Filipino phrases | Most common phrases for everyday life

Filipino phrases – Here you will find the most common phrases in Filipino with translation. | Free & useful

Filipino phrases are short expressions or idioms often used in speech to be polite, express gratitude, greet or say goodbye or simply to have a pleasant conversation.

They are an important part of Filipino culture and can be useful in different situations, both in private and business life.

Filipino phrases you should know

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Greet someone in Filipino

If you want to greet someone in Filipino, it’s actually quite easy:

English	Filipino	Phonetic (IPA)
Welcome! in Filipino	Maligayang pagdating!	[ma.liˈɡa.jaŋ paɡ.daˈtiŋ]
Good day to you! in Filipino	Magandang araw sa iyo!	[ma.ɡanˈdaŋ ˈʔa.raw sa ʔiˈjo]
Good morning to you! in Filipino	Magandang umaga sa iyo!	[ma.ɡanˈdaŋ ʔuˈma.ɡa sa ʔiˈjo]
Good evening! in Filipino	Magandang gabi!	[ma.ɡanˈdaŋ ɡaˈbi]
Good to see you. in Filipino	Masaya akong makita ka.	[ma.saˈja ʔaˈkoŋ maˈki.ta ka]
I’m glad to see you. in Filipino	Natutuwa akong makita ka.	[na.tu.tuˈwa ʔaˈkoŋ maˈki.ta ka]

If you are greeted in Filipino, the best way to respond is as follows:

English	Filipino	Phonetic (IPA)
Have a nice day too! in Filipino	Magandang araw din sa iyo!	[ma.ɡanˈdaŋ ˈʔa.raw din sa ʔiˈjo]
Thanks, it’s nice to see you too. in Filipino	Salamat, masaya rin akong makita ka.	[saˈla.mat ma.saˈja ʔaˈkoŋ maˈki.ta ka]

How is my dialogue partner?

As in any other country, it is polite to start by asking where the person you are talking to is located. Here’s how you do it:

English	Filipino	Phonetic (IPA)
How are you doing? in Filipino	Kumusta ka?	[kuˈmus.ta ka]
Are you doing well? in Filipino	Ayos ka ba?	[ˈʔa.jos ka ba]

If you are asked how you feel, you can answer with the following phrases:

English	Filipino	Phonetic (IPA)
Thank you for asking, I am fine.	Salamat sa pagtatanong, ayos lang ako.	[saˈla.mat sa paɡ.ta.taˈnoŋ ʔaˈjos laŋ ʔaˈko]
Thank you, I am fine.	Salamat, ayos lang ako.	[saˈla.mat ʔaˈjos laŋ ʔaˈko]
Thank you, I am not doing so well.	Salamat, hindi ako masyadong maayos.	[saˈla.mat hɪnˈdi ʔaˈko maˈʔa.jos]
Thanks, I’m fine. How are you doing?	Salamat, ayos lang ako. Kumusta ka?	[saˈla.mat ʔaˈjos laŋ ʔaˈko kuˈmus.ta ka]

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How do I say goodbye to someone in Filipino?

Saying goodbye to a friend or stranger in Filipino is not that difficult. Just use the following phrases:

English	Filipino	Phonetic (IPA)
Goodbye! in Filipino	Paalam!	[paˈʔa.lam]
Take care of yourself! in Filipino	Mag-ingat ka!	[maɡˈʔi.ŋat ka]
Goodbye in Filipino	Paalam	[paˈʔa.lam]
See you tomorrow in Filipino	Hanggang bukas	[haŋˈɡaŋ ˈbu.kas]
See you soon in Filipino	Hanggang sa muli	[haŋˈɡaŋ sa muˈli]
See you later in Filipino	Kitakits mamaya	[ki.taˈkits ma.maˈja]
Good night in Filipino	Magandang gabi	[ma.ɡanˈdaŋ ɡaˈbi]
Sleep well in Filipino	Matulog ka nang mahimbing	[maˈtu.loɡ ka naŋ ma.himˈbiŋ]
Talk to you later. in Filipino	Mag-usap tayo mamaya.	[maɡˈʔu.sap ˈta.jo ma.maˈja]
Nice to have met you! in Filipino	Ikinagagalak kitang makilala!	[ʔi.ki.na.ɡa.ɡaˈlak kiˈtaŋ ma.kiˈla.la]

How do I introduce myself in Filipino?

