Basic Filipino phrases

what every traveler to the Philippines should know

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'm 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

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

oh'-oh

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'

Ako

ah-koh'

Tayo

tah'-yoh

He / she

Siya

shee-yah'

What is your name?

Anong pangalan mo

ah-nohng' pahn-ah'-lahn moh

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.

My other Philippine pages

My Philippine cuisine guide

External link

Philippine Department of Tourism