COMMON FILIPINO WORDS AND PHRASES
Though most Pinoys speak English, the main language we use everyday is Filipino (or Pilipino, back in the old days), which compose mostly of Tagalog words. My motherland is home to many languages (78 language groups and over 500 dialects), and majority of us speak Tagalog. I myself speak Kapampangan, another major language in the Philippines. That makes me "tri-lingual," sort of.
Here's a little bit of trivia for you: the Philippines is the world's third largest English-speaking nation, next to the U.S.A. and U.K. (Sidenote: this, of course, is subject to debate since only a few Filipinos actually talk in English to each other on the street.)
Below are some words and phrases (grouped in categories) that you'll encounter when you visit the Philippines. We don't use long vowels by the way, so all vowels are short. You pronounce the vowel "a" like in "sat" and not like in the word "make." The same applies for the other vowels, e, i , o and u. Click the speaker icon beside each pronunciation guide to (approximately) hear how each word/phrase is said in a conversation.
WORDS I USED IN MY WEBSITE
| The Filipino word is... | Syllabication/Pronunciation (text in caps indicates stress/intonation) |
And in English, it means... |
| Mabuhay | ma-BOO-high
 |
A form of
greeting in my native tongue. It means "long live." Literally, the root word -- buhay -- means life.
Here's a tip... if you watch Miss Universe, pay attention when Miss
Philippines is next in line to introduce herself. The first word
she'll utter will definitely be this one. |
| Sari-Sari | sa-ree-sa-ree
|
Refers to a collection of various things. |
| Pinoy | pee-NOY
|
Nickname for "Filipino," which refers to the people of the Philippines. |
COLORS
| Pula | poo-LA
|
Red |
| Dalandan | da-lan-DAN
|
Orange |
| Dilaw | dee-LAO
|
Yellow |
| Berde | BER-de
|
Green |
| Bughaw | boog-HOW
|
Blue |
| Tsokolate | cho-ko-LA-te
|
Brown |
| Puti | poo-TEE
|
White |
| Itim | ee-TEEM
|
Black |
QUESTIONS
| Ano | a-NO |
What |
| Alin | a-LEEN
|
Which |
| Sino | SEE-no
|
Who |
| Saan | sa-AN
|
Where |
| Bakit | BA-keet
|
Why |
| Kailan | kay-LAN
|
When |
| Paano | pa-A-no
|
How |
| Magkano | mag-KA-no
|
How much (price) |
DIRECTIONS
| Deretso | de-RET-cho
|
Straight ahead |
| Kanan | KA-none
|
Right |
| Kaliwa | ka-lee-WA
|
Left |
| Ikot | EE-caught
|
Around |
| Harap | ha-RAP
|
Front |
| Likod | lee-COD
|
Back |
| Hilaga | hee-LA-ga
|
North |
| Sliangan | see-LA-ngan
|
East |
| Kanluran | can-LOO-run
|
West |
| Timog | TEE-mog
|
South |
| Itaas | ee-ta-AS
|
Up |
| Ibaba | ee-ba-BA
|
Below |
| Ilalim | ee-LA-leem
|
Bottom |
| Loob | lo-OB
|
Inside |
| Labas | la-BUS
|
Outside |
NUMBERS
| Isa | ee-SA
|
One |
| Dalawa | da-la-WA
|
Two |
| Tatlo | tat-LO
|
Three |
| Apat | A-pat
|
Four |
| Lima | lee-MA
|
Five |
| Anim | A-neem
|
Six |
| Pito | pee-TO
|
Seven |
| Walo | wa-LO
|
Eight |
| Siyam | see-YUM
