Useful Filipino Words
Below are a few Filipino words and phrases in the formal form that you may find very handy on our trip. One can remove ‘po’ when speaking to friends or people younger:
Salutations
Magandang umaga po. – Good morning
Magandang tanghali po. – Good noon
Magandang hapon po. – Good afternoon
Magandang gabi po. – Good evening
Kumusta po? – How are you?
Replies
Mabuti naman po. – I’m fine
Salamat po. – Thank you
Walang anuman po. – You are welcome
Opo/oho. (formal/polite) – Yes
Oo (informal) – Yes
Hindi po/ho (formal/polite) – No
Hindi ko po alam (formal/polite) – I don’t know
Getting to know you
Ano po ang pangalan nila? (formal/polite) – What is your name?
Ako po si ________ (formal/polite) – I am <name>
Ilang taon na po kayo? (formal/polite) – How old are you?
Ako po ay _______ gulang na. (formal/polite) – I am <age>
Taga saan po sila? (formal/polite) – Where are you from?
Questions
Anong oras na po? (formal/polite) – What time is it?
Saan po kayo papunta? (formal/polite) – Where are you going?
Saan po kayo galing? (formal/polite) – Where did you come from?
Kumain na po ba sila? (formal/polite) – Have you eaten yet?
Ano? – What?
Alin? – Which?
Sino? – Who?
Nasaan/Saan? – Where?
Bakit? – Why?
Kailan? – When?
Paano?/Papaano? – How?
Magkano? – How much? (money)
Directions
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
(sa) ilalim – at the bottom
(sa) loob – inside
(sa) labas – outside
doon – yonder (over there)
sa tabi lang – right next/after this
sa banda doon – near there
Others
Para! – Stop! (used when riding public transport)
Tulong! – Help!
