which you may want to explore.
PART ONE
Common Expressions and Key Words
HI! GOODBYE! GREETINGS
The Philippines | Pilipínas (Pi-li-pí-nas)/ |
Filipinas (Fi-li-pí-nas) | |
Republika ng Filipinas | Republika ng Pilipinas |
(Re-pub-li-ká nang Pi-li-pi-nas) | |
the Tagalog language | Tagalog (Ta-gá-log) |
Filipino language | Filipino/Pilipino |
(Fi-li-pí-no/Ta-gá-log) | |
Filipino men | Filipino/Pilipino |
(Fi-li-pí-no/Pi-li-pí-no) | |
Filipino women | Filipina/Pilipina |
(Fi-li-pí-na/Pi-li-pí-no) | |
Filipino American | Filipino Amerikano |
(Fi-li-pí-no A-me-ri-ká-no) | |
Manila | Maynila (May-ni-là) |
Here are some common greetings and responses:
Kumusta ka?
(Ku-mus-tà ka)
Mabuti. Salamat.
(Ma-bu-ti. Sa-la-mat)
Okay lang.
(O-kay lang)
It is not unusual to use Miss, Mister, Mrs. and Ms. with surnames. However, we have included here their equivalents in Filipino/Tagalog in case you may hear these words spoken in the country. Also, know that Filipinos have a fondness for titles. For example, professionals are usually addressed in this manner: “Doctor Lumbera,” “Engineer Icasiano,” or “Attorney Taguiwalo.”
Magandang umaga, Ginoong Cruz!
(Ma-gan-dáng u-ma-ga, Gi-no-ong Cruz)
Magandang hapon, Ginang Santos!
(Ma-gan-dáng ha-pon, Gi-nang San-tos)
Magandang gabi, Binibining Pineda!
(Ma-gan-dáng ga-bi, Bi-ni-bi-ning Pineda)
When you are visiting a friend’s house, knocking or using the doorbell, and would like to signify your presence:
Tao po! (literally, there is a person here!)
(Ta-o po)
Tuloy po kayo!
(Tu-loy po ka-yó)
To be more polite, use the honorifics “po” and “ho” and the second person plural “kayo” instead of “ka.” For example, when addressing an older person, say:
Kumusta po kayo?
(Ku-mus-ta po ka-yó)
Mabuti po. Salamat.
(Ma-bu-ti po. Sa-la-mat)
Magandang umaga po!
(Ma-gan-dáng u-ma-ga po)
When meeting each other on the street, Filipinos also like to ask each other where they have been or where they are going. This is not to be interpreted as nosiness, but just as a common way of greeting.
Saan ka galing?
(Sa-án ka gá-ling)
Saan po kayo galing? (formal)
(Sa-án po ka-yó ga-ling)
Galing ako sa bahay ko.
(Ga-ling a-kó sa ba-hay ko)
Galing po ako sa bahay ko. (formal)
(Ga-ling po a-kó sa ba-hay ko)
Galing ako sa ___.
(Ga-ling a-kó sa ___ )
Saan ka pupunta?
(Sa-án ka pu-pun-ta)
Saan po kayo pupunta? (formal)
(Sa-án po ka-yó pu-pun-ta)
Pupunta ako sa ___.
(Pú-pun-ta a-kó sa___ )
In these next common greetings/sentences, the formal form is used because most of the situations are interactions with strangers. Also, it is better to err on the side of “politeness.” In some cases, both the formal and informal phrases are given. When you are speaking to someone familiar to you and/or of the same age simply omit the word “po.”
Marunong po ba kayong mag-Ingles? (formal)
(Ma-ru-nong po ba ka-yóng mag-Ing-gles)
Naiintindihan ko po.
(Na-í-in-tín-di-hán ko po)
Hindi ko po naiintindihan.
(Hin-dî ko po na-í-in-tín-di-hán)
Pakibagalan po ninyo ang pagsasalita. (formal)
(Pa-kí-ba-gá-lan