
The origin of Tagalog vocabulary and its significant grammatical differences compared to English make it relatively difficult for many people to master. The Foreign Service Institute has listed Tagalog as a Category III language, making it as challenging to learn as Hebrew, Greek, and Russian. The good news is that everything should be smooth sailing once you’ve gotten past the hurdles of things like verb–pronoun relationships, verb conjugation, vocabulary, and pronunciation. And, if you’re reading this guide on advanced Tagalog phrases, it means you’ve gotten past those hurdles. It also means you’re ready to take on more challenging aspects of the Filipino language.
Don’t worry: challenging doesn’t always mean complex, and advanced doesn’t necessarily mean intimidating. In this guide, you’ll encounter words and phrases that you won’t typically hear in everyday speech. Here, you’ll be introduced to expressions reserved for things like academic writing, resume writing, and formal business meetings. Moreover, you’ll have the opportunity to express your ideas and opinions more effectively by learning advanced Filipino idioms.

Are you ready to take the challenge?

- Useful Phrases for Formal Speech and Writing
- Power Phrases for Resumes
- Smart Phrases for Business Meetings
- Advanced Idioms, Sayings, and Proverbs for Everyday Usage
- How FilipinoPod101 Can Help
1. Useful Phrases for Formal Speech and Writing
The following phrases are not something you’ll get to use or hear every day. They are often used in formal speech and writing. You may not always be given the opportunity to use them, but when the right time comes, it’s better that you have them in your arsenal of advanced Filipino phrases.
Una sa lahat – “First of all” |
Una sa lahat, nais kong kilalanin… “First of all, I would like to acknowledge…” |
Ayon sa / Ayon kay – “According to” |
Ayon sa pananaliksik… “According to research…” |
Bagkus – “On the contrary,” “Rather” |
Bagkus, ang problema na ito ay maaari sanang maiwasan. The problem, rather, is supposed to be preventable. |
Bukod dito – “Moreover” Literally: “Besides this” |
Bukod dito, mahalagang maunawaan natin ang mga layunin ng pag-aaral na ito. “Moreover, it is vital for us to know the objectives of this study.” |
Nang sa gayon – “So as to,” “In order to” |
…nang sa gayon ay maisulong ang patuloy na pananaliksik ukol sa paksang ito. “…so as to promote ongoing research on this topic.” |
Sa madaling salita – “In other words” |
Sa madaling salita, ang proyekto ay dapat na mapondohan sa lalong madaling panahon. “In other words, the project must be funded as soon as possible.” |
Ganun din – “In the same manner” |
Ganun din, hindi ito nangangailangan ng espesyal na pagsasanay. “In the same manner, it doesn’t require any special training.” |
Gayunpaman – “However” |
Gayunpaman, marami ang hindi nakakaalam nito. “However, many are not aware of this.” |
Sa kabila nito – “Nevertheless” |
Sa kabila nito, hindi tayo dapat magmadali sa paggawa ng mga konklusyon. “Nevertheless, we must not be in haste to make conclusions.” |
Sa kabaliktaran – “By contrast” |
Sa kabaliktaran, ang mga tumanggap ng gamot ay nagpakita ng mga palatandaan ng paggaling. “By contrast, those who received the drug showed signs of recovery.” |

Ayon sa pananaliksik…(“According to research…”)
- ➜ Find out which specific tool you can use to perfect your speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills!
2. Power Phrases for Resumes
Formal or business writing in the Philippines is primarily done using the English language. In the Philippines, having a good command of English gives one the advantage of securing a job. Being able to speak English fluently is seen as equivalent to being able to effectively interact with other cultures. That doesn’t mean you can’t write your resume in Filipino. If you’re a foreigner, being able to write a resume in fluent Tagalog is a sign of knowledge and dedication. It will show the employer that you’re serious about your application and are also creative and willing to think outside the box.
Kakayahang magtrabaho nang may mataas na antas ng kawastuhan |
“Ability to perform with a high degree of accuracy” |
Kakayahang magkamit ng namumukod-tanging resulta sa mga proyekto |
“Ability to achieve outstanding project results” |
Magpakita ng positibong imahe |
“Projects a positive image” |
Makipag-usap nang malinaw at may kabuluhan |
“Communicates clearly and concisely” |
Gamitin ang buong kakayahan |
“Uses ability to the fullest” |
Magpakita ng malikhaing imahinasyon |
“Displays creative imagination” |
Kakayahang gumawa ng matatag na desisyon na may kumpyansa sa sarili |
“Ability to make firm decisions with confidence” |
Tunay na maaasahan at mapagkakatiwalaan sa pagtupad ng mga tungkulin |
“Exceptionally reliable and trustworthy in accomplishing tasks” |
Kakahayang bumuo ng makabaong diskarte at pamamaraan sa pagkumpleto ng proyekto |
“Ability to develop new strategies and methods for completing a project” |
Inuuna ang interes ng organisasyon bago ang personal na kaginhawaan |
“Places organizational interest ahead of personal convenience” |

