Useful Words and Phrases

Everyday Greetings

Tagalog speakers in the Philippines have many ways of greeting other people. It is common also to hear them say "Hi" or "Hello" as a form of greeting, especially among close friends. There are no Tagalog translations for these English greetings because they are basically borrowed terms, and any English-speaking person will be readily understood by Filipinos in general (Yes, Virginia and Joe, English is widely spoken in the Philippines, a former colony of the US of A for nearly 50 years!).

Below are a few Tagalog greetings that are importart to learn if one wants to endear himself/herself to Filipinos.

• Magandang umaga po. (formal/polite) - Good morning
• Magandang umaga. (informal) - Good morning
• Magandang tanghali po. (formal/polite) - Good noon
• Magandang tanghali. (informal) - Good noon
• Magandang hapon po. (formal/polite) - Good afternoon
• Magandang hapon. (informal) - Good afternoon
• Magandang gabi po. (formal/polite) - Good evening
• Magandang gabi. (informal) - Good evening
• Kumusta po kayo? (formal/polite) - How are you?
• Kumusta ka? (informal) - How are you?
• Mabuti po naman. (formal/polite) - I'm fine
• Mabuti naman. (informal) - I'm fine
• Tuloy po kayo. (formal/polite) - Please, come in
• Tuloy. (informal) - Please, come in
• Salamat po. (formal/polite) - Thank you
• Salamat. (informal) - Thank you
• Maraming salamat po. (formal/polite) - Thank you very much
• Maraming salamat. (informal) - Thank you very much
• Wala pong anuman. (formal/polite) - You are welcome
• Walang anuman. (informal) - You are welcome
• Opo/ oho. (formal/polite) - Yes
• Oo (informal) - Yes
• Hindi po/ho (formal/polite) - No

• Hindi (informal) - No
• Hindi ko po/ho alam. (formal/polite) - I don't know
• Hindi ko alam. (informal) - I don't know
• Anong oras na po? (formal/polite) - What time is it?
• Anong oras na? (informal) - What time is it?
• Saan po kayo papunta? (formal/polite) - Where are you going?
• Saan ka papunta? (informal) - Where are you going?
• Saan po kayo galing? (formal/polite) - Where did you come from?
• Saan ka galing? (informal) - Where did you come from?
• Ano po ang pangalan nila? (formal/polite) - What is your name?
• Anong pangalan mo? (informal) - What is your name?
• Ako po si ________ (formal/polite) - I am ______ (name).
• Ako si _________ (informal) - I am ______ (name).
• Ilang taon na po kayo? (formal/polite) - How old are you?
• Ilang taon ka na? (informal) - How old are you?
• Ako po ay _______ gulang na. (formal/polite) - I am _______ years old.
• Ako ay _______ gulang na. (informal) - I am _______ years old.
• Saan po kayo nakatira? (formal/polite) - Where do you live?
• Saan ka nakatira? (informal) - Where do you live?
• Taga saan po sila? (formal/polite) - Where are you from?
• Taga saan ka? (informal) - Where are you from?
• Kumain na po ba sila? (formal/polite) - Have you eaten yet?
• Kumain ka na ba? (informal) - Have you eaten yet?

Directions

Below is a list of Tagalog words and phrases used in giving or asking for directions.

There are a number of Tagalog words and phrases which are rather vague in terms of specific distance but signify "nearness" or "farness" of a particular object, thing, or place from the speaker. These are:

• deretso - straight ahead
• (sa) kanan - on the right
• (sa) kaliwa - on the left
• umikot - turn around
• (sa) harap - in front
• (sa) likod/likuran - at the back/behind
• hilaga - north
• silangan - east
• kanluran - west
• timog - south
• (sa) itaas - on top
• (sa) ibaba - below/at the bottom
• (sa) ilalim - at the bottom
• (sa) loob - inside
• (sa) labas - outside
• doon - yonder (over there)
• diyan lang po sa tabi - there, on that side
• sa banda po doon - over on that side

Question Words

Below is a list of Tagalog question words with their corresponding meanings and examples in English.

• Ano? - What?
• Alin? - Which?
• Sino? - Who?
• Saan? - Where?
• Bakit? - Why?
• Kailan? - When?
• Paano?/Papaano? - How?
• Magkano? - How much? (money)
• Nasaan? - Where? (to look for something/somebody)