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.

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Meeting people

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

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I am fine
Mabuti  mah-BOO-tee

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Goodbye
Paalam  pah-AHL-ahm

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Civilities

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Please
Paki  Pah-KEE

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Thank you
Salamat  sah-LAH-maht

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

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Directions

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

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Left
Kaliwa  kah-lee-WAH

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Right
Kanan  KAH-nahn

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Up
Taas  tah-AHS

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Down
Baba  bah-BAH

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Here
Dito  DEE-toh

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There
Diyan  dee-YAHN

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Money / amount / size

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Money
Pera  PEHR-rah

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

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Expensive
Mahal  mah-HAHL

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Cheap
Mura  MOO-rah

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How many?
Ilan  ee-LAHN

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One
Isa  ee-SAH

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Two
Dalawa  dah-lah-WAH

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Three
Tahtlo  taht-LOH

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Big
Malaki  mah-lah-KEE

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Small
Maliit  mah-lee-EET

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Single-word questions

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What?
Ano?  ah-NOH

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Who?
Sino?  see'-NOH

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When?
Kailan?  kah-ee-LAHN

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Why?
Bakit?  BAH-kit

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How?
Paano?  pah-AH-noh

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Where?
Saan?  sah-AHN

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Which?
Alin?  ah-LEEN

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Other key words & phrases

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Yes
Oo  OH-oh

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No
Hindi  heehn-DEE

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Stop
Hinto  heehn-TOH

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Delicous
Masarap  mah-SAH-rahp

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Hot
Mainit  mah-ee-NEEHT

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Cold
Malamig  mah-lah-MEEG

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Okay
Sige  SEE-geh

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It doesn't matter
Di bale  dee BAH-leh

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

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Beautiful
Maganda  mah-gahn-DAH

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I
Ako  ah-KOH

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We
Tayo  TAH-yoh

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He / she
Siya  shee-YAH

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Wait a minute
Sandali lang  sahn-dah-LEE lahng

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

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

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

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I love you
Mahal kita  Mah-HAL kee-TAH

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Insights on the

Filipino language

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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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