Essential Tagalog (Filipino) Phrases


Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Tagalog words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation,
please see the Pronunciation Guide below.

pol. = polite
inf. = informal
Note: The inclusion of "pô" makes the phrase polite.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...

The Top 10 ...

Helów (pô).
Hello.
Paalam na (pô).
Goodbye.
Marunong ba pô kayóng mag-Ingglés? (pol.)
Marunong ka bang mag-Ingglés?
(inf.)
Do you speak English?
Hindí ko máintindihán.
I don't understand.
Kauntí lang.
A little.
Opô. Hindí pô. (pol.)
Oô. Hindî.
(inf.)
Yes. No.
Magkano (pô)?
How much is it?
Masyadong mahál. Okéy lang (pô).
Too expensive. OK.
Pakí lang (pô).
Please.
(Marami pong) salamat. (pol.)
(Maraming) salamat.
(inf.)
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ...

The Top 20 ...









Anó pô ang pangalan ninyó? (inf.)
Anó ang pangalan mo?
(inf.)
What is your name?
... ang pangalan ko.
Akó'y si ...
My name is ...
Kumustá na pô kayó? (pol.)
Kumustá ka na?
(inf.)
How are you?
Mabuti pô namán. Kayó pô, kumustá? (pol.)
Mabuti namán. Ikáw, kumustá?
(inf.)
Fine. And you?
Saán (pô) ang ...?
Where is ...?
Saán (pô) ang CR? Lalaki/Babae
Where is the toilet? Men/Women
Pasénsiya na (pô). Mawaláng galang na (pô).
Sorry. Excuse me.
Walâ pong problema. (pol.)
Waláng problema.
(inf.)
Walâ 'yon.
(inf.)
No problem.
Gustó ko ng ...
I want ...
Hindí ko gustó ng ...
I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...

The Top 30 ...


















Tagá-saán pô kayó? (pol.)
Tagá-saán ka?
(inf.)
Where are you from?
Akó ay tagá-Australya.*
I am from Australia.
Pakidalá ang tsit.
The bill, please.
Nawawalâ akó.
I'm lost.
Para! Maghintáy!
Stop! Wait!
Dito, diyán, doón.
Here, there, over there.
Taksi. Hotél. Páliparan/Airport. Istasyón.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station.
Gustó ko ang ...
I like ...
Hindí ko gustó ang ...
I don't like ...

isá, dalawá, tatló, apat, limá.
one, two, three, four, five.
anim, pitó, waló, siyám, sampû.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

*Or choose your country:
Amérika - America
Kánada - Canada
Inglatera - England
Irlanda - Ireland
Bagong Selanda - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...

Useful Extras ...

















Mabuhay!
Salamat!
Cheers!

mabuti / masamâ
good / bad
malakí / maliít
big / small
malapit / malayo
near / far
mas mababang ... / karagdagang ...
less ... / more ...
isá pa / sapat na
another / enough

Bedyetaryan akó.
I am vegetarian.
Hindî akó kumakain ng karné.
I don't eat meat.
... manók.
... chicken.
... isdâ.
... fish.

Mayroón akóng alerhiya sa mga nuwés.
May alerdyi akó sa mganuwés.
I am allergic to nuts.
... mga manî.
... peanuts.
... isdâ.
... fish.
... pagkaing-dagat.
... seafood.
... mga itlóg.
... eggs.



Pronunciation Guide
Stress in a word usually falls on the penultimate (second last) syllable, otherwise it is marked by an acute accent (´).

Vowels:
A grave accent (à) marks a glottal stop (ʔ)
A circumflex accent (â) indicates stress plus a glottal stop without stress (ʔ).
Two vowels are separated by a glottal stop, eg aa = aʔa, ai = aʔi

Consonants:
dy and diy are pronounced as j as in judge (dʒ)
g between vowels may be pronounced like gh, the voiced velar fricative (ɣ) or its approximant (ɰ)
k at the start of a word may be pronounced as k + kh as in loch or Bach (IPA kx)
k between vowels may be pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (IPA x)
ny is pronounced as ny as in canyon (ɲ)
sy and siy are pronounced as sh as in shop (ʃ), eg. siyam = ʃam
ts, ty and tiy are pronounced as ch as in church (tʃ)

Please note:
The particle ng is pronounced nang (naŋ).
The particle mga is pronounced mangá (maŋá).


 


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