Palagi kong ginagamit ang aking buong kakayahan.
“I always use my ability to the fullest.”
- ➜ Applying for a job? Here are useful job interview questions you could study prior to an interview.
3. Smart Phrases for Business Meetings
While English may be the primary means of communication in the Philippine corporate world, Tagalog steals the limelight during business meetings. Unless there are any non-Filipino speakers at the conference, everyone is free to use a mix of English and Tagalog as a medium for expressing their thoughts and opinions. That said, it’s always an advantage to know some formal Filipino words and expressions when at a meeting, as it gives the impression that you know what you’re talking about and that you’re there to do business.
Simulan ang pagpupulong – “To start the meeting” |
Simulan na natin ang pagpupulong. “Let’s start the meeting.” |
Talakayin ang mungkahi – “To discuss the proposal” |
Nais kong talakayin natin ang iminungkahi ni Ginoong Rodriguez. “I would like us to discuss what Mr. Rodriguez has proposed.” |
Isulong ang proyekto – “To promote the project” |
Kailangan na nating maisulong ang proyekto sa lalong madaling panahon. “We need to move the project forward as soon as possible.” |
Makabagong estratehiya – “Innovative approach” |
Sa araw na ito, mag-iisip tayo ng mas makabagong istratehiya. “Today, we will think of a more innovative approach.” |
Pamunuan ang kalakaran – “To lead the trend” |
Maaari nating pamunuan ang mga kalakaran sa ekonomiya sa halip na sumunod lamang. “We can lead the trends in the economy instead of simply following.” |
Matugunan ang takdang-petsa – “To meet the deadline” |
Huwag kang mag-alala. Magagawa nating matugunan ang takdang-petsa. “Don’t worry. We will be able to meet the deadline.” |
Napakaraming rekisitos – “Red tape” Literally: “So many requirements” |
Mahirap maiwasan ang napakaraming rekisitos, ngunit hindi ito imposible. “It’s hard to avoid the red tape, but it’s not impossible.” |
Magbigay-pugay – “To give honor” |
Bago ang lahat, nais kong magbigay-pugay sa ating punong tagapamahala. “Before anything else, I would like to give honor to our chief executive.” |
Tubong lugaw – “a business enterprise with returns far exceeding the investment ”Literally: Profit from selling porridge |
Subukan natin ang ideya ni Diane. Maliit man ang kita, pero tuloy-tuloy. Tubong-lugaw, ika nga. “Let’s try Diane’s idea. The income for each sale may be small, but it’s sustainable. Soon, our returns will far exceed what we’ve invested.” |
Maging maagap – “To be proactive” |
Maging maagap tayo sa pagpili kung paano gagamitin ang mga oras natin. “We need to be proactive in how we use our time.” |

