Philippines Travel Guide: Useful Words and Phrases

One of the easiest ways to learn is to simply buy a phrase book. This could be of great help, especially when you only need a few basic words to ask for directions and get help. However, if you plan to stay in a different country for a longer period, such as for study or work, then it makes sense to learn a foreign language more extensively. This will help make your transition to a new environment easier. Now, if you have documents or other material that you need to have translated in a different language, your option is to use the services of a professional language translation service provider. This way, you would get fast, reliable and accurate language translation.

We have prepared a useful travel guide for your convenience. This way, when you travel to other countries, you have the information you need right at your fingertips. Our country travel guide, specifically our Philippine Travel Guide is sectioned into easy to read chapters, beginning with a country overview, followed by a list of what you could see and do while you travel around the Philippines and a section on some useful Filipino words and phrases to help you get your thoughts across. There is a section on travel safety tips, very handy and practical to when you travel to and around the Philippines; and a bit of information that you might find nice to know about the county.

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If you have questions or want to have a document translation, don’t hesitate to contact us now using our online form. You could also email us atinfo@worldinterpreting.com.

Philippines Useful Words and Phrases (Useful Filipino Words and Phrases)

The Philippines has about 171 languages. The official languages are Filipino and English and there are 13 indigenous languages. All the languages spoken in the country belong to the family of Malayo-Polynesian language, except for English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien and Chavacano.

Filipino has a number of loan words, with a large number borrowed from Spanish. It was also a reflection of the country’s Malayo-Polynesian roots, with words influenced by Sanskrit, Arabic, Chinese, English, Indian, Japanese, Persian and Nahuatl.

Here are some everyday Philippines useful words and phrases in Filipino, that is spoken and understood by the majority of Filipinos, particularly in the island of Luzon. These basic Filipino words and phrases would be quite useful when you travel to the Philippines.

Basic Phrases

Thank you.
You’re welcome.
Please.
Yes.
No.
Excuse me. (passing through)
I’m sorry.

I don’t understand.
I don’t speak Filipino.
I don’t speak Filipino very well.

Do you speak English?
Speak slowly, please.
Repeat, please.
What’s your name?
How are you?
Is the tip included?
How much does it cost?
Is there a public phone here?
Can I go on the Internet?

Can you help me?
Where is the bathroom?
What time is it?
Where are you going?
What are you doing?
Who is this?
Who is she / he?
How do you do this?
How do you open this?
How do you close this?
What is this?
Beautiful
Handsome
How many…
How
When
Who
This/it
Here
There
That
Them
He/She
Plenty
What
Child
Elder
Parents
Father
Mother
Sibling
Elder sister
Elder brother
Youngest sibling
Grandmother
Grandfather
Aunt
Uncle
Niece/nephew
Male
Female
Cousin
Teacher
School (lower grades)
School (general)
Driver
Conductor
Doctor
Nurse
Smile
Hair
Head
Forehead
Face
Ears
Eyes
Nose
Mouth
Eyebrows
Cheeks
Chin
Jaw
Teeth
Tongue
Hand
Arm
Thigh
Lower leg
Foot
Finger/toe
Body
Neck
Shoulder
Palm
Elbow
Knee
Red
Blue
Green
Yellow
Black
White
Soap
Comb
Money (paper bill/s)
Coins
Walk
Run
Jump
Sit
Chair
Table
Flower
Leaf
Grass
Tree
Plant
Umbrella
Slippers
Hat
Scissors
To close
To open
Up/top
Middle
Below/under
To cook
To eat
To drink
To sleep
To waken up
To sit
To get up
To watch
To buy
To shake hands
Sun
Sunshine
Rain
Cyclone/storm
Drizzle
Sky
Cloud
Moon
Star
Street/road
Side street
Stone
Sand
Sea
River
Wave
Wind
Mosquito
Butterfly
Fly
Bird
Pillow
Bed cover
Bed sheet
Bed
Toilet / bath
Faucet
Cold
Hot

