Taking a visit to the Philippines? Whether or not you’ll be enjoyable on a fantastic white-sand seashore in Cebu, attempting attention-grabbing new delicacies in Bicol (I’d advocate the tremendous candy and refreshing dessert referred to as “halo halo”!), or embarking on every other journey below the new Filipino solar, understanding some key Tagalog (the nationwide language) phrases and phrases may simply come in useful.
There are numerous the explanation why studying the native lingo wherever you journey is worth it: it’s a good way to immerse your self in a brand new tradition and increase your worldview; you possibly can sleep soundly understanding that you just’re outfitted in case of medical emergencies or if you have to ask for instructions, and you’ll foster larger connections with the brand new folks that you just meet alongside your journey.
Exploring a brand new place is among the greatest components of travelling! Nonetheless, getting misplaced is actually a threat. Get to know the next phrases and phrases to be sure to know the place you’re going and the place you’ve been!
High 10 Tagalog phrases and phrases
Let’s start with some on a regular basis phrases, phrases, and greetings that you should use all through your total tropical escape…
Greetings and salutations in Tagalog
1. “Kamusta”
“Kamusta,” pronounced [kah • muu • STAH], means “hello” or “howdy”!
Hopping onto a brightly adorned jeepney, a staple of Filipino public transport, in your means by town? Say kamusta with an enormous smile and a wave to the motive force as you hop on, and your journey begins.
Enjoyable reality: Lots of the jeepneys you possibly can see throughout the Philippines are decked out with putting colors, stickers, and all kinds of creative designs and illustrations.
2. “Ang pangalan ko”
To introduce your self, say your identify adopted by “ang pangalan ko,” pronounced [ahng pahng • AH • lahn ko]; it immediately interprets to “____ is my identify.” The right alternative to make use of this phrase is while you’re checking into your resort. You’ll be able to impress the entrance desk workers together with your superb Tagalog! Eager on going the additional mile? Put what we’ve realized up to now altogether: “Kamusta! ____ ang pangalan ko.”
3. “Salamat”/ “Salamat po”
“Salamat,” pronounced [sah • LAH • maht], or “salamat po,” pronounced [sah • LAH • maht po], means “thanks”! Be sure that to say salamat po to your servers as you put together to dig into some crispy lumpia shanghai or turon for a scrumptious, handheld afternoon snack!
4. “Po”
“Po,” pronounced [po] with a brief o sound, is a vital Tagalog phrase that’s used to point out respect, typically reserved for addressing elders. Used equally to the phrases “sir” or “ma’am” in English, po is added to all kinds of Tagalog speech and displays the significance of respect that’s entrenched within the Filipino tradition. Look out for po utilized in a number of the phrases to come back!
Sizzling tip: When unsure, add po to the tip of no matter it’s you need to say. You’re higher off displaying additional respect somewhat than not sufficient, proper? Po is often tacked onto the tip of sure phrases or phrases however might be discovered in the course of them sometimes as nicely!
5. “Oo”/ “Opo” and “Hindi”/ “Hindi po”
“Oo,” pronounced [o • O], means “sure,” whereas “hindi,” pronounced [hihn • DIH], means “no.” Chatting with somebody older than you? Say “opo,” pronounced [O • po], or “hindi po,” pronounced [hihn • DIH po], as an alternative.
6. “Magkano to?”/ “Magkano po ito?”
“Magkano to,” pronounced [mahg • KAH • no to], or “magkano po ito,” pronounced [mahg • KAH • no po ih • TO], means “How a lot does this price?”. Shopping for souvenirs in your family and friends at house or some contemporary mangoes from a road market? You’ll be able to ask the distributors, ‘Magkano po ito?’ to learn the way a lot you need to pay!
Assist or help wants in Tagalog
7. “Saklolo”
“Saklolo,” pronounced [sahk • LO • LO], means “assist.” Received misplaced and want a hand find your means again to your hostel? Your airline misplaced your baggage, so you have to get to the closest drugstore to restock on toiletries? These are cases when understanding find out how to ask for assist might be your saving grace.
8. “Nasan ang ospital?”
I actually hope you received’t want this one! However within the case you have got a medical emergency like an damage or sickness, and must see a health care provider, you possibly can ask, “Nasan ang ospital.” Pronounced [NAH • sahn ahng aws • pih • TAL], this implies “The place is a hospital?”.
Instructions in Tagalog
9. “Kaliwa” and “Kanan”
“Kaliwa,” pronounced [kah • lee • WAH], means “left” and “kanan,” pronounced [KAH • nahn], means “proper.” You’ll be able to’t all the time rely on Google Maps or Waze to get you in all places, so be sure to pay attention for these phrases when asking locals for instructions in your solution to the seashore or your subsequent sight-seeing spot.
10. “Doon” or “Nandoon”
“Doon,” pronounced [duu • UUN], or “nandoon,” pronounced [nahn • duu • UUN], means “there” or “over there.” If somebody is directing you someplace close by, they might level at it and say, doon. Be careful for this and getting across the Philippines will probably be a breeze!
Trying to discover exterior of town? The Philippines has seemingly limitless white-sand seashores to discover. A few of the greatest might be present in Boracay, El Nido, or Coron. There are additionally many historic landmarks to go to the place you possibly can be taught extra in regards to the wealthy native tradition together with the Batad Rice Terraces in Ifugao and the San Agustin Church in Manila. Whichever you select, you completely can not go unsuitable. For extra inspiration, try our put up “Mati, Philippines: Exploring a browsing and skimboarding haven”.
Interacting within the Philippines
Studying a brand new language can actually be tough, as is overcoming language limitations when travelling! As somebody who sat by many a French class, over the course of seven years and got here out of it something however fluent, I completely get it. On that observe, right here’s one thing I believe you’d be glad to listen to: Many individuals within the Philippines are literally fluent in English (or “Taglish” as we are saying) so don’t fear when you don’t get it excellent. What actually issues is that you just give it a go and I’m certain you’ll be completely happy that you just did!
As we all know, journey emergencies can and do occur! Within the case that disaster strikes, these phrases and phrases may actually make it easier to and your journey buddies out alongside the way in which.
In search of extra journey concepts to discover the Philippines? Depart your questions under and we’ll get again to you!
Completely happy travels,
Jacqueline
Jacqueline is a Company Providers Pupil Intern at TuGo. As a Filipino-Canadian who has lived in each BC and Ontario, she loves to go to locations throughout Canada and the world alike. A few of her favorite journeys have included mountaineering to see the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica, skydiving in Whistler, and strolling by artwork galleries in Los Angeles. Most positively bitten by the journey bug, Jacqueline will journey on, fuelled by her dedication to exploration and new experiences.
