You’re learning to speak Filipino, and it’s going well. Your confidence is growing! So much so that you feel ready to share your experiences on social media—in Filipino.

At Learn Filipino, we make this easy for you to get it right the first time. Post like a boss with these phrases and guidelines, and get to practice your Filipino in the process.

1. Talking about Your Restaurant Visit in Filipino

Eating out is fun, and often an experience you’d like to share. Take a pic, and start a conversation on social media in Filipino. Your friend will be amazed by your language skills…and perhaps your taste in restaurants!

Juan eats at a restaurant with his friends, posts an image of the group, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Juan’s post.

Masarap kumain kapag kasama ang barkada!
“It’s fun to eat when together with the gang!”

1- Masarap kumain

First is an expression meaning “It’s fun to eat.”
We use this expression to say that an action is fun to do. By changing the verb, this expression can be used for other things such as traveling or shopping.

2- kapag kasama ang barkada

Then comes the phrase - “when together with the gang.”
Young adults in the Philippines usually go out to eat after work on Fridays because there’s no work the next day. They usually take pictures of the food they eat and ask the waiters to take group pictures of them inside the restaurant. Photos of food and groups of friends are some of the most common posts you will find on social media in the Philippines. Some people take home food from the restaurant as a souvenir for their family.

COMMENTS

In response, Juan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Mas masarap kumain kung kasama ako!

His college friend, Richard, uses an expression meaning - “It’s more fun if I’m there!”
Use this expression when you’re being humorous, but also feel a bit left out.

2- Ang yaman ni tito! Libre mo rin ako.

His girlfriend’s nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “Uncle is rich! Treat me too.”
This is another phrase that indicates you feel a bit left out, and wish you could be included.

3- So hindi masarap kumain sa bahay?

His girlfriend, Ana, uses an expression meaning - “So it’s not fun to eat at home?”
Use this expression if you’re perhaps feeling a bit insulted that the poster eats out, as opposed to at home, but it could be meant humorously too.

4- Sa susunod sama rin kami!

His high school friend, Liza, uses an expression meaning - “Next time, we’ll join too!”
Use this expression when you are feeling optimistic that you will be part of the party next time.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

barkada: “gang, group of friends”

kasama: “with, including”

tito: “uncle”

ilibre: “to be treated”

kumain: “eat”

bahay: “house”

sumama: “to join”

susunod: “next”

So, let’s practice a bit. If a friend posted something about having dinner with friends, which phrase would you use?

Now go visit a Filipino restaurant, and wow the staff with your language skills!

2. Post about Your Mall Visit in Filipino

Another super topic for social media is shopping—everybody does it, most everybody loves it, and your friends on social media are probably curious about your shopping sprees! Share these Filipino phrases in posts when you visit a mall.

Ana shop with her sister at the mall, posts an image of them in the shop, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Ana’s post.

Maganda ba? Paki-comment.
“Is it beautiful? Please comment.”

1- Maganda ba?

First is an expression meaning “Is it beautiful?”
We ask this question when we want to know if something - clothes, movies, songs, etc, is good or beautiful. Filipinos often ask their friends for advice and post selfies with the items they’ve just bought on their social media sites.

2- Paki-comment.

Then comes the phrase - “Please comment”.
Filipinos often borrow English words and expressions to use them in the context of Filipino grammar. You can find a lot of English words combined with Filipino words on social media.

COMMENTS

In response, Ana’s friends leave some comments.

1- Ang ganda! Pang-ootd

Her neighbor, Maria, uses an expression meaning - “Nice O.O.T.D. (Outfit Of The Day)!”
Use this expression when you feel appreciative of the garment shown in the poster’s photo.

2- Grabe! Ikaw na tita ang maganda.

Her nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “Fine! You’re the pretty one, aunt.”
Use this expression if you want to compliment the poster on her looks. Careful not to insult the sister, though!

3- Alin? Yung damit o ikaw? Hehehe

Her high school friend, Bea, uses an expression meaning - “Which one? The dress or you? Hahaha”
Use this expression if you’re feeling humorous and want to tease the poster.

4- Ganda talaga!

Her boyfriend, Juan, uses an expression meaning - “Really nice!”
Use this phrase to express appreciation.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

maganda: “beautiful”

pang: “for”

ikaw na: “you’re the one “

alin: “which”

talaga: “really”

grabe: “super, over extreme, severe”

paki: “please”

tita: “aunt”

So, if a friend posted something about going shopping, which phrase would you use?