Maaari nating pamunuan ang mga kalakaran sa ekonomiya sa halip na sumunod lamang.
“We can lead the trends in the economy instead of simply following.”
- ➜ Learn Filipino phrases for doing business successfully.
4. Advanced Idioms, Sayings, and Proverbs for Everyday Usage
The Filipino language has some of the most captivating idioms and proverbs. Referred to as salawikain or sawikain in Tagalog, sayings or idioms play an essential role in Filipino culture. They are passed down from one generation to another, primarily through oral tradition, and are often humorous (or even bizarre) while still offering practical wisdom from older times.
Itaga mo sa bato. – “Mark my words” Literally: “Hack it against a rock” |
Hahanapin mo din ako pag wala na ako. Itaga mo iyan sa bato. “You will look for me when I’m gone. Mark my words.” |
Maghahalo ang balat sa tinalupan. – “All hell will break loose.” Literally: “The peel will mix with the ones peeled” |
Pag nalaman kong niloloko niyo ako, maghahalo ang balat sa tinalupan. “When I find out that you’re trying to fool me, all hell will break loose.” |
Namamangka sa dalawang ilog – “Cheating” Literally: “Rowing a boat on two rivers at the same time” |
Ayan ang napapala mo sa pamamangka mo sa dalawang ilog. “That’s what you get for cheating.” |
Pupulutin sa kangkungan – “End up in a dumpster” Literally: “Will be picked up from a cluster of water spinach” Note: In the Philippines, the bodies of victims of summary executions are often thrown in ponds covered by a dense growth of water spinach. |
Pupulutin ka sa kangkungan kapag hindi mo inayos ang buhay mo. “You might end up in a dumpster if you don’t behave.” |
Kahit lumuha ka ng dugo – “You won’t be forgiven no matter what you do” Literally: “Even if you shed tears of blood” |
Hindi kita pagbibigyan kahit lumuha ka pa ng dugo. “I will never grant your desire, not even if you shed tears of blood.” |
Naghahabi ng kuwento – “Exaggerating,” “Telling a lie” Literally: “Weaving a story” |
Mahilig talaga maghabi ng kwento si Joel makakuha lang ng kliyente. “Joel will do anything to attract clients, even weave a fascinating story.” |
Suntok sa buwan – “A task that is next-to-impossible to accomplish” Literally: “A punch to the moon” |
Ang mahulog ang loob niya sa akin ay suntok sa buwan. “To have her fall in love with me is next to impossible.” |
Harangan man ng sibat – “No matter what it takes” Literally: “Even when stopped by a spear” |
Hindi nila iuurong ang kaso harangan man sila ng sibat. “They will not drop the case no matter what happens.” |
Maghanap ng karayom sa gitna ng dayami – “To do a seemingly impossible task” Literally: “To look for a needle in the middle of a haystack” |
Sa sitwasyong iyan ay parang naghahanap lamang siya ng karayom sa gitna ng dayami. “The way things are going, it seems that he’s just wasting his time on something that’s impossible to accomplish.” |
Magdildil ng asin – “Be so poor that you have to eat salt (with rice) for meals,” “To be poor as a rat” Literally: “Bunch up salt with one’s fingers” |
Mag-aral ka nang mabuti kung ayaw mong magdildil ng asin habangbuhay. “Study hard if you don’t want to end up poor as a rat.” |

Maghahalo ang balat sa tinalupan.
“All hell will break loose.”
- ➜ Access this lesson to learn more common Filipino idioms.
5. How FilipinoPod101 Can Help
Congratulations! With these advanced Filipino phrases, you’ll be able to communicate in Tagalog more fluently and more confidently! Are there other advanced Tagalog words and phrases you wish we had included on this list? Let us know in the comments.
That said, you know that the phrases on this list are not all there is. Here at FilipinoPod101, you can further enhance your skills with lessons from our archives and other free resources. You can rest assured that there’s a lesson tailored to your needs, whether it’s about vocabulary, key Filipino phrases, or grammar.
And speaking of tailored lessons, if you wish to take a more personalized approach to learning Filipino, you can do just that with MyTeacher. This service is included with a Premium PLUS subscription, and it gives you access to exclusive lessons and lets you enjoy 1-on-1 coaching with a professional Filipino teacher. With this approach, you’ll be able to track your progress in real time and have someone guide you in choosing the most appropriate learning path based on your needs.
Sign up with FilipinoPod101 now to enjoy all these features and more!

The Ultimate Guide to Intermediate Filipino Phrases

You’re reading this guide for one reason—you’re ready to move on to the next level of Filipino proficiency! And there is no better feeling than being more confident with a language that you’ve worked hard to master. Now that you’ve gotten past the beginner stage, it’s time for you to learn a few intermediate Filipino phrases that you can naturally use in conversations.
The words and phrases you learned at the beginner level will serve as the foundation of your continued Filipino studies. The ones you’ll learn this time will help you have more fluent conversations with native speakers. They’ll also guide you through conversations when native speakers use expressions that are normal to them but may be unfamiliar to you.
We will specifically introduce you to phrases you can use to:
- Talk about past events
- Make plans for the future
- Provide reasons and explanations
- Make recommendations or complaints
Finally, we’ll teach you which phrases to use as responses during daily conversations.

The phrases you’ll learn here will help you have more fluent conversations with native speakers.

