SEE-geh

It doesn't matter
Di bale  dee BAH-leh

I don't know
hindi ko alam  heen-DEE koh ah-LAHM

Beautiful
Maganda  mah-gahn-DAH

I
Ako  ah-KOH

We
Tayo  TAH-yoh

He / she
Siya  shee-YAH

Wait a minute
Sandali lang  sahn-dah-LEE lahng

Do you have ...?
Meron ka nang ...  MEH'rohn kah BAHNG ...

Do you like ...?
Gusto mo ...?  GOOS-toh moh

I would like ...
Gusto ko ...  GOOS'toh koh

I love you
Mahal kita  Mah-HAL kee-TAH

Insights on the

Filipino language

Creation
It was created in the mid-20th century to help fashion a pan-Philippine language.
Base language
It is almost totally based on the long-established native Tagalog language. Today, most people consider the two tongues the same tongue.
Imported words
During the centuries of Spanish and American colonial rule, Tagalog adapted many Spanish and American words. That's why Filipino is speckled with Spanish and English terminology.
Taglish
Many Filipinos liberally intermingle Tagalog (Filipino) and English words as they speak. It is called Taglish.
Still evolving
The official Filipino language continues to evolve. During the last half century, it has absorbed many foreign expressions, most noticeably from American English.

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