3. Talking about a Sport Day in Filipino

Sports events, whether you’re the spectator or the sports person, offer fantastic opportunity for great social media posts. Learn some handy phrases and vocabulary to start a sport-on-the-beach conversation in Filipino.

Juan plays with his friends at the beach, posts an image of himself on the beach, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Juan’s post.

Ako dapat ang representative natin sa Olympics!
“I should be our representative for the Olympics!”

1- Ako dapat

First is an expression meaning “I should.”
This expression is used to suggest that we should be the person to perform an action. Filipinos are not shy on social media and often brag about themselves or volunteer themselves to do something challenging. For example, if someone were to post that they lost in a competition, many of their friends would comment that they should have been in the competition instead. However, most of these comments are not taken seriously and considered to be jokes.

2- ang representative natin sa Olympics

Then comes the phrase - “be our representative in the Olympics.”
The Olympics is a very popular event in the Philippines, and many Filipinos root for the country winning its first gold medal. It won one gold medal for junior archery in the 2014 Nanjing Summer Olympics. Filipino athletes have earned a total of 102 medals for the summer games but has yet to receive gold.

COMMENTS

In response, Juan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Weh? Di nga?

His nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “Oh? Really?”
Use this expression to challenge the poster’s comment.

2- Yan pala ang trip mo pre.

His college friend, Richard, uses an expression meaning - “So that’s what you’re into, bro.”
Use this expression when you are feeling frivolous, and just to be part of the conversation.

3- Kapal!

His high school friend, Liza, uses an expression meaning - “Thick-skinned!”
Use this expression when you want to give an opinion about the poster’s attitude.

4- Pogi!

His girlfriend, Ana, uses an expression meaning - “Handsome!”
Use this expression to compliment the poster on their good looks.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

ako: “I”

natin: “our”

pre: “bro / brother (casual reference of a male speaker to his male friend)”

kapal: “thick, thick-skinned (used to describe the action of someone shamelessly promoting or bragging about himself/herself)”

pogi: “handsome”

di nga: “really? “

weh: “oh (used to express doubt)”

dapat: “should”

Which phrase would you use if a friend posted something about sports?

But sport is not the only thing you can play! Play some music, and share it on social media.

4. Share a Song on Social Media in Filipino

Music is the language of the soul, they say. So, don’t hold back—share what touches your soul with your friends!

Ana shares a song she just heard at a party, posts an image of the artist, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Ana’s post.

Fav song ko na to!
“This is now my favorite song!”

1- fav song ko na

First is an expression meaning “now my favorite song.”
This expression can be used to talk about your favorite things simply by changing the noun.

2- to

Then comes the phrase - “this.”
Filipinos often share their emotions on social media by posting songs that reflect their moods. Aside from selfies or group photos, sharing songs and videos are among the top posts you’ll find on Philippine social media. Some Filipinos like making their own videos on YouTube and adding their favorite songs to the background. Others will make music videos with their partner’s pictures, sometimes even adding their own quotes to the video, as a symbol of their love.

COMMENTS

In response, Ana’s friends leave some comments.

1- Gawin nating theme song.

Her boyfriend, Juan, uses an expression meaning - “Let’s make this our theme song.”
Use this expression when you’re feeling romantic and wish to give special meaning to the song.

2- Hindi ako maka-relate.

Her nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “I can’t relate.”
Use this expression when you want to share your personal, negative opinion about the song.

3- Ang daming feelings!

Her high school friend, Bea, uses an expression meaning - “The feels!”
Use this expression to indicate that you like the song, and that it touches you.

4- Ang ganda ng kanta!

Her neighbor, Maria, uses an expression meaning - “The song is beautiful!”
Use this expression when you wish to compliment the song.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

fav: “favorite”

gawin: “to make”

maka: “to (added before a verb to express the ability to perform that verb)”

dami: “many”

kanta: “song”

hindi: “not, no”

na: “already”

to (ito): “this”

Which song would you share? And what would you say to a friend who posted something about sharing music or videos?

Now you know how to start a conversation about a song or a video on social media!

5. Filipino Social Media Comments about a Concert

Still on the theme of music—visiting live concerts and shows just have to be shared with your friends. Here are some handy phrases and vocab to wow your followers in Filipino!

Juan goes to a concert, posts an image of the crowd, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Juan’s post.

Sobrang saya ng concert!
“The concert was super fun!”

