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.

List and phonetics ©2013 HQP /hillmanwonders.com

Meeting people

Hello / How are you? (informal)
Kumusta  (informal)

I am fine
Mabuti   mah-BOO-tee

Goodbye
Paalam   Pah-AHL-ahm

Civilities

Please
Paki   Pah-KEE

Thank you
Salamat   sah-LAH-maht

Your 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

List and phonetics ©2013 HQP /hillmanwonders.com

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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