- Let’s Talk About the Past!
- How About the Future?—Making and Changing Plans
- I’ll Tell You Why—Giving Explanations and Citing Reasons
- …And Why Not—Making Recommendations and Complaints
- Talaga! And Various Responses for Everyday Conversations
- Etiquette Phrases for Social and Business Settings
- Go a Level Higher with FilipinoPod101!
1. Let’s Talk About the Past!
Filipinos love to socialize. When they do, you can expect the atmosphere to be filled with kwentuhan (the act of sharing stories). To avoid feeling out of place, you should learn how to talk about your own past experiences in Filipino. If you’ve come across our entry on Filipino verb conjugation, you should have an idea of how to conjugate Tagalog verbs to form the past tense. The following list of intermediate Filipino phrases should also help you share your own kwento (stories).
Namasyal kami kahapon. |
We went to see places yesterday. |
Literally: Strolled we yesterday. |
Ang saya-saya namin! |
We had lots of fun! |
Literally: Very happy we! Notice how the word saya (fun) was reduplicated in this sentence. In Filipino grammar, the full reduplication of a word indicates intensity. Take note, too, that the same sentence could be translated as “We are very happy,” which is in the present tense. In this case, identifying whether the statement is in the past or present tense will depend on the context. |
Doon ako nagtatrabaho dati. |
I used to work there. |
Literally: There I worked before. |
Dalawang linggo akong hindi nakalabas. |
I wasn’t able to go out for two weeks. |
Literally: Two weeks I wasn’t able to go outside. The word Linggo also means “Sunday” in Filipino. You’ll know which is which since the first letter for “Sunday” is capitalized. |
Bumisita sila rito noong makalawa. |
They came over the other day. |
Literally: Visited them here two days ago. |
Apat na taon na kaming nakatira dito. |
We’ve been residing here for four years. |
Literally: Four years already we living here. |
Nagbakasyon kami sa Dubai noong pasko ng 2017. |
We went for a vacation in Dubai on the Christmas of 2017. |
Literally: Had vacation we in Dubai on Christmas of 2017. |
- ➜ Be sure to check our lesson on the different grammatical tenses in Filipino.

Doon ako nagtatrabaho dati. (“I used to work there.”)
2. How About the Future?—Making and Changing Plans
Filipinos are quite flexible. We love making plans, but we don’t mind making changes if the situation calls for it.
Talking about the future in Filipino is just as simple as talking about the past. All you need to do is mind your verb conjugation. Below are several intermediate-level Tagalog phrases you can use to make or change plans with your new Filipino friends.
Pwede ka ba sa Linggo? |
Are you available this coming Sunday? |
Literally: Available you on Sunday? |
Pwede bang sa Sabado na lang tayo magkita? |
Would it be possible for us to meet on Saturday instead? |
Literally: Can Saturday only we meet? |
Kape tayo bukas! |
Let’s have coffee tomorrow! |
Literally: Coffee us tomorrow! Perhaps you’re wondering how the word kape (“coffee”) functions here as a verb. In formal speech, this sentence is supposed to be Magkape tayo bukas, with the prefix mag- indicating that the verb is in the future tense. In informal speech, shortening a word is often acceptable. Also, in colloquial Filipino, it’s not unusual for some nouns to be used as verbs. Other examples include mag-gitara (to play the guitar), mag-telepono (to use the phone), and mag-bus (to take the bus). |
Anong oras tayo magkikita? |
What time shall we meet? |
Literally: What time we will meet? |
Baka pwedeng sa makalawa ka na lang umalis. |
Perhaps you should stay with us for two more days. |
Literally: Maybe it’s possible two days from now you will leave. Notice how the word makalawa in this sentence means “in the next two days.” As shown in one of the previous examples, it could also mean “two days ago.” |
Sa ibang araw na lang natin pag-usapan. |
Let’s just talk about it some other time. |
Literally: Next time only we talk about. |
Pasensya ka na pero may gagawin ako sa Sabado. |
I’m sorry, but I have something to do on Saturday. |
Literally: Sorry you but doing something I on Saturday. The word pasensya is also the word for “patience.” For this reason, you could also use it when asking someone to be patient with you. |