When travelling in the Philippines, sooner or later you will come into contact with local people. Naturally, you’ll want to introduce yourself in Filipino and know who you’re talking to.

English	Filipino	Phonetic (IPA)
My name is Jonas.	Ang pangalan ko ay Jonas.	[ʔaŋ pa.ŋaˈlan ko ʔaj ˈjo.nas]
What is your name?	Ano ang pangalan mo?	[ʔaˈno ʔaŋ pa.ŋaˈlan mo]
What is your surname?	Ano ang apelyido mo?	[ʔaˈno ʔaŋ ʔa.pelˈji.do mo]
What is your first name?	Ano ang unang pangalan mo?	[ʔaˈno ʔaŋ ˈʔu.naŋ pa.ŋaˈlan mo]
What is your surname?	Ano ang apelyido mo?	[ʔaˈno ʔaŋ ʔa.pelˈji.do mo]

If you want to tell people where you come from, the following sentences are useful:

English	Filipino	Phonetic (IPA)
Where do you come from?	Tagasaan ka?	[ta.ɡaˈʔa.an ka]
I am from London.	Taga-London ako.	[ta.ɡaˈlon.don ʔaˈko]
Are you from Birmingham?	Taga-Birmingham ka ba?	[ta.ɡaˈbɪɹ.mɪŋ.ham ka ba]
No, I’m from Madrid.	Hindi, taga-Madrid ako.	[hinˈdi ta.ɡaˈma.dɾid ʔaˈko]
Great, I’m from Madrid too.	Ayos! Taga-Madrid din ako.	[ˈʔa.jos ta.ɡaˈma.dɾid din ʔaˈko]
Where do you live?	Saan ka nakatira?	[ʔsaˈʔan ka na.ka.tiˈɾa]
I live in Berlin.	Nakatira ako sa Berlin.	[na.ka.tiˈɾa ʔaˈko sa bɛɹˈlin]

If you have problems with your Filipino, it is good to know which languages are still spoken:

English	Filipino	Phonetic (IPA)
Do you speak English?	Nagsasalita ka ba ng Ingles?	[naɡ.sa.sa.liˈta ka ba naŋ ɪŋˈɡlɛs]
Yes, I speak English.	Oo, nagsasalita ako ng Ingles.	[ˈʔo.ʔo naɡ.sa.sa.liˈta ʔaˈko naŋ ɪŋˈɡlɛs]
Yes, I speak some English.	Oo, kaunti lang ang alam kong Ingles.	[ˈʔo.ʔo ka.ʔunˈti laŋ ʔaŋ ʔaˈlam koŋ ɪŋˈɡlɛs]
No, I do not speak any English.	Hindi, hindi ako nagsasalita ng Ingles.	[hinˈdi hinˈdi ʔaˈko naɡ.sa.sa.liˈta naŋ ɪŋˈɡlɛs]
I only speak English.	Ingles lang ang sinasalita ko.	[ɪŋˈɡlɛs laŋ ʔaŋ si.na.sa.liˈta ko]
I understand some Filipino.	Naiintindihan ko ng kaunti ang Filipino.	[na.ʔin.tin.dɪˈhan ko naŋ ka.ʔunˈti ʔaŋ fɪ.lɪˈpi.no]

Useful sentences with ‘I am…’

The following sentences will help you orientate yourself in Filipino and express your wishes and concerns:

English	Filipino	Phonetic (IPA)
I am English in Filipino	Ingles ako.	[ɪŋˈɡlɛs ʔaˈko]
I am injured in Filipino	Nasugatan ako.	[na.suˈɡa.tan ʔaˈko]
I am here in Filipino	Nandito ako.	[nanˈdi.to ʔaˈko]
I am hungry in Filipino	Gutom ako.	[ɡuˈtom ʔaˈko]
I am thirsty in Filipino	Uhaw ako.	[ʔuˈhaw ʔaˈko]
I am a single person in Filipino	Wala akong asawa.	[waˈla ʔaˈkoŋ ʔaˈsa.wa]
I need help! in Filipino	Kailangan ko ng tulong!	[ka.ʔiˈlaŋ.an ko naŋ ˈtu.loŋ]
I am tired in Filipino	Pagod ako.	[paˈɡod ʔaˈko]
I am happy in Filipino	Masaya ako.	[ma.saˈja ʔaˈko]
I am sad in Filipino	Malungkot ako.	[ma.luŋˈkot ʔaˈko]
I am in love in Filipino	In love ako.	[ʔɪn ˈlav ʔaˈko]
I am ill in Filipino	May sakit ako.	[maj saˈkit ʔaˈko]
I am ready in Filipino	Handa na ako.	[hanˈda na ʔaˈko]
I am busy in Filipino	Abala ako.	[ʔaˈba.la ʔaˈko]
I am lost in Filipino	Naliligaw ako.	[na.li.liˈɡaw ʔaˈko]
I am a tourist in Filipino	Turista ako.	[tuˈris.ta ʔaˈko]
I am new here in Filipino	Bago ako rito.	[ˈba.ɡo ʔaˈko ˈɾi.to]
I am confident in Filipino	May tiwala ako sa sarili.	[maj tiˈwa.la ʔaˈko sa saˈɾi.li]
I am proud in Filipino	Ipinagmamalaki ko.	[ʔɪ.pɪ.naɡˈma.ma.la.ˈki ko]
I am a teacher in Filipino	Guro ako.	[ˈɡu.ɾo ʔaˈko]
I am late in Filipino	Huli ako.	[ˈhu.li ʔaˈko]
I am 30 years old in Filipino	Tatlumpung taong gulang ako.	[tat.lumˈpuŋ ʔta.ʔʊŋ ˈɡu.laŋ ʔaˈko]
I am in a hurry in Filipino	Nagmamadali ako.	[naɡ.ma.ma.daˈli ʔaˈko]
I am happy in Filipino	Masaya ako.	[ma.saˈja ʔaˈko]
I am surprised in Filipino	Nagulat ako.	[naˈɡu.lat ʔaˈko]
I am angry in Filipino	Galit ako.	[ˈɡa.lit ʔaˈko]

Apologising in Filipino

Here’s how to apologise to a Filipino speaker:

English	Filipino	Phonetic (IPA)
I apologise	Humihingi ako ng paumanhin.	[hu.miˈhi.ŋi ʔaˈko naŋ pa.ʔuˈman.hin]
Sorry, that was not the intention.	Pasensya na, hindi iyon ang intensyon.	[paˈsɛn.ʃa na, hinˈdi ʔiˈjon ʔaŋ ʔin.tɛnˈʃon]
Sorry, I did not do it on purpose.	Pasensya na, hindi ko sinadya.	[paˈsɛn.ʃa na, hinˈdi ko si.naˈdja]
Sorry, that was very clumsy of me.	Pasensya na, sobrang pabaya ako.	[paˈsɛn.ʃa na, ˈso.bɾaŋ pa.baˈja ʔaˈko]

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Useful signs and notices in Filipino

Useful signs and messages in Filipino that you will often see.

English	Filipino	Phonetic (IPA)
Entrance in Filipino	Pasukan	[pa.suˈkan]
Toilet in Filipino	Palikuran	[pa.liˈku.ɾan]
Exit in Filipino	Labasan	[laˈba.san]
Attention! in Filipino	Pansin!	[panˈsin]
Police in Filipino	Pulis	[puˈlis]
Emergency services in Filipino	Serbisyong pang-emerhensiya	[sɛɾˈbiʃ.joŋ paŋ ʔɛmɛɾˈhɛn.si.ja]
Fire brigade in Filipino	Pamatay-sunog	[pa.maˈtaj ˈsu.nog]
Passage forbidden. in Filipino	Bawal dumaan.	[ˈba.wal duˈma.ʔan]
Caution! in Filipino	Mag-ingat!	[maʔˈʔi.ŋat]
This building is under video surveillance. in Filipino	Ang gusaling ito ay minomonitor ng CCTV.	[ʔaŋ guˈsa.lɪŋ ʔiˈto ʔaj mi.no.moˈni.tor naŋ si.si.ti.bi]

Numbers to 25 in Filipino

Counting in Filipino is not that difficult. Here are the numbers in Filipino from 1 to 25.