1- sobrang saya

First is an expression meaning “super fun.”
We use this expression to describe something or someone as being very happy or great fun.

2- ng concert

Then comes the phrase - “the concert.”
Concerts are popular in the Philippines. Many live bands play in restaurants at night, especially on Fridays and weekends, catering to young adults that are off from work. Here, customers can request the songs they want the band to play. They can also ask to sing or play together with the band. These live performances usually end late, some even continuing on until 1 or 2 AM.

COMMENTS

In response, Juan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Ayos!

His college friend, Richard, uses an expression meaning - “That’s good!”
Use this expression to show that you approve of the post.

2- Yun oh!

His high school friend, Liza, uses an expression meaning - “There it is!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling optimistic.

3- Mabuti at nag-enjoy kayo.

His supervisor, Bong, uses an expression meaning - “Great, you enjoyed it.”
Use this expression to just comment and be part of the conversation in a benevolent, friendly way.

4- Naks naman. Inggit much.

His girlfriend’s nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “How great. I envy you a lot.”
Use this expression when you feel a bit jealous of the poster and his experience, but not in a nasty way.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

sobra: “super, too much”

ayos: “good, excellent, wonderful, fantastic”

yun oh!: “there it is! (used to express excitement about something or someone; used to emphasize something or someone)”

mabuti: “good”

kayo: “you (plural)”

naks: “good, great”

inggit: “envy, jealous”

saya: “fun, happy”

If a friend posted something about a concert , which phrase would you use?

6. Talking about an Unfortunate Accident in Filipino

Oh dear. You broke something by accident. Use these Filipino phrases to start a thread on social media. Or maybe just to let your friends know why you are not contacting them!

Ana accidentally breaks her mobile phone, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Ana’s post.

Nasira ang phone ko!
“My phone broke!”

1- Nasira

First is an expression meaning “broke.”
We use this word to talk about things that are broken. For example, you can use it in reference to electronics, furniture, clothing, accessories, household items, etc.

2- ang phone ko

Then comes the phrase - “my phone.”
Some words used on Filipino social media are borrowed from the English language, especially terms related to technology and the internet.

COMMENTS

In response, Ana’s friends leave some comments.

1- Naku! Anong nangyari?

Her supervisor, Bong, uses an expression meaning - “Oh my! What happened?”
Use this question to show your surprise and want to know the details of the accident.

2- Nandito lang kami kung kailangan mo ng tulong.

Her neighbor, Maria, uses an expression meaning - “We’re here if you need help.”
Use this expression if you feel helpful.

3- Sayang!

Her nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “What a waste! (too bad)”
Use this expression to comment with your opinion, and it’s also a way of expressing sympathy.

4- Bakit nasira?

Her boyfriend, Juan, uses an expression meaning - “Why did it break?”
Ask this question if you would like more details about the incident, which is a nice way to keep the conversation going.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

nasira: “broke”

nangyari: “happened”

nandito: “here”

tulong: “help”

kailanganin: “to need”

sayang: “what a waste”

bakit: “why”

ano: “what”

If a friend posted something about having broken something by accident, which phrase would you use?

So, now you know how to describe an accident in Filipino. Well done!

7. Chat about Your Boredom on Social Media in Filipino

Sometimes, we’re just bored with how life goes. And to alleviate the boredom, we write about it on social media. Add some excitement to your posts by addressing your friends and followers in Filipino!

Juan gets bored at home, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Juan’s post.

Walang magawa sa bahay…
“Nothing to do at home….”

1- walang magawa

First is an expression meaning “nothing to do.”
This expression indicates that the speaker is bored with his or her current situation and cannot do anything about it.

2- sa bahay

Then comes the phrase - “at home”.
During hot seasons, most Filipinos stay at home to avoid the heat. Many tend to take afternoon naps. Children are also ordered to take afternoon naps during summer vacation. However, some people go out to the malls to cool themselves off and ease their boredom.

COMMENTS

In response, Juan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Sinabi mo pa!

His college friend, Richard, uses an expression meaning - “You said it!”
Use this expression to indicate that you’re feeling the same as the poster.

2- Matulog ka na lang.

His girlfriend, Ana, uses an expression meaning - “Just sleep.”
Use this expression to give advice.

3- Ako rin!

His high school friend, Liza, uses an expression meaning - “Me too!”
This is another expression that shows you feel the same as the poster.

4- Buti ka pa!

