Phrase guide • Tagalog (Filipino)

Say it with heart.

Start with the words you hear around the family table. These self-paced phrases help you greet, ask, listen, and join in with warmth.

A little practice
goes a long way.

Use the pronunciation guides, listen when audio is available, and come back whenever your family calls.

Practice with flashcards

Start here

Pronunciation Primer

01Vowels: a = 'ah', e = 'eh', i = 'ee', o = 'oh', u = 'oo'. Each vowel is pronounced separately (Paalam = pa-A-lam).

02NG: one sound, like 'ng' in 'singer', and it can start a word (ngayon = ngah-YOHN). The word 'ng' alone is said 'nahng'; 'mga' (plural) is said 'mah-NGAH'.

03Glottal stops: a small catch in the throat, like the middle of 'uh-oh'. Written with a hyphen (mag-aral) or between two vowels (oo = OH-oh). Many words end with an unwritten glottal stop (hindi, bata).

04Stress: changes meaning. MAH-hahl = love/dear, mah-HAHL = expensive. Follow the CAPS syllable in each guide.

05Respect: add 'po' / 'opo' and use 'kayo' (plural you) with elders and strangers.

Everyday words

Find your phrase.

Each card pairs the meaning, the phrase, and a simple guide for saying it out loud.

Greetings and polite words

Hello / Hi

Kumusta

koo-moos-TAH

From Spanish '¿cómo está?'

Listen

How are you? (polite)

Kumusta po kayo?

koo-moos-TAH poh kah-YOH

'Po' and plural 'kayo' show respect to elders.

Listen

Good morning

Magandang umaga

mah-gahn-DAHNG oo-MAH-gah

Add 'po' for elders: Magandang umaga po.

Listen

Good afternoon

Magandang hapon

mah-gahn-DAHNG HAH-pohn

Listen

Good evening

Magandang gabi

mah-gahn-DAHNG gah-BEE

Listen

Thank you

Salamat

sah-LAH-maht

Listen

Thank you very much (polite)

Maraming salamat po

mah-RAH-meeng sah-LAH-maht poh

Listen

You're welcome

Walang anuman

wah-LAHNG ah-noo-MAHN

Listen

Please / Excuse me (to pass)

being reviewed

Paki... / Makikiraan po

pah-KEE / mah-kee-kee-rah-AHN poh

'Paki' is a prefix: 'Pakiulit' = please repeat.

Listen

Sorry

Pasensya na

pah-SEN-shah nah

Also 'Patawad' (forgive me, stronger).

Listen

Goodbye

Paalam

pah-AH-lahm

Casually people often just say 'Sige!' or 'Bye!'

Listen

Take care

Ingat

EE-ngaht

'Ingat ka' to one person, 'Ingat po kayo' polite.

Listen

Introductions

What is your name?

Ano ang pangalan mo?

ah-NOH ahng pah-NGAH-lahn moh

Often shortened to 'Anong pangalan mo?'

Listen

My name is ...

Ako si ...

ah-KOH see

Also 'Ang pangalan ko ay ...'

Listen

Nice to meet you

being reviewed

Ikinagagalak kitang makilala

ee-kee-nah-gah-GAH-lahk kee-TAHNG mah-kee-LAH-lah

Formal; many people simply say 'Nice to meet you' in English.

Listen

Where are you from?

Taga-saan ka?

tah-gah-sah-AHN kah

Listen

I am from America

Taga-Amerika ako

tah-gah-ah-MEH-ree-kah ah-KOH

Listen

I am Filipino-American

Filipino-Amerikano ako

fee-lee-PEE-noh ah-meh-ree-KAH-noh ah-KOH

Listen

I'm learning Tagalog

Nag-aaral ako ng Tagalog

nahg-ah-AH-rahl ah-KOH nahng tah-GAH-log

Listen

I speak a little Tagalog

Marunong ako ng kaunting Tagalog

mah-ROO-nong ah-KOH nahng kah-OON-teeng tah-GAH-log

Listen

How old are you?

Ilang taon ka na?

ee-LAHNG tah-OHN kah nah

Listen

This is my mother

Ito ang nanay ko

ee-TOH ahng NAH-nai koh

Listen

Family

Mother / Mom

Nanay / Inay

NAH-nai / EE-nai

Also 'Mama'.

Listen

Father / Dad

Tatay / Itay

TAH-tai / EE-tai

Also 'Papa'.