English	Filipino	Phonetic (IPA)
One in Filipino	Isa	[ʔiˈsa]
Two in Filipino	Dalawa	[daˈla.wa]
Three in Filipino	Tatlo	[ˈtat.lo]
Four in Filipino	Apat	[ˈʔa.pat]
Five in Filipino	Lima	[liˈma]
Six in Filipino	Anim	[ˈʔa.nim]
Seven in Filipino	Pito	[piˈto]
Eight in Filipino	Walo	[waˈlo]
Nine in Filipino	Siyam	[ˈʃam]
Ten in Filipino	Sampu	[samˈpuʔ]
Eleven in Filipino	Labing-isa	[laˈbiŋ ʔiˈsa]
Twelve in Filipino	Labindalawa	[laˈbin da.laˈwa]
Thirteen in Filipino	Labintatlo	[laˈbin tatˈlo]
Fourteen in Filipino	Labing-apat	[laˈbiŋ ʔa.pat]
Fifteen in Filipino	Labinlima	[laˈbin liˈma]
Sixteen in Filipino	Labing-anim	[laˈbiŋ ʔa.nim]
Seventeen in Filipino	Labimpito	[laˈbim piˈto]
Eighteen in Filipino	Labing-walo	[laˈbiŋ waˈlo]
Nineteen in Filipino	Labinsiyam	[laˈbin ˈʃam]
Twenty in Filipino	Dalawampu	[da.la.wamˈpuʔ]
Twenty-one in Filipino	Dalawampu’t isa	[da.la.wamˈput ʔiˈsa]
Twenty-two in Filipino	Dalawampu’t dalawa	[da.la.wamˈput da.laˈwa]
Twenty-three in Filipino	Dalawampu’t tatlo	[da.la.wamˈput tatˈlo]
Twenty-four in Filipino	Dalawampu’t apat	[da.la.wamˈput ʔa.pat]
Twenty-five in Filipino	Dalawampu’t lima	[da.la.wamˈput liˈma]

The colours in Filipino

The most common colours in Filipino with phonetic transcription for pronunciation.

English	Filipino	Phonetic (IPA)
Red in Filipino	Pula	[ˈpu.la]
Blue in Filipino	Bughaw	[ˈbuɡ.haw]
Green in Filipino	Berde	[ˈbɛɾ.dɛ]
Yellow in Filipino	Dilaw	[dɪˈlaw]
Orange in Filipino	Kahel	[kaˈhɛl]
Purple in Filipino	Lila	[ˈli.la]
Pink in Filipino	Rosas	[ˈɾo.sas]
Black in Filipino	Itim	[ʔɪˈtim]
White in Filipino	Puti	[puˈtiʔ]
Brown in Filipino	Kayumanggi	[ka.ju.maŋˈɡiʔ]

Days of the week, months and seasons in Filipino

Of course, you will also need the days of the week in Filipino and the pronunciation of the months and seasons in dialogues and daily communication in Filipino.

English	Filipino	Phonetic (IPA)
Monday in Filipino	Lunes	[ˈlu.nɛs]
Tuesday in Filipino	Martes	[ˈmaɾ.tɛs]
Wednesday in Filipino	Miyerkules	[mɪˈjɛɾ.ku.lɛs]
Thursday in Filipino	Huwebes	[huˈwɛ.bɛs]
Friday in Filipino	Biyernes	[ˈbjɛɾ.nɛs]
Saturday in Filipino	Sabado	[ˈsa.ba.dɔ]
Sunday in Filipino	Linggo	[ˈliŋ.ɡo]
January in Filipino	Enero	[ɛˈnɛ.ɾɔ]
February in Filipino	Pebrero	[pɛbˈɾɛ.ɾɔ]
March in Filipino	Marso	[ˈmaɾ.sɔ]
April in Filipino	Abril	[aˈbɾil]
May in Filipino	Mayo	[ˈma.jɔ]
June in Filipino	Hunyo	[ˈhu.njɔ]
July in Filipino	Hulyo	[ˈhul.jɔ]
August in Filipino	Agosto	[aˈɡɔs.tɔ]
September in Filipino	Setyembre	[sɛˈtjɛm.bɾɛ]
October in Filipino	Oktubre	[ɔkˈtu.bɾɛ]
November in Filipino	Nobyembre	[nɔˈbjɛm.bɾɛ]
December in Filipino	Disyembre	[dɪˈsjɛm.bɾɛ]
Spring in Filipino	Tagsibol	[taɡ.sɪˈbɔl]
Summer in Filipino	Tag-init	[taɡ.ʔɪˈnɪt]
Autumn / Fall in Filipino	Taglagas	[taɡ.laˈɡas]
Winter in Filipino	Taglamig	[taɡ.laˈmɪɡ]

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More information about the Filipino Business Course.

Additional links

• The different ways of learning languages
• Learning vocabulary successfully
• Motivated language learning
• It is so easy to train your understanding of a language at the same time
• Learning languages quickly? – Is it possible?
• The different types of learners when learning languages

More information about the Filipino Course for Children.