Pasensya ka na pero may gagawin ako sa Sabado. (“I’m sorry, but I have something to do on Saturday.”)
3. I’ll Tell You Why—Giving Explanations and Citing Reasons
You can expect any conversation to reach a point where you’ll have to give an explanation about a choice you made. There’s no specific formula for doing so, as it could be as simple as giving a quick reason or as complex as citing your entire rationale. It helps that the Filipino sentence structure is similar to that of English and that most conjunctions used in English have direct equivalents in Filipino. To get you started, we have listed below a few intermediate phrases in Filipino for giving your reasons.
Ginawa ko iyon dahil yun ang tama. |
I did it because it was the right thing to do. |
Literally: Did I that because it was right. |
Pinili ko ito dahil una sa lahat, alam kong gusto mo ang kulay. Pangalawa, kasya siya sa bulsa mo. At pangatlo, sulit ang presyo. |
I chose this because first of all, I know you love the color. Second, it fits in your pocket. And third, it’s worth the price. |
Literally: Chose I this because first of all, know I like you the color. Secondly, fits it in your pocket. And thirdly, it’s worth the price. |
Sana makasama kayo para marami tayo. |
I hope you can come so we can all have fun. |
Literally: Hopefully you can join so there’s many of us. Most Filipinos are highly extroverted. As they say, the more the merrier! |
Huwag kang maingay para hindi magising ang bata. |
Don’t be too loud so that the baby doesn’t wake up. |
Literally: Don’t you noisy so not wake up the child. |
Napagod ako kaya hindi na ako sumama. |
I was so tired, so I decided to stay. |
Literally: Tired I so didn’t I come along. |
4. …And Why Not—Making Recommendations and Complaints
We’ve established that Filipinos love to share stories. Filipinos are very friendly, and we will share our life experiences even with complete strangers! That’s what makes us great at giving recommendations (and non-recommendations). One thing you should know about giving recommendations and making complaints in Filipino is that we often use full reduplication. Oftentimes, this is to convey intensity or to emphasize how much we liked or disliked an experience. Examine the phrases below along with their literal translations to better understand this concept.
Subukan mo yung pagawaan ng sasakyan sa may kanto. |
Try the car repair shop on the corner. |
Literally: Try you the maker of vehicles there in the corner. |
Ito na ang pinakamasarap na adobo na natikman ko! |
This is the most delicious adobo I have ever tasted! |
Literally: This is already the most delicious adobo tasted by me! |
Hinding-hindi ka magsisisi sa pagpunta dun! |
You will never regret going there! |
Literally: Never ever you will regret in going there! |
Masarap ang kape nila! |
Their coffee is great! |
Literally: Delicious the coffee of theirs! |
Huwag na huwag mong subukang pumunta sa lugar na yun! |
Never ever try to go to that place! |
Literally: Do not you try going to place that is there! |
Kailangan pa nilang pagbutihin ang serbisyo nila. |
They still need to improve their service. |
Literally: Need still they improve the service of theirs. |

Masarap ang kape nila. (“Their coffee is great!”)
- ➜ No one wants to be around a person who always complains. However, it’s another thing to know how to make complaints in order to raise awareness and promote improvement. Learn how to make complaints in Filipino on our website.
5. Talaga! And Various Responses for Everyday Conversations
Now, let’s go over some responses used in everyday conversations. These are the phrases you’ll hear or use yourself to express surprise, excitement, annoyance, or disappointment.
1 – Talaga?!
A: Namasyal kami kahapon. (“We went to see places yesterday.”)
Literally: Strolled we yesterday.
B: Talaga? Saan kayo pumunta? (“Really? Which ones?”)
Literally: Really? Where you went?
2 – Ang galing!
A: Marunong na siyang magbisikleta. (“He now knows how to ride a bicycle.”)
Literally: Know already he/she to ride a bicycle.
B: Wow! Ang galing naman! (“Wow! That’s really impressive!”)
Literally: Wow! Very good!
3 – Magandang balita yan!
A: Sa wakas! Makakauwi na si Tatay! (“Finally! Dad will be able to come home!”)
Literally: In the end! Coming home already Father!
B: Magandang balita yan ah! (“That’s good news!”)
Literally: Good news that is!
4 – Grabe!
A: Walong taon na kaming hindi nagkikita ni Teddy. (“Teddy and I haven’t seen each other in eight years.”)
Literally: Eight years already us have not see each other Teddy.
B: Grabe. Ang tagal-tagal na. (“Gosh. It’s been so long.”)
Literally: That’s serious. It’s so long already.
5 – Astig!
A: Diyan ako nagtatrabaho dati. (“I used to work there.”)
Literally: There I worked before.
B: Astig! Kaya pala ang galing mo pagdating sa mga kompyuter. (“Cool! So that’s why you’re so good with computers.”)
Literally: Tough! That’s why good you are when it comes to computers.
6 – Sayang!
A: Pasensya ka na pero may gagawin ako sa Sabado. (“I’m sorry, but I have something to do on Saturday.”)
Literally: Sorry you but doing something I on Saturday.
B: Sayang naman. May ibibigay sana ako sa iyo. (“Too bad. I was going to give you something.”)
Literally: What a waste. There is something to give hopefully I to you.
7 – Niloloko mo ba ako?!
A: Pwede bang sa Sabado na lang tayo magkita? (“Would it be possible for us to meet on Saturday instead?”)
Literally: Can Saturday only we meet?
B: Niloloko mo ba ako? Alam mong may trabaho ako pag Sabado. (“Are you kidding me? You know I have work on Saturdays.”)
Literally: Are you fooling me? Know you that have work I when Saturday.
8 – Mabuti naman kung ganon.
A: Makakalabas na daw ako sabi ng doktor. (“The doctor said I could go out.”)
Literally: Go out already I said the doctor.
B: Mabuti naman kung ganon. (“That’s good to know.”)
Literally: Good if that is the case.