His girlfriend’s high school friend, Bea, uses an expression meaning - “Good for you! (envious)”
Use this expression to be funny.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

wala: “nothing”

bahay: “home, house”

sinabi: “to say”

rin: “too”

matulog: “to sleep”

buti: “good”

lang: “only”

sa: “at”

If a friend posted something about being bored, which phrase would you use?

Still bored? Share another feeling and see if you can start a conversation!

8. Exhausted? Share It on Social Media in Filipino

Sitting in public transport after work, feeling like chatting online? Well, converse in Filipino about how you feel, and let your friends join in!

Ana feels exhausted after a long day at work, posts an image of herself looking tired, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Ana’s post.

Pagod! Grabe ang araw na to!
“Tired! This day is just too much!”

1- pagod

First is an expression meaning “tired.”
We use this word to express that we are tired or exhausted from doing something.

2- grabe ang araw na to

Then comes the phrase - “this day is too much.”
We use this phrase when we feel especially tired compared to other days. Filipinos often say this when they’re exhausted from working overtime or getting stuck in traffic on the way home.

COMMENTS

In response, Ana’s friends leave some comments.

1- Galing sa work?

Her high school friend, Bea, uses an expression meaning - “From work?”
Ask this question if you want to know more details about the post.

2- Pahinga ka na mahal.

Her boyfriend, Juan, uses an expression meaning - “Rest already, dear.”
Use this expression to show that you care, and want to advise your beloved to rest.

3- Good job ngayong araw.

Her supervisor, Bong, uses an expression meaning - “Good job today.”
This is a compliment from the supervisor, which means he was pleased with her work.

4- Gusto mo ng masahe tita?

Her nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “Do you want a massage, aunt?”
Use this expression to make a suggestion, indicating that you want to be helpful.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

grabe: “too much”

araw: “day”

magpahinga: “to rest/to relax”

pagod: “tired”

gusto: “to like/ to want”

masahe: “massage”

galing: “from”

ngayon: “now, today”

If a friend posted something about being exhausted, which phrase would you use?

Now you know how to say you’re exhausted in Filipino! Well done.

9. Talking about an Injury in Filipino

So life happens, and you manage to hurt yourself during a soccer game. Very Tweet-worthy! Here’s how to do it in Filipino.

Juan suffers an injury, posts an image of himself in pain, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Juan’s post.

Napilayan ako kanina. Ang sakit!
“I sprained myself. It’s painful!”

1- napilayan ako kanina

First is an expression meaning “I sprained myself.”
We use this expression to say that we hurt ourselves or sprained some part of our body.

2- ang sakit

Then comes the phrase - “it’s painful/ it hurts.”
Filipino men typically get injured after playing basketball with their friends since basketball is one of the most popular sports in the country and almost all the men play it. Companies even encourage their employees to play basketball with their coworkers as a way of encouraging work and life balance.

COMMENTS

In response, Juan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Mag-ingat ka Juan. Kaya mo yan.

His supervisor, Bong, uses an expression meaning - “Take care, Juan. You can do it.”
Use this expression to show your concern, and offer support.

2- Ingat sa susunod.

His neighbor, Maria, uses an expression meaning - “Be careful next time.”
Use this expression to offer advice that also shows concern for the poster’s wellbeing.

3- Huwag kang mag-alala bukas lang magaling ka na.

His high school friend, Liza, uses an expression meaning - “Don’t worry. Tomorrow you’ll be okay.”
Use this expression to show you are feeling optimistic that the injury is not too bad.

4- Wala yan! Takbo pa!

His girlfriend’s nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “That’s nothing! Come on, run!”
Use this expression if you want to lift the poster’s spirit by making a bit of fun with him.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

kanina: “earlier, a little while ago”

pagaling: “to get well”

sa: “at”

huwag: “do not”

kaya: “able, can”

sakit: “painful”

tumakbo: “to run”

wala yan: “that’s nothing”

If a friend posted something about being injured, which phrase would you use?

We love to share our fortunes and misfortunes; somehow that makes us feel connected to others.

10. Starting a Conversation Feeling Disappointed in Filipino

Sometimes things don’t go the way we planned. Share your disappointment about this with your friends!

Ana feels disappointed about today’s weather, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Ana’s post.

Walang tigil ang ulan at nasaan ka araw?
“The rain isn’t stopping, and where is the sun?”

1- walang tigil ang ulan

First is an expression meaning “the rain isn’t stopping.”
When there is heavy rain or it seems like the rain won’t stop soon, we normally use this phrase.