Listen

Grandmother

Lola

LOH-lah

Listen

Grandfather

Lolo

LOH-loh

Listen

Older sister

Ate

AH-teh

Used as a respectful title for any older woman.

Listen

Older brother

Kuya

KOO-yah

Used as a respectful title for any older man.

Listen

Younger sibling

being reviewed

Bunso / Nakababatang kapatid

BOON-soh

'Bunso' = youngest child.

Listen

Sibling

Kapatid

kah-pah-TEED

Listen

Aunt

Tita / Tiya

TEE-tah / TEE-yah

Listen

Uncle

Tito / Tiyo

TEE-toh / TEE-yoh

Listen

Cousin

Pinsan

peen-SAHN

Listen

Child

Anak

AH-nahk

Also used affectionately: 'anak' (my child).

Listen

Numbers

One

Isa

ee-SAH

Listen

Two

Dalawa

dah-lah-WAH

Listen

Three

Tatlo

taht-LOH

Listen

Four

Apat

AH-paht

Listen

Five

Lima

lee-MAH

Listen

Six

Anim

AH-neem

Listen

Seven

Pito

pee-TOH

Listen

Eight

Walo

wah-LOH

Listen

Nine

Siyam

see-YAHM

Listen

Ten

Sampu

sahm-POO

Listen

Twenty

Dalawampu

dah-lah-wahm-POO

Listen

Fifty

Limampu

lee-mahm-POO

Listen

One hundred

Isandaan

ee-sahn-dah-AHN

Spanish numbers (uno, dos, singkwenta) are common for prices and time.

Listen

Days and time basics

Today

Ngayon

ngah-YOHN

'Ng' is one sound, like in 'sing'.

Listen

Tomorrow

Bukas

BOO-kahs

Listen

Yesterday

Kahapon

kah-HAH-pohn

Listen

Monday

Lunes

LOO-nes

Days come from Spanish.

Listen

Friday

Biyernes

bee-YER-nes

Listen

Sunday

Linggo

leeng-GOH

Also means 'week'.

Listen

What time is it?

Anong oras na?

ah-NOHNG OH-rahs nah

Listen

Morning

Umaga

oo-MAH-gah

Listen

Night

Gabi

gah-BEE

Listen

Later

Mamaya

mah-mah-YAH

Listen

Now / right away

Ngayon na

ngah-YOHN nah

Listen

Food and eating

Let's eat!

Kain tayo!

kah-EEN TAH-yoh

A common friendly invitation, even to passersby.

Listen

Have you eaten?

Kumain ka na?

koo-mah-EEN kah nah

A common way of showing care, like 'how are you'.

Listen

I'm hungry

Gutom na ako

GOO-tohm nah ah-KOH

Listen

Delicious!

Masarap!

mah-sah-RAHP

Listen

Rice (cooked)

Kanin

KAH-neen

Listen

Water

Tubig

TOO-big

Listen

I'm full

Busog na ako

BOO-sog nah ah-KOH

Listen

More, please

Pahingi pa po

pah-hee-NGEE pah poh

Literally 'may I ask for more'.

Listen

Fish

Isda

ees-DAH

Listen

Chicken

Manok

MAH-nohk

Listen

Coffee

Kape

kah-PEH

Listen

Getting around and directions

Where is ...?

Nasaan ang ...?

nah-sah-AHN ahng

Listen

Where is the bathroom?

Nasaan ang CR?

nah-sah-AHN ahng see-AHR

'CR' (comfort room) is the everyday word.

Listen

Left

Kaliwa

kah-lee-WAH

Listen

Right

Kanan

KAH-nahn

Listen

Straight ahead

Diretso

dee-RET-soh

Listen

Near

Malapit

mah-LAH-peet

Listen

Far

Malayo

mah-LAH-yoh

Listen

Here

Dito

dee-TOH

Listen

There

Doon

doh-OHN

Listen

Stop here, please (jeepney/taxi)

Para po

PAH-rah poh

Said to the driver to get off.

Listen

House / home

Bahay

BAH-hai

Listen

Shopping and money

How much is this?

Magkano ito?

mahg-KAH-noh ee-TOH

Listen

Expensive

Mahal

mah-HAHL

Same spelling as 'love' (MAH-hahl); stress changes meaning.

Listen

Cheap

Mura

moo-RAH

Listen

Can you lower the price?

being reviewed

Pwede pong tawad?

PWEH-deh pohng TAH-wahd

'Tawad' = discount/haggle.