Talaga?! (“Really?!”)
- ➜ Here are more Filipino conversational phrases you will find useful!
6. Etiquette Phrases for Social and Business Settings
There’s no question that Filipinos are hospitable. We place high value on politeness and respect, especially in formal settings. The following are useful intermediate Filipino phrases to learn by heart so you’ll know just what to say when you’re in a social or business setting.
Pasok po kayo. |
“Please come in.” |
Literally: Enter you. A more formal way of saying this is to use the word tuloy (“to continue”) instead of pasok (“to enter”). |
Ikinagagalak ko kayong makilala. |
“Pleased to meet you.” |
Literally: Pleased I you to know. |
Maupo po kayo. |
“Please have a seat.” |
Literally: Have a seat you. |
Walang anuman. |
“You’re welcome.” |
Literally: It’s nothing. |
Sabihin niyo lang po kung may mga katanungan kayo. |
“Please let us know if you have questions.” |
Literally: Say you if there are questions you. |
Salamat po sa pagbisita. |
“Thank you for coming.” |
Literally: Thank you for visiting. |
Inaasahan ko ang tugon ninyo. |
“I look forward to hearing from you.” |
Literally: Expecting I the response of you. |
Ingat po kayo sa biyahe. |
“Have a safe trip!” |
Literally: Take care you in trip. |

Tuloy po kayo. (“Please come in.”)
- ➜ Looking for more Filipino phrases to use in business settings? See our blog entry on phrases to help you speak professionally in Filipino.
7. Go a Level Higher with FilipinoPod101!
We’ve covered some of the most useful intermediate Filipino phrases in this article. If there is a useful intermediate Filipino phrase or expression that you feel should have been included in this entry, let us know in the comments.
Meanwhile, did you know that you could learn more and improve your language skills by signing up for FilipinoPod101? At FilipinoPod101.com, you can get exclusive access to even more resources designed to help you take your Filipino speaking skills to another level. You can rest assured that there are lesson materials and learning tools to suit your needs, from video presentations and audio lessons to vocabulary lists and blog entries just like this one.
Speaking of which, don’t forget to try out MyTeacher, a Premium PLUS service that provides personal 1-on-1 coaching so that you can enjoy lessons that are tailored to your needs and goals.
Happy learning!

Tagalog Phrases for Beginners

Being able to advance from one level to the next when learning a new language is so satisfying. Nothing beats the excitement of knowing that you’ll soon be able to communicate using a language other than your own. This is especially true when learning Filipino, a language influenced by so many other languages. Before you can move on to the next level, though, you’ll first need to master Tagalog phrases for beginners. There is no skipping this step.
The good news is that basic Filipino phrases are not that difficult to pick up. Most Filipino words have direct English translations, and the word order is also similar to that of English. Moreover, in this article, we have prepared more than a couple dozen basic Filipino phrases for beginners that you’ll find invaluable as you journey toward mastery of the Filipino language. To finish strong in your language learning race, you need to start strong.
We’ll start with the fundamentals of how to greet people and introduce yourself, and then we’ll cover some indispensable phrases to use when you’re out shopping or dining with friends. Finally, we’ll introduce you to essential phrases for an emergency.