2- at nasaan ka araw

Then comes the phrase - “and where is the sun?.”
This phrase is from a popular Filipino song and is well-known by all generations. Filipinos have a habit of quoting relevant song lyrics when they post on social media websites. They also have a saying that sometimes the rain is caused by someone’s bad singing.

COMMENTS

In response, Ana’s friends leave some comments.

1- Itulog mo na lang yan.

Her high school friend, Bea, uses an expression meaning - “Just sleep it off.”
Use this expression to offer advice.

2- Sisikat din ang araw.

Her supervisor, Bong, uses an expression meaning - “The sun will shine too.”
Use this expression to be supportive and positive.

3- Kumanta ka kasi tita.

Her nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “It’s because you sang, aunt.”
Use this expression to make fun of the poster in a friendly, teasing way.

4- Huwag kang mag-alala lilipas din yan.

Her neighbor, Maria, uses an expression meaning - “Don’t worry, it’ll pass.”
Use this expression if you want to remind the poster not to care too much.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

tumigil: “to stop”

ulan: “rain”

nasaan: “where”

itulog: “sleep it off”

sumikat: “to shine, to rise”

kumanta: “to sing”

kasi: “because”

lumipas: “to pass”

How would you comment in Filipino when a friend is disappointed?

Not all posts need to be about a negative feeling, though!

11. Talking about Your Relationship Status in Filipino

Don’t just change your relationship status in Settings, talk about it!

Juan changes his status to “In a relationship”, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Juan’s post.

Sa wakas! Sinagot na niya ‘ko!
“Finally! She said yes!”

1- sa wakas

First is an expression meaning “finally.”
This phrase is used when a long-awaited event finally materializes.

2- sinagot na niya ‘ko

Then comes the phrase - “He/She answered me already.”
Filipino men normally court and confess to women. Women can also confess to men, but normally it’s the other way around. A traditional way of courting is by serenading a woman. However, these days some couples end up together through messaging on social media sites or sending text messages.

COMMENTS

In response, Juan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Swerte mo pare! Inuman mamaya!

His college friend, Richard, uses an expression meaning - “Man, you’re lucky! Drinks later!”
Use this expression if you’re feeling appreciative of the poster’s new status, and want to celebrate it.

2- Magandang balita! Congrats sa inyong dalawa!

His supervisor, Bong, uses an expression meaning - “Good news! Congratulations to you two.”
Use this expression to congratulate the couple in a more traditional way.

3- OMG! Super bagay kayong dalawa!

His high school friend, Liza, uses an expression meaning - “Oh my God! You suit each other!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling enthusiastic and optimistic about the relationship match.

4- Dapat ilibre mo kami tito!

His girlfriend’s nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “Uncle, you should treat us!”
Use this expression to show you want to celebrate the event.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

wakas: “end, final”

suwerte, swerte: “lucky”

inuman: “drink, drinking party”

mamaya: “later”

balita: “news”

dalawa: “two”

manlibre: “to treat someone”

sinagot: “to answer, to accept the person as a partner or lover”

What would you say in Filipino when a friend changes their relationship status?

Being in a good relationship with someone special is good news - don’t be shy to spread it!

12. Post about Getting Married in Filipino

Wow, so things got serious quickly, and you’re getting married. Congratulations! Or, your friend is getting married, so talk about this in Filipino.

Ana is getting married today, so she eaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Ana’s post.

Hindi ako makapaniwala! Kasal ko na ngayon!
“I can’t believe it! It’s my wedding day!”

1- hindi ako makapaniwala

First is an expression meaning “I can’t believe it.”
We say this when something amazing or unbelievable has happened.

2- kasal ko na ngayon

Then comes the phrase - “It’s my wedding today.”
Filipino weddings are almost the same as Western weddings. The bride normally wears a white gown and the groom a suit. Weddings can take place in church, at the beach, at the park, or anywhere the couple wishes to conduct their marriage ceremony.

COMMENTS

In response, Ana’s friends leave some comments.

1- Akin ang bouquet ha?

Her high school friend, Bea, uses an expression meaning - “The bouquet is mine, okay?”
Use this expression if you feel humorous. It is the tradition at many weddings for the bride to throw her bouquet to specifically the unmarried female guests. The one who catches it is believed to be the next bride.

2- Ako ang pinakamaswerteng lalaki sa mundo ngayon!

Her husband, Juan, uses an expression meaning - “I’m the luckiest man in the world today!”
Use this expression to indicate your pride and happiness to be the groom of the poster.

