Taking a visit to the Philippines? Whether or not you’ll be enjoyable on a ravishing white-sand seaside in Cebu, making an attempt attention-grabbing new delicacies in Bicol (I’d suggest the tremendous candy and refreshing dessert referred to as “halo halo”!), or embarking on some other journey underneath the recent Filipino solar, understanding some key Tagalog (the nationwide language) phrases and phrases may simply come in useful.
There are numerous 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 may sleep soundly understanding that you simply’re outfitted in case of medical emergencies or if you’ll want to ask for instructions, and you’ll foster better connections with the brand new folks that you simply meet alongside your journey.
Exploring a brand new place is among the greatest elements of travelling! Nevertheless, getting misplaced is actually a danger. Get to know the next phrases and phrases to be sure you know the place you’re going and the place you’ve been!
Prime 10 Tagalog phrases and phrases
Let’s start with some on a regular basis phrases, phrases, and greetings that you should utilize all through your whole tropical escape…
Greetings and salutations in Tagalog
1. “Kamusta”
“Kamusta,” pronounced [kah • muu • STAH], means “hello” or “hi there”!
Hopping onto a brightly adorned jeepney, a staple of Filipino public transport, in your method via town? Say kamusta with a giant smile and a wave to the driving force as you hop on, and your journey begins.
Enjoyable reality: Most of the jeepneys you may see throughout the Philippines are decked out with putting colors, stickers, and all kinds of inventive designs and illustrations.
2. “Ang pangalan ko”
To introduce your self, say your title adopted by “ang pangalan ko,” pronounced [ahng pahng • AH • lahn ko]; it instantly interprets to “____ is my title.” The right alternative to make use of this phrase is while you’re checking into your lodge. You may impress the entrance desk employees together with your superb Tagalog! Eager on going the additional mile? Put what we’ve discovered to this point altogether: “Kamusta! ____ ang pangalan ko.”
3. “Salamat”/ “Salamat po”
“Salamat,” pronounced [sah • LAH • maht], or “salamat po,” pronounced [sah • LAH • maht po], means “thanks”! Ensure 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 indicate respect, usually 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 few of the phrases to come back!
Scorching tip: When unsure, add po to the top of no matter it’s you wish to say. You’re higher off displaying further respect quite than not sufficient, proper? Po is often tacked onto the top of sure phrases or phrases however may be discovered in the midst of them every so often as properly!
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 value?”. Shopping for souvenirs to your family and friends at dwelling or some contemporary mangoes from a avenue market? You may ask the distributors, ‘Magkano po ito?’ to learn how a lot you need to pay!
Assist or help wants in Tagalog
7. “Saklolo”
“Saklolo,” pronounced [sahk • LO • LO], means “assist.” Bought misplaced and wish a hand to find your method again to your hostel? Your airline misplaced your baggage, so you’ll want to get to the closest drugstore to restock on toiletries? These are situations when understanding easy methods to ask for assist might be your saving grace.
8. “Nasan ang ospital?”
I actually hope you gained’t want this one! However within the case you’ve gotten a medical emergency like an harm or sickness, and must see a health care provider, you may 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 may’t at all times rely on Google Maps or Waze to get you all over the place, so be certain that to pay attention for these phrases when asking locals for instructions in your approach to the seaside 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 can be a breeze!
Trying to discover outdoors of town? The Philippines has seemingly limitless white-sand seashores to discover. A number of the greatest may be present in Boracay, El Nido, or Coron. There are additionally many historic landmarks to go to the place you may study extra concerning 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 fallacious. For extra inspiration, try our submit “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 boundaries when travelling! As somebody who sat via 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 notice, 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 in case you don’t get it good. What actually issues is that you simply give it a go and I’m positive you’ll be glad that you simply did!
As we all know, journey emergencies can and do occur! Within the case that disaster strikes, these phrases and phrases may actually enable you and your journey buddies out alongside the best way.
In search of extra journey concepts to discover the Philippines? Go away your questions under and we’ll get again to you!
Completely happy travels,
Jacqueline
Jacqueline is a Company Companies 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 via artwork galleries in Los Angeles. Most undoubtedly bitten by the journey bug, Jacqueline will journey on, fuelled by her dedication to exploration and new experiences.