To finish strong in your language learning race, you need to start strong.

- Greetings and Self-introductions
- Courtesy Phrases & Social Expressions
- Dining & Shopping Phrases
- Asking for Help
- Learn Filipino Beginner Phrases and More at FilipinoPod101.com!
1. Greetings and Self-introductions
While Filipinos are friendly and hospitable, most relationships within the Filipino culture have formal beginnings. When meeting someone for the first time, it’s important to be polite and respectful, not only with your words but also with your body language. Whenever appropriate, greet someone with a soft handshake. This is not necessary when you’re simply asking for directions, though, or when acknowledging someone you’re familiar with on the street. Below are some of the most common Filipino greetings to use when meeting someone.
Kumusta? |
“Hello.” / “How are you?” |
Magandang araw. |
“Good day.” |
Literally: Beautiful day. |
Magandang umaga. |
“Good morning.” |
Literally: Beautiful morning. |
Magandang tanghali. |
“Good noon.” |
Literally: Beautiful noon. |
Magandang hapon. |
“Good afternoon.” |
Literally: Beautiful afternoon. |
Magandang gabi. |
“Good evening.” |
Literally: Beautiful evening. |
Always remember to use po when addressing someone older or higher in rank than you. Also, instead of using the first person singular (ka, mo, or kita), use the third person plural (kayo, nila, or inyo) to convey politeness.
Mabuti naman po. Kayo po? |
“I’m fine. And you?” |
Literally: Fine also. You? |
Just like in other cultures, introducing yourself and asking the other person their name (or the other way around) is the first thing to do when meeting someone new.
Anong pangalan mo? |
“What’s your name?” |
Literally: What is name your? |
Pwede ko bang malaman ang pangalan mo? |
“May I know your name, please?” |
Literally: May I know the name your? |
Ano pong pangalan nila? [Formal] |
“May I know your name, please?” |
Literally: What name their? |
Ako si (name). |
“I am (name).” |
Ako nga pala si (name). |
“I am (name), by the way.” |
Literally: I by the way am (name). |
(Name) pala ang pangalan ko. |
“My name is (name), by the way.” |
Literally: (Name) by the way the name my. |
With the number of ways you can structure sentences in Filipino, you might be wondering which one of these phrases you should use. The truth is that you can use any of them, as they are all appropriate for both formal and informal situations. Here are some useful Tagalog phrases for introductions that will show you how flexible the Filipino sentence structure is:
Taga saan ka? |
“Where are you from?” |
Literally: From where you? |
Taga (residence) ako. |
“I am from (residence).” |
Literally: From (residence) I. |
Saan ka nakatira? |
“Where do you live?” |
Literally: Where you live? |
Sa (residence) ako nakatira. |
“I live in (residence).” |
Literally: In (residence) I live. |
While asking someone’s age in other cultures may be considered rude, in the Philippines, it’s okay to do so even when you’ve just met the person. However, you have to time it correctly and wait until the other person seems to have become more comfortable with your conversation. A straightforward way to ask someone their age would be:
Ilang taon ka na? |
“How old are you?” |
Literally: How many years you already? |
Some Filipinos may be taken aback by this, but they will still give you a response if they feel you can be trusted with sensitive information. A less aggressive approach would be to say:
Maaari/Pwede ko bang malaman kung ilang taon ka na? |
“May I know how old you are?” / “Would you mind if I asked your age?” |
Literally: May I know if how many years you already? |
If you’re the one being asked, you could answer with something like this:
Trenta na ako. |
“I am thirty years old.” |
Literally: Thirty already I. |
To express your pleasure of meeting someone, you could say:
Ikinagagalak kong makilala ka. [Formal] |
“It is my pleasure to meet you.” / “It is nice to meet you.” |
Literally: With pleasure I know you. |
And finally, don’t forget the most important Filipino greeting of all:
Mano po. |
Use this phrase when performing the pagmamano gesture. |

Ikinagagalak kong makilala ka. (“It is my pleasure to meet you.”)
- → Here are ten more lines you can use when introducing yourself in Filipino.
How to Address People
An important part of basic Filipino greetings and self-introductions is the proper use of honorifics. Here are the fundamental Filipino honorifics you should be familiar with: