Basic Tagalog Phrases

The Filipino Alphabet

Tagalog Vowels : Pronunciation

A- an open front unrounded vowel similar to English "father"
E - an open-mid front unrounded vowel similar to English "bed"
I - a close front unrounded vowel similar to English "machine"
O - a close-mid back rounded vowel similar to English "forty"
U - a close back unrounded vowel similar to English "flute"

Filipino / Tagalog Alphabet :

A a B b K k D d E e G g H h I i L l M m
a ba ka da e ga ha i la ma

Nn Ng O o P p R r S s T t U u W w Y y
na nga o pa ra sa ta u wa ya


Basic Tagalog Words and Phrases :

English: Ingglés (ing-GLES)
Filipino: Pilipino (pih-lih-PIH-noh)
Tagalog: Tagalog (tah-GAH-log)
What is your name?: Anó ang pangalan ninyo? (uh-NOH ahng puh-NGAH-lan nin-YOH)
How are you?: kumustá (koo-mus-TAH)
Good morning!: Magandáng umaga! (muh-gun-DAHNG oo-MAH-gah)
Good afternoon! : Magandáng hapon! (muh-gun-DAHNG HAH-pawn)
Good evening!: Magandáng gabí! (muh-gun-DAHNG gah-BEH)
Good-bye: paalam (pa-AH-lam)
Please: Depending on the nature of the verb, either pakí- (pah-KEE) or makí- (mah-KEE) is attached as a prefix to a verb. ngâ (ngah) is optionally added after verb to increase politeness.

Thank you: salamat (sah-LAH-mat)
That one: iyan (ee-YAN)
How much?: magkano? (mag-KAH-noh?)
Yes: oo (OH-oh)
No: hindî (hin-DEH)
Sorry: pasensya pô or sorry/sori (pah-SEN-shah PO) ,

patawad po: (pah-TAH-wahd PO)
Because: kasí (kah-SEA)
Hurry!: Dalí! (dah-LEE),

Bilís! : (bih-LEES)
Again: ulít [u'lεt (oo-LET)
I don't understand: Hindî ko maintindihan (hin-DEE koh ma-in-TIN-dih-HAN)
Where's the bathroom?: Nasaán ang banyo? (NA-sa-AN ang BAN-yoh?)
Do you speak English? Marunong ka bang magsalitâ ng Ingglés?

(mah-ROO-nohng kah bang mag-sah-li-TAH nahng eeng-GLESS?)

* unlike what non-filipinos think... no filipino says "mabuhay" ...they only do if they are talking to non-filipinos


More Basic Tagalog Words.... ( remember how the vowels are pronounced )


You're welcome. Walang anuman. (literally it is nothing)

Take care. Ingat!!!

How old are you? Ilang taon ka na?

Where are you from? Taga saan ka?

Where do you live? Saan ka nakatira?

Where have you been? Saan ka galing? (often used rhetorically)

Where are you going? Saan ka pupunta? (Sah-ahn kah poo-poon-tah?)

Can you accompany me to _____? Pwede mo ba akong samahan sa _____?

Can you take me to _____ ? Pwede mo ba akong dalhin sa _____ ?

What is your work/ what do u do? Anong trabaho mo?

What are you doing? Ano ang ginagawa mo? (ano ang ge-nah-gah-WAH mo)

Where do you go to school? Saang eskwela ka nag-aaral?


Good/Well Mabuti

What is your name? Anong pangalan mo?

My name is ______ . Ako si ______ .

Ang pangalan ko ay si _______. (literal)

Please. paki usap po

Thank you. Salamat

Thank you very much Maraming salamat

You're welcome. Walang anuman. (literally it is nothing)

Take care. Ingat!!!

How old are you? Ilang taon ka na?

Where are you from? Taga saan ka?

Where do you live? Saan ka nakatira?

Where have you been? Saan ka galing? (often used rhetorically)

Where are you going? Saan ka pupunta? (Sah-ahn kah poo-poon-tah?)

What is your work? Anong trabaho mo?

What time is it? Anong oras na?

Do you understand English? Nakakaintindi ka ba ng Ingles?

Do you speak English? Nakapagsasalita ka ba ng Ingles? or Marunong ka ba mag-Ingles?

Yes, I speak/understand a little. Oo, konti lang.

I don't understand Tagalog. Hindi ako nakakaintindi ng Tagalog.

Is there someone here who speaks English? Meron ba ditong marunong mag-Ingles?

Who is she/he? Sino siya?

What is she/he saying? Anong sinasabi niya?

What do you mean? Ano ibig mong sabihin?

Please say it again/pardon. Pakiulit.

Please write it down Pakisulat.

Let's go! Tara!(very informal) Halika na (semi-formal)

Wait!!! Teka!!!

Can I speak to ____ ? (on the phone) Pwedeng makausap si _____?

One moment Sandali lang

Who? Sino?

What? Ano?

Why? Bakit?

Where? Saan? (SAH-ahn)

When? Kailan?

How? Paano? (PAH-ahno)