About Filipino: Filipino is the national language of the Philippines, based primarily on Tagalog. Most entries here are Tagalog expressions widely understood across the country, though regional languages also exist.
Tip: You don't need Filipino to get by — English is widely spoken throughout the Philippines. But learning even a few words will earn you huge smiles and warmer interactions. Adding po to the end of sentences shows respect, especially to elders.
Showing 100 of 100 words
Greetings & Basics
15
Salamat
sah-LAH-mat
Thank you
Salamat po
sah-LAH-mat poh
Thank you (polite/respectful)
Opo
OH-poh
Yes (respectful)
Hindi
hin-DEE
No
Magandang umaga
mah-gan-DANG oo-MAH-gah
Good morning
Magandang hapon
mah-gan-DANG HAH-pon
Good afternoon
Magandang gabi
mah-gan-DANG gah-BEE
Good evening
Kumusta
koo-moos-TAH
How are you?
Mabuhay
mah-BOO-high
Welcome / Long live
Paalam
pah-AH-lam
Goodbye
Ingat
ee-NGAT
Take care
Oo
oh-OH
Yes
Po / Ho
poh / hoh
Respect particle (add to sentences for politeness)
Kuya
KOO-yah
Older brother / respectful term for older male
Ate
AH-teh
Older sister / respectful term for older female
Food & Dining
15
Kain
kah-IN
Eat / Let's eat
Masarap
mah-sah-RAP
Delicious
Tubig
TOO-big
Water
Kanin
KAH-nin
Rice
Kape
KAH-peh
Coffee
Suka
SOO-kah
Vinegar
Adobo
ah-DOH-boh
Iconic Filipino stew (chicken or pork in soy/vinegar)
Lechon
leh-CHON
Roast pig
Sisig
SEE-sig
Sizzling chopped pork face/ears
Halo-halo
HAH-loh HAH-loh
Shaved ice dessert ("mix-mix")
Sinigang
see-nee-GANG
Sour soup
Balut
bah-LOOT
Fertilized duck egg
Pulutan
poo-LOO-tan
Bar snacks / drinking food
Merienda
meh-ree-YEN-dah
Snack time (from Spanish)
Palengke
pah-LENG-keh
Wet market
Getting Around
15
Jeepney
JEEP-nee
Colorful public minibus
Tricycle
TRY-sih-kul
Motorcycle with sidecar
Habal-habal
HAH-bal HAH-bal
Motorcycle taxi
Bangka
BANG-kah
Outrigger boat
Dito
DEE-toh
Here
Doon
doh-ON
There
Kaliwa
kah-LEE-wah
Left
Kanan
kah-NAN
Right
Diretso
dee-RET-soh
Straight
Para
PAH-rah
Stop (said to jeepney driver)
Bayad
BAH-yad
Payment / "paying now"
Magkano
mag-KAH-noh
How much?
Saan
sah-AN
Where?
Malayo
mah-LAH-yoh
Far
Malapit
mah-LAH-pit
Near / close
Shopping & Money
10
Piso
PEE-soh
Peso (Philippine currency)
Mahal
mah-HAL
Expensive (also means "love")
Mura
MOO-rah
Cheap
Tawad
TAH-wad
Discount / bargain
Bili
BEE-lee
Buy
Barya
BAR-yah
Coins / small change
Sukli
SOOK-lee
Change (money)
Tindahan
tin-DAH-han
Store / shop
Suki
SOO-kee
Regular customer (loyalty relationship)
Libre
LEE-breh
Free (from Spanish)
People & Relationships
10
Kaibigan
kah-ee-BEE-gan
Friend
Pamilya
pah-MIL-yah
Family
Asawa
ah-SAH-wah
Spouse
Anak
AH-nak
Child
Magulang
mah-GOO-lang
Parents
Lola
LOH-lah
Grandmother
Lolo
LOH-loh
Grandfather
Tita
TEE-tah
Aunt (also used for older women)
Tito
TEE-toh
Uncle (also used for older men)
Kapitbahay
kah-pit-BAH-high
Neighbor
Useful Phrases
15
Nasaan ang...?
nah-SAH-an ang
Where is the...?
Hindi ko maintindihan
hin-DEE koh mah-in-tin-dee-HAN
I don't understand
Pwede ba?
PWEH-deh bah
Can I? / Is it okay?
Paki
PAH-kee
Please (prefix for requests)
Pakiusap
pah-kee-OO-sap
Please (stronger request)
Pasensya na
pah-SEN-syah nah
Sorry / excuse me
Tara!
TAH-rah
Let's go!
Sarap!
sah-RAP
Delicious! (exclamation)
Ang ganda!
ang GAN-dah
So beautiful!
Sige
SEE-geh
Okay / go ahead
Bahala na
bah-HAH-lah nah
Whatever happens, happens (fatalistic acceptance)
Walang problema
wah-LANG proh-BLEH-mah
No problem
Kaya ko
KAH-yah koh
I can do it
Mag-ingat ka
mag-ee-NGAT kah
Be careful
Mahal kita
mah-HAL kee-TAH
I love you
Culture & Concepts
10
Bayanihan
buy-ah-NEE-han
Community spirit / helping together
Fiesta
fee-YES-tah
Town festival
Mano po
MAH-noh poh
Respectful hand-to-forehead gesture to elders
Pasalubong
pah-sah-LOO-bong
Gifts/souvenirs brought home from a trip
Utang na loob
OO-tang nah LOH-ob
Debt of gratitude (deep cultural concept)
Pakikisama
pah-kee-kee-SAH-mah
Getting along / social harmony
Tampo
TAM-poh
Silent treatment / sulking
Gigil
GEE-gil
Urge to squeeze something cute
Kilig
kee-LIG
Butterflies / romantic excitement
Diskarte
dis-KAR-teh
Resourcefulness / street smarts
Weather & Nature
10
Mainit
mah-ee-NIT
Hot
Maulan
mah-OO-lan
Rainy
Bagyo
BAG-yoh
Typhoon
Dagat
DAH-gat
Sea / ocean
Bundok
boon-DOK
Mountain
Isla
EES-lah
Island
Ilog
ee-LOG
River
Buhangin
boo-HANG-in
Sand
Araw
AH-raw
Sun / day
Gabi
gah-BEE
Night