The short answer
Filipino, based on Tagalog, is the national language of the Philippines, and English is widely spoken - so you do not need to be fluent. Adding the polite particle po to a phrase smooths every exchange, especially with elders and staff. The phrases below are drawn from Omniglot's Tagalog phrase list, with the five that matter most marked.
The five phrases that matter most
Magandang umaga po
mah-gahn-DANG oo-MAH-gah poh
Good morning
सुप्रभात
Salamat po
sah-LAH-maht poh
Thank you
धन्यवाद
Kumusta ka?
koo-moos-TAH kah
How are you?
आप कैसे हैं?
Paumanhin po
pah-oom-MAHN-hin poh
Excuse me
माफ़ कीजिए
Magkano po ito?
mahg-KAH-noh poh ee-TOH
What is the price?
क़ीमत क्या है?
All the phrases
Greetings and thanks
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good morning | Magandang umaga po | mah-gahn-DANG oo-MAH-gah poh | सुप्रभात |
| Good evening | Magandang gabi po | mah-gahn-DANG gah-BEE poh | शुभ संध्या |
| Thank you | Salamat po | sah-LAH-maht poh | धन्यवाद |
| How are you? | Kumusta ka? | koo-moos-TAH kah | आप कैसे हैं? |
| I am fine | Mabuti naman | mah-BOO-tee nah-MAHN | मैं ठीक हूँ |
| Excuse me | Paumanhin po | pah-oom-MAHN-hin poh | माफ़ कीजिए |
| I am sorry | Pasensya na po | pah-SEN-syah nah poh | मुझे माफ़ कर दीजिए |
| Goodbye | Paalam | pah-AH-lahm | अलविदा |
Getting help
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Oo | oh-OH | हाँ |
| No | Hindi | hin-DEE | नहीं |
| I don't understand | Hindi ko naiintindihan | hin-DEE koh nah-ee-in-teen-DEE-hahn | मैं समझा नहीं |
Food (vegetarian, Jain, allergies)
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| No meat, no fish sauce, no shrimp paste | Walang karne, walang patis, walang bagoong | wah-LANG KAR-neh, wah-LANG pah-TISS, wah-LANG bah-GOH-ong | मांस नहीं, फ़िश सॉस नहीं, झींगा पेस्ट नहीं |
Directions and transport
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where? | Saan? | sah-AHN | कहाँ? |
| Restroom | Nasaan ang CR? | nah-SAH-ahn ang see-ahr | शौचालय |
Shopping and numbers
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is the price? | Magkano po ito? | mahg-KAH-noh poh ee-TOH | क़ीमत क्या है? |
Emergency
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| Help | Tulong | too-LONG | मदद |
| Call the police | Tumawag ka ng pulis | too-MAH-wahg kah nang POO-lis | पुलिस को बुलाओ |
Save or print
Save the top phrases as a picture to send to your parents, or print the whole sheet.
The five phrases that matter most
- Good morning / सुप्रभात
- Magandang umaga po (mah-gahn-DANG oo-MAH-gah poh)
- Thank you / धन्यवाद
- Salamat po (sah-LAH-maht poh)
- How are you? / आप कैसे हैं?
- Kumusta ka? (koo-moos-TAH kah)
- Excuse me / माफ़ कीजिए
- Paumanhin po (pah-oom-MAHN-hin poh)
- What is the price? / क़ीमत क्या है?
- Magkano po ito? (mahg-KAH-noh poh ee-TOH)
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