Salamat.
Walang anuman.
paki
Oo
Hindi
makikiraan
Patawad
Pahingi ng paumanhin.
Di ko naiintindihan.
Di ako nagsasalita ng Pilipino.
Di ako magaling magsalita ng
Pilipino.
Marunong ka ba magsalita ng Ingles?
Paki bagalan ang pagsasalita.
Paki ulit.
Ano ang pangalan mo?
Kamusta? Kamusta ka?
Kasama ba ang tip?
Magkano ito?
May telepono ba rito?
Pwede ba akong gumamit ng Internet?
Pwede mo ba akong tulungan?
Saan ang banyo?
Anong oras na?
Saan ka pupunta?
Ano ang ginagawa mo?
Sino ito?
Sino siya?
Paano ito ginagawa?
Paano ito binubuksan?
Paano ito sinasarhan?
Ano ito?
maganda
gwapo
ilan
paano
kalian
sino
ito/eto
ditto
doon/roon
iyon
sila/sina
siya
marami
ano
bata
matanda
magulang
tatay
nanay
kapatid
ate
kuya
bunso/batang kapatid
lola
lolo
tiya
tiyo
pamangkin na babae/lalaki
lalaki
babae
pinsan
guro
eskwelahan
paaralan
drayber
kunduktor
duktor
nars
ngiti
buhok
ulo
noo
mukha
tainga/tenga
mata
ilong
bibig
kilay
pisngi
baba
panga
ngipin
dila
kamay
braso
hita
binti
paa
daliri
katawan
leeg
balikat
palad
siko
tuhod
pula
asul
berde
dilaw
itim
puti
sabon
suklay
pera
barya
lakad
takbo
lukso
upo
silya
mesa
bulaklak
dahon
damo
puno
halaman
payong
tsinelas/sinelas
sombrero
gunting
isara
buksan
itaas or ibabaw
gitna
ibaba/below/ilalim
iluto
kumain/kain
uminom
matulog
gumising
umupo
tumayo
manood
bilhin/bumili
magkamayan
araw
init ng araw
ulan
bagyo
ambon
langit
ulap
buwan
bituin
kalye
iskinita
bato
buhangin
dagat
ilog
alon
hangin
lamok
paru-paro
langaw
ibon
unan
kobre kama
kumot
kama
banyo
gripo
malamig
mainit

Asking for Directions

Where?
Where is …?
Where are the taxis?
Where is the exit?
Is it near?
Is it far?
Go straight ahead.
Go that way.
Go back.
Turn right.
Turn right.
Take me to this address, please.
What is the fare?
Stop here, please.
How do I go there?
How do I go here?
When can I go?
Where can I go?
Where can I buy this?
What do I ride to go to…?
Hospital
Airport
Hotel
House
Car
Taxi
Bicycle
Motorcycle
Train
Airplane
Ship
Banca

Saan?
Saan ang…?
Saan ang mga taksi?
Saan ang labasan?
Malapit ba?
Malayo ba?
Diretso lang.
Pumunta ka doon.
Bumalik ka.
Kumanan ka.
Kumaliwa ka.
Paki hatid ako rito.
Magkano ang bayad?
Para/Tumigil ka rito/Dito na lang.
Paano pumunta doon?
Paano pumunta ditto?
Kailan ako pwedeng pumunta?
Saan ako pwedeng pumunta?
Saan ako pwedeng bumili ng ganito?
Ano ang dapat kong sakyan para pumunta sa…?
ospital
paliparan/airport
otel
bahay
kotse
taksi
bisikleta
motorsiklo
tren
eroplano
barko
bangka

Basic Greetings

Hello!

Good morning!
Good day!
Good evening!
How are you?
Fine.
Very well.
So-so.
What’s your name?
I am Mr. …
I am Mrs./Miss …
It’s nice to meet you.
Goodbye.
Goodnight.
Where do you live?
I live in the United States.
This is my husband.
This is my wife.
This is my friend.
This is my boyfriend.
This is my girlfriend.
Please visit me.
Let’s eat.
Join us.
How many are you?
Who are your companions?
When do you leave?
When you do arrive?
How long are you staying here?
Are you married?
I am single.
How old are you?
What does this word mean?
Just a minute.
Wait for me.
Go ahead.
I cannot find the…
How do you say… in Filipino?

To arrive
Arriving
To leave
Leaving
Near
Far

Mabuhay!
Hello.
Magandang umaga!
Magandang araw
Magandang gabi!
Kamusta ka?
Mabuti.
Talagang mabuti.
Di masyado mabuti.
Ano ang pangalan mo?
Ako si Ginoong …
Ako si Ginang/Binibining …
Ikinagagalak kong makilala ka
Paalam.
Goodnight.
Saan ka nakatira?
Ako ay nakatira sa Estados Unidos.
Eto ang aking asawa.
Eto ang aking asawa.
Eto ay aking kaibigan.
Eto ay aking nobyo.
Eto ay aking nobya.
Bisitahin mo ako.
Kumain na tayo.
Sali ka sa amin.
Ilan kayo?
Sino ang mga kasama mo?
Kalian ka/kayo (pl.) aalis?
Kailan ka/kayo (pl.) darating?
Hanggang kailan ka mananatili ditto?
May asawa ka na?
Wala pa akong asawa.
Ilang taon ka na?
Ano ang ibig sabihin nito?
Sandali lang.
Hintayin mo ako.
Mauna ka na. (sing.)/Mauna na kayo. (pl.)
Hindi ko makita ang…
Paano sabihin ang… sa Filipino.

parating
darating
paalis
aalis
malapit
malayo

When Shopping

How much does that cost?
At what time does the store open?