Listen

I'll buy this

Bibilhin ko ito

bee-beel-HEEN koh ee-TOH

Listen

Money

Pera

PEH-rah

Listen

Peso

Piso

PEE-soh

Listen

Do you have ...?

Mayroon ba kayong ...?

mai-roh-OHN bah kah-YOHNG

Casual: 'Meron ba ...?'

Listen

None / there isn't any

Wala

wah-LAH

Listen

Change (coins back)

Sukli

sook-LEE

Listen

Store

Tindahan

teen-DAH-hahn

'Sari-sari store' = neighborhood shop.

Listen

Feelings and common responses

Yes

OH-oh

Glottal stop between the two o's.

Listen

Yes (polite)

Opo

OH-poh

Use with elders.

Listen

Hindi

heen-DEE

Polite: 'Hindi po'.

Listen

I'm fine

Mabuti naman

mah-BOO-tee nah-MAHN

Listen

I'm happy

Masaya ako

mah-SAH-yah ah-KOH

Listen

I'm tired

Pagod na ako

PAH-god nah ah-KOH

Listen

I love you

Mahal kita

MAH-hahl kee-TAH

Listen

I miss you

Miss na kita

MEES nah kee-TAH

Taglish is very common; formal 'Nangungulila ako sa iyo'.

Listen

Okay / Go ahead

Sige

SEE-geh

Listen

I don't know

Hindi ko alam

heen-DEE koh ah-LAHM

Listen

I don't understand

Hindi ko maintindihan

heen-DEE koh mah-een-teen-dee-HAHN

Listen

Wow / Oh my!

Naku!

nah-KOO

Listen

Faith and church phrases

God

Diyos

dee-YOHS

Listen

God bless you

Pagpalain ka ng Diyos

pahg-pah-lah-EEN kah nahng dee-YOHS

Listen

Bless, please (elder's hand blessing)

Mano po

MAH-noh poh

Said while pressing an elder's hand to your forehead.

Listen

Thank God

Salamat sa Diyos

sah-LAH-maht sah dee-YOHS

Listen

Let's pray

Manalangin tayo

mah-nah-LAH-ngeen TAH-yoh

Listen

Church

Simbahan

seem-BAH-hahn

Listen

Mass / to go to church

Misa / magsimba

MEE-sah / mahg-SEEM-bah

Listen

Amen

AH-men

Listen

Merry Christmas

Maligayang Pasko

mah-lee-GAH-yahng PAHS-koh

Listen

Our Father (Lord's Prayer opening)

Ama namin

AH-mah NAH-meen

Listen

Useful questions

What?

Ano?

ah-NOH

Listen

Who?

Sino?

SEE-noh

Listen

Where?

Saan?

sah-AHN

Listen

When?

Kailan?

kah-EE-lahn

Listen

Why?

Bakit?

BAH-keet

Listen

How?

Paano?

pah-AH-noh

Listen

Can you repeat that, please?

Pakiulit po?

pah-kee-OO-leet poh

Listen

Can you speak slowly?

being reviewed

Pakibagalan po?

pah-kee-bah-GAH-lahn poh

Listen

What is this in Tagalog?

Ano ito sa Tagalog?

ah-NOH ee-TOH sah tah-GAH-log

Listen

Do you speak English?

Marunong ka bang mag-Ingles?

mah-ROO-nong kah bahng mahg-EENG-gles

Listen

Try it in context

Common
conversations.

Greeting Lola

Mano po, Lola.

Bless me, Grandma.

Kaawaan ka ng Diyos, anak. Kumain ka na?

God bless you, child. Have you eaten?

Opo, salamat po.

Yes, thank you.

Meeting someone

Kumusta! Ano ang pangalan mo?

Hello! What is your name?

Ako si Mia. Taga-Amerika ako.

I'm Mia. I'm from America.

Ingat ka, Mia!

Take care, Mia!

At the store

Magkano ito?

How much is this?

Singkwenta pesos.

Fifty pesos.

Sige po, bibilhin ko ito. Salamat po!

Okay, I'll buy it. Thank you!

Riding a jeepney

Para po!

Stop here, please!

Sige.

Okay.

Salamat po!

Thank you!

Practice Tagalog Try Bisaya

Say it with heart.

Pronunciation Primer

Find your phrase.

Greetings and polite words

Introductions

Family

Numbers

Days and time basics

Food and eating

Getting around and directions

Shopping and money

Feelings and common responses

Faith and church phrases

Useful questions

Commonconversations.

Greeting Lola

Meeting someone

At the store

Riding a jeepney

Common
conversations.