|
Nine |
| Sampu | sam-POO
|
Ten |
SENSE OF TASTE
| Matamis | ma-ta-MISS
|
Sweet |
| Maasim | ma-A-seem
|
Sour |
| Mapakla | ma-pak-LA
|
Bitter |
| Matabang | ma-TA-bung
|
Bland |
| Maalat | ma-A-lot
|
Salty |
| Maanghang | ma-ang-HUNG
|
Spicy |
SENSE OF TOUCH
| Mainit | ma-EE-neat
|
Hot |
| Malamig | ma-la-MEEG
|
Cold |
| Masakit | ma-sa-KEET
|
Painful |
| Basa | ba-SA
|
Wet |
| Tuyo | two-YO
|
Dry |
| Mabasa-basa | ma-ba-SA-ba-SA
|
Moist |
| Nahihilo | na-hee-HEE-lo
|
Dizzy |
| Nasusuka | na-SOO-soo-ka
|
Nauseated |
| Malambot | ma-lam-BOUGHT
|
Soft |
| Matigas | ma-tee-GAS
|
Hard |
| Malagkit | ma-lag-KEET
|
Sticky |
SHAPES
| Parihaba | pa-ree-ha-BA
|
Rectangle |
| Tatsulok | tat-soo-LOCK
|
Triangle |
| Kahon | ka-HON
|
Square |
| Bilog | bee-LOG
|
Circle |
FAMILY / RELATIVES / FRIENDS
| Tatay | TA-tay
|
Father |
| Nanay | NA-nay
|
Mother |
| Kuya | KOO-ya
|
Older brother (informally, it can be used when referring to any male person who is older than you, even if he's not a relative.) |
| Ate | A-te |
Older sister (informally, it can be used when referring to any female person who is older than you, even if she's not a relative.) |
| Kapatid | ka-pa-TEED
|
Brother/Sister |
| Lolo | LO-lo
|
Grandfather |
| Lola | LO-la
|
Grandmother |
| Tito | TEE-to
|
Uncle (also used informally when referring to male elders who are close to the family but are not relatives) |
| Tita | TEE-ta
|
Aunt (also used informally when referring to female elders who are close to the family but are not relatives) |
| Pinsan | pin-SUN
|
Cousin |
| Kamag-anak | ka-mug-A-nak
|
Family relatives |
| Kaibigan | Kay-BEE-gun
|
Friend |
EVERYDAY GREETINGS
Note: The word "po" spoken during any Filipino conversation
is used for courtesy and during formal occasions.
It can be omitted when talking informally or with friends.
| Magandang umaga po. | ma-gun-DANG
oo-MA-ga po |
Good morning, sir/madam. |
| Magandang tanghali po. | ma-gun-DANG
tang-HA-lee po |
Good noon, sir/madam. |
| Magandang hapon po. | ma-gun-DANG
HA-pon po |
Good afternoon, sir/madam. |
| Magandang gabi po. | ma-gun-DANG
ga-BEE po |
Good evening, sir/madam. |
| Maraming salamat po. | ma-RA-meeng
sa-LA-mat po |
Thank you very much, sir/madam. |
| Wala pong anuman. | wa-LA
pong a-nu-MAN |
You are welcome. |
| Opo. | O-po |
Yes, sir/madam. |
| Oo. | O-o |
Yes. |
| Hindi po. | hin-DEE
po |
No, sir/madam. |
| Hindi. | hin-DEE
|
No. |
OCCASIONAL GREETINGS
| Maligayang bati sa iyong kaarawan. | ma-lee-GA-young
BA-tee sa ee-YONG ka-a-ra-WON |
Happy birthday to you. |
| Maligayang bati sa inyong kasal. | ma-lee-GA-young
BA-tee sa in-YONG ka-SAL |
Congratulations on your wedding. |
| Maligayang bati sa iyong pagtatapos. | ma-lee-GA-young
BA-tee sa ee-YONG pag-TA-ta-pos |
Congratulations on your graduation. |
| Maligayang Pasko. | ma-lee-GA-young
pass-KO |
Merry Christmas. |
| Manigong bagong taon. | ma-NEE-gong
BA-gong ta-ON |
Happy new year. |