At what time does the store close?
What would you like?
Can I help you?
I would like this.
Here it is.
Is that all?
I’d like to pay.
Can I order this online?
women’s clothes
men’s clothes
blouse, skirt, dress
shirt
pants, ties
shoes and socks
jeans
bookstore
bakery
market
discount

One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twenty
Twenty-one
Thirty
Forty
Fifty
Sixty
Seventy
Eighty
Ninety
One hundred
One thousand
One million
Small
Large, big
Tight
Loose
Long
Short
Thin
Thick
Soft
Hard
Rounded
Pointed

Magkano iyon?
Anong oras nagbubukas ang
tindahan?
Anong oras nagsasara ang tindahan?
Ano ang gusto mo?
Pwede ba kitang tulungan?
Gusto ko nito.
Eto.
Yan lang?
Gusto ko nang bayaran.
Mabibili ba ito sa Internet?
damit ng babae
damit ng lalake
blusa, palda, bestida
kamiseta
pantalon, kurbata
sapatos at medyas
maong
tindahan ng libro
panaderia
merkado, tindahan
tawad or bawas

isa
dalawa
tatlo
apat
lima
anim
pito
walo
siyam
sampu
labing-isa
dalawampu
dalawampu at isa (dalawampu’t isa)
tatlumpu
apatnapu
limampu
animnapu
pitumpu
walumpu
siyamnapu
isang daan
isang libo
isang milyon
maliit
malaki
masikip
maluwag
mahaba
maigsi
manipis
makapal
malambot
matigas
pabilog
patulis

When Dining Out

Where is a good restaurant?
Where is it good to eat?
A table for two, please.
The menu, please.
I would like something to drink.
A glass of water, please.
A cup of tea, please.
A coffee with milk.
That’s all.
Is the tip included?
It’s delicious!
Another, please.
More, please.
Pass the… please.
Is this good to eat?

Food
Rice
Viand
spicy
sweet
sour
salty
bland
appetizer
dessert
salt
pepper
sugar
soup
salad
bread
butter
rice
cheese
vegetables
potatoes
cabbage
lettuce
corn
banana
orange
apple
grape
pineapple
mango
watermelon
melon
custard apple
chicken
pork
beef
fish
oysters
mussels
clams
shrimp
crab
mud crab
squid
fried chicken
pork in sour broth
fried
broiled, grilled
sautéed
boiled
juice
ice cream
milk
coffee
tea
chocolate
water
cold water
hot water
beer
a bottle of wine
ice cubes
breakfast
lunch
dinner
plate
fork
knife
spoon
cup
glass

Saan ang masarap na restaurant?
Saan masarap kumain?
Mesa para sa dalawang tao.
Pahingi ng menu.
Gusto ko ng maiinom.
Pahingi ng tubig.
Pahingi ng tsaa.
Pahingi ng isang tasa ng kape na may gatas.
Yun lang.
Kasama ba ang tip?
Masarap!
Isa pa.
Sige pa.
Paki abot ang….
Masarap ba ito?

pagkain
kanin
ulam
maanghang
matamis
maasim
maalat
matabang
pampagana
panghimagas
asin
paminta
asukal
sopas
ensalada
tinapay
mantekilya
kanin
keso
gulay
patatas
repolyo
letsugas
mais
saging
orange, kahel
mansanas
ubas
pinya
manga
pakwan
milon
atis
manok
baboy
karne
isda
talaba
tahong
halaan
hipon
alimasag
alimango
pusit
pritong manok
sinigang na baboy
pinirito
inihaw
ginisa
nilaga
jus
helado
gatas
kape
tsaa
tsokolate
tubig
malamig na tubig
mainit na tubig
cerveza, serbesa, beer
bote ng alak
yelo
almusal
tanghalian
hapunan
plato
tinidor
kutsilyo
kutsara
tasa
baso

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