Learn to speak Tagalog and get stories from the Philippines.
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Anong oras na? - What time is it?
Ano(ng) - what
oras - time
na - now
Menos diez para las siete
Menos dyis para las siete - 10 minutes before 7:00
Ang oras na ito ay hatid sa inyo ng C2 Green Tea -
The time was brought to you by C2 Green Tea.
C2 Green Tea adds up to a most refreshing, recharging experience.
Sampung minuto bago sumapit ang ika-pito ng umaga - 10 minutes before 7am
Sampu(ng) - 10
minuto - minutes
bago - before
sumapit - arrives
ang ika-pito - the seventh (hour)
ng umaga - of the morning
Menos balat, para buto - Minus the skin, so that you’ll see the bone
We’re now shifting to micro-podcasting, which means each episode will contain only one Tagalog phrase.
Lumapag na tayo - We (tayo) have landed (lumapag)
sa paliparan - at (sa) the airport (paliparan)
ng Ninoy Aquino International Airport - of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Pasay City Ordinance - “Welcome to Pasay City!” instead of “Welcome to Manila!”
Here are Tagalog phrases you’ll hear in Philippine restaurants.
Filipinos love to eat. Whether it’s in a fine dining restaurant, a fastfood joint, a bistro, or even a streetside carinderia, you’ll find Pinoys talking, drinking, and eating to our hearts’ content. Learn some Tagalog phrases to say in between mouthfuls.
Tagalog Words / Phrases
ristawran, ristoran - restaurant
panciteria - Chinese restaurant
Waiter, pahingi po ng menu. - Waiter, the menu, please. (polite form)
Waiter, ang menu nga. - Waiter, the menu.
Anong masarap dito? - What is delicious here?
Anong ispeysyal nyo? - What’s your specialty?
Isang (order ng)… - One order of…
Dalawang (order ng)… - Two orders of…
Tatlong (order ng)… - Three orders of…
Apat na (order ng)… - Four orders of…
Apat na kape - Four (cups of ) coffee…
Gulay - vegetables
Pakbet - Combination of squash, string beans, okra
Ampalaya - bitter gourd
Ampalaya con carne - bitter gourd with beef
Manok - chicken
Tinolang manok - boiled chicken in chicken stock soup with green papaya
Piniritong manok - fried chicken
Adobo - meat boiled in vinegar and soy sauce
Adobong manok/baboy - Chicken/pork cooked adobo style
Nilagang baka/baboy - boiled beef/pork
Sinigang na baka/hipon/baboy - boiled beef/shrimp/pork in sour broth
Lumpia - egg roll
Lumpiang ubod - egg roll with mince banana heart
Wala bang panghimagas? - Any dessert?
Anong matamis? - Anything sweet?
Ubeng halaya - sweetened purple yam
Halo-halo - Crushed ice with sweetened fruit chunks, red beans, coconut strips
Meron bang mangga? - Do you have mangoes?
Matamis ba? - Are they sweet?
Here are Tagalog lessons about Semana Santa or Holy Week.
Holy Week is an important part of Philippine culture. It’s a time to pause and reflect on the state of your spiritual development, spend time with your family (particularly with your grandparents), deepen your relationship with God, or quickly recharge your office-fried brain with a quick three-day soak in the beach.
Tagalog Words / Phrases
Mahal na araw - Holy Week (literally: days of love)
Domingo de Ramos / Linggo ng Palaspas - Palm Sunday
Lunes Santo - Holy Monday
Martes Santo - Holy Tuesday
Miyerkoles Santo - Holy Wednesday
Huwebes Santo - Maundy Thursday
Biyernes Santo - Good Friday
Sabado de Gloria - Black Saturday
Don’t do these on Good Friday:
Huwag kang maligo. - Don’t take a bath.
Huwag kang lalabas. - Don’t go out.
Huwag kang gagawa ng mabigat. - Don’t work (or engage in heavy labor).
Bawal kumain ng karne. - Eating meat is prohibited.
Biyernes Santong Biyernes Santo, eh… - It’s Good Friday, fer cryin’ out loud…
Pasko ng Pagkabuhay - Easter Sunday
Linggo ng muling pagkabuhay - Easter Sunday
Pasko - Christmas
Linggo - Sunday
pagkabuhay - life
Pasyon - Passion (of the life of Christ)
Pabasa - reading /chanting
Bisita Iglesia - visit churches
Senaculo - dramatization / play / re-enactment of the Passion of Christ
Hudas - Judas
Hudas ka! - Betrayer! (Or: You are like Judas)
Nanghudas - betrayed
Ipinagkanulo - betrayed / handed over to one’s enemies (what Judas did to Christ)
God knows Hudas not pay. - God knows who does not pay.
(Sign found in some jeepneys)
Here are Tagalog phrases about honeymoons and weddings.
In the Philippines, weddings are rarely just about two people in love. They’re usually about family. Big families. And their neighbors. And officemates. And yes, even the corner sari-sari store owner. For Filipinos, it’s not a simple “welcome to my family”… it’s more of a “welcome to my world.”
Here are Tagalog lessons about phrases Filipinos utter when we’re near pregnant women and children.
If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a barangay here in the Philippines to raise a child, even if the baby is still in the womb. There’s this familiar sense of community, as if one’s family went beyond extended relations and into neighbors, whether they’re next door, in the hallway, or in the adjacent cubicle.
Tagalog Words / Phrases
Hi, buntis! - Hello! (said to someone who’s pregnant)
Siguro, babae yan. - I think your baby is a girl.
Maganda ka kasi. - Because you’re pretty (maganda).
Maaliwalas ang mukha mo. - Your face (mukha) looks content (or at peace).
Mabilog ang tiyan mo. - Your stomach (tiyan) is round (mabilog).
NOTE: it’s ma-bi-log (please don’t mix your syllables!)
Siguro, lalaki yan. - I think your baby is a boy.
At bakit? - And why? (asked by the pregnant woman)
Ah, uh… - [It’s hard to tell the truth, so just wait for the pregnant woman to say:]
Bakit? Kasi malaki ang ilong ko? - Why? Because my nose (ilong) is big (malaki)?
Maitim ang leeg ko? - My neck (leeg) is dark (maitim)?
Matulis ang tiyan ko? - My stomach is pointed/sharp (matulis)?
Kelan ang labas? - When are you due (to deliver)?
Anong ipapangalan mo? - What name will you give your baby?
Anong gusto mo, babae o lalaki? - What do you want, a girl or a boy?
Kahit ano. - Any will do.
Basta malusog. - As long as the baby’s healthy.
*** After the baby is born ***
Kamusta ka na, mommy? - Mommy, how are you?
Normal ba o CS? - Did you deliver normally or via C-Section?
Ang ganda ng baby mo! - Your baby is beautiful!
Ang gwapo ng bata! - The child is handsome!
Kanino nagmana? - Whom did the child take after?
Siyempre, sa tatay. - Of course, the child took after the father.
Siyempre, sa nanay. - Of course, the child took after the mother.
Ang lago ng buhok. - The child has a full head of hair.
Ang taba! - How fat!
Tabachichay! - Chubby!
Pwera usog. - Loose transation: No misfortune. Or knock on wood. (This is to counter potential hexes unwittingly placed by visitors on a child.)
Hoy, nag-alcohol na ba kayo? Hey, have you cleaned yourselves with alcohol?
Kelan ang binyag? - When’s the christening?
Ninong ako, ha? - Get me as godfather, ok?
Ninang ako, ha? - Get me as godmother, ok?
Ilista mo ako, ha? - List me as godparent, ok? (for proxy godparents who are far away)
