If you are about to visit Paradise Philippines soon, it pays if you know some tagalog words. Though we are good in english, it is still better if you know how to speak some tagalog words which are mainly used. This will help you dealing more comfortably with the locals.

Here’s some of the basics:

A. Greetings (Pagbati):

The word “maganda” means “good” or “beautiful”. And “po” is a syllable that radiates “respect”·

Good morning – Magandang umaga po (pronounced: Ma-gan-dang u-ma-ga po)·

Good noon – Magandang tanghali po (Ma-gan-dang tang-ha-li po)·

Good afternoon – Magandang hapon po (Ma-gan-dang ha-pon po)·

Good evening – Magandang gabi po (Ma-gan-dang ga-bi po)

B. Meeting a new person:

What is your name? – Ano po ang pangalan nila? (A-no po ang pa-nga-lan ni-la)

I am Zaldy – Ako po si Zaldy (A-ko po si)

How are you? – Kumusta po kayo? (Ku-mus-ta po ka-yo)

I’m fine – Mabuti naman (Ma-bu-ti na-man)

Thank you – Salamat po (Sa-la-mat po)

Thank you very much – Maraming salamat po (ma-ra-ming sa-la-mat po)

You are welcome – Walang anuman (Wa-lang a-nu-man)

C. Conversational phrases:

How old are you? – Ilang taon ka na? (I-lang ta-on ka na?)

Where do you live? – Saan ka nakatira? (Sa-an ka na-ka-ti-ra)

Where are you from? – Taga-saan ka? (Ta-ga-sa-an ka?)

Have you eaten yet? – Kumain ka na ba? (Ku-ma-in ka na ba)

What time is it? – Anong oras na po? (A-nong o-ras na po)

Where are you going? – Saan ka pupunta? (Sa-an ka pu-pun-ta)

Where are we going? – Saan tayo pupunta? (Sa-an ta-yo pu-pun-ta)

D. Questions:

What – Ano (A-no)

Who – Sino (Si-no)

When – Kailan (Ka-i-lan)

Where – Saan (Sa-an)

Which – Alin (A-lin)

Why – Bakit (Ba-kit)

How – Paano (Pa-a-no)

How much – Magkano (Mag-ka-no)

E. Directions:

Straight ahead – Diretso (Di-ret-so)

On the right – Sa kanan (Ka-nan)

On the left – Sa kaliwa (Ka-li-wa)

Turn around – Umikot (U-mi-kot)

Return – Balik (Ba-lik)

In front – Sa harap (Ha-rap) or Sa tapat (Ta-pat)

Beside – Sa tabi (Ta-bi)

At the back/behind – Sa likod (Li-kod)

North – Hilaga (Hi-la-ga)

South – Timog (Ti-mog)

East – Silangan (Si-la-ngan)

West – Kanluran (Kan-lu-ran)

On top – Sa itaas (I-ta-as)

Below – Sa ibaba (I-ba-ba)

Under – Sa ilalim (I-la-lim)

Inside – Sa loob (Lo-ob)

Outside – Sa labas (La-bas)

F. Other useful Tagalog phrases:

Yes – Opo (o-po)

No – Hindi (hin-di)

I don’t know – Hindi ko alam (hin-di ko a-lam)

Sure/Okay – Sige (si-ge)

Really? – Talaga (ta-la-ga)

No, please – Huwag na lang po (hu-wag na lang po)

It doesn’t matter – Di bale (di ba-le)