3- Pagkahaba-haba man ng prusisyon, sa simbahan din ang tuloy!

Her supervisor, Bong, uses an expression meaning - “(proverb) No matter how long the procession is, it always ends up in a church!”
This is an old proverb often used to refer to couples getting married.

4- Kayo na talaga ang para sa isa’t-isa!

Her college friend, Richard, uses an expression meaning - “You’re really meant to be with each other!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling positive about the match.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

kasal: “wedding”

pinakamaswerte: “luckiest”

akin: “mine”

pagkahaba-haba: “very long”

simbahan: “church”

isa’t-isa: “each other”

prusisyon: “procession”

tumuloy: “to continue”

How would you respond in Filipino to a friend’s post about getting married?

For the next topic, fast forward about a year into the future after the marriage…

13. Announcing Big News in Filipino

Wow, huge stuff is happening in your life! Announce it in Filipino.

Juan finds out he and his wife are going to have a baby, posts an image of him and Ana together, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Juan’s post.

Magiging tatay na ako!
“I’m going to be a father!”

1- magiging

First is an expression meaning “will become” or “going to be”
This is used to express the future state or of something becoming.

2- tatay na ako

Then comes the phrase - “to be a father”
Filipino couples invite their closest friends to be the godmother or godfather of their babies. Usually, a child has more than one godparent, and typically there should be an equal number of male and female godparents. The godparents’ duties are mostly to give presents to the child on their birthdays and on Christmas Day.

COMMENTS

In response, Juan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Napakagandang balita! Congrats!

His neighbor, Maria, uses an expression meaning - “Very good news! Congratulations!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling positive about the news, and wish the new parents well.

2- Siguradong magiging mabuting tatay ka!

His high school friend, Liza, uses an expression meaning - “You sure are going to be a great dad!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling optimistic about the poster’s fathering potential.

3- Congrats sa inyong dalawa. Alagaan mo nang mabuti ang pamilya mo.

His supervisor, Bong, uses an expression meaning - “Congratulations to the both of you. Take good care of your family.”
This is a traditional congratulatory phrase when a couple announce a pregnancy.

4- Sana hindi mo kamukha tito.

His nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “I hope the baby doesn’t look like you, uncle.”
Use this expression when you are in a humorous mood and want to tease the father a bit.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

tatay: “father, dad”

napakaganda: “very beautiful”

sigurado: “sure”

maging: “to become”

maligayang bati: “congratulations”

alagaan: “to take care”

kamukha: “to look like, to resemble”

sana hindi: “I hope not”

Which phrase would you choose when a friend announces their pregnancy on social media?

So, talking about a pregnancy will get you a lot of traction on social media. But wait till you see the responses to babies!

14. Posting Filipino Comments about Your Baby

Your bundle of joy is here, and you cannot keep quiet about it! Share your thoughts in Filipino.

Ana plays with her baby, posts an image of the cherub, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Ana’s post.

Ang baby namin! Sino ang kamukha?
“Our baby! Who does she look like?”

1- ang baby namin

First is an expression meaning “our baby.”
Filipinos normally use the English word “baby” to refer to their newborns or young children.

2- sino ang kamukha?

Then comes the phrase - “who does he/she look like?.”
When a child is born in the Philippines, friends and family usually debate over who the baby looks like. If the baby is cute, nearly everyone claims that the child takes after them.

COMMENTS

In response, Ana’s friends leave some comments.

1- Cuteness overload! Siyempre kamukha ni Mommy!

Her high school friend, Bea, uses an expression meaning - “Very cute! Of course she looks like her mother!”
Use this expression to indicate that you side with the mother in terms of the baby’s looks.

2- Hindi na kailangang tanungin! Kamukha ko!

Her husband, Juan, uses an expression meaning - “No need to ask! She looks like me!”
Use this expression to indicate that you feel you are the parent who bestowed good looks on the child.

3- Pare suko ka na! Cute yung bata eh.

Her college friend, Richard, uses an expression meaning - “Man, give up already! The baby is cute.”
Use this expression to show your appreciation of the baby’s adorable appearance.

4- Nakakawala ng pagod ang ngiti at tawa niya!

Her neighbor, Maria, uses an expression meaning - “Her smile and laughter relieves me of stress!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling warmhearted.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

sino: “who”

siyempre: “of course”

tanungin: “to ask”

pare: “man, bro (used by a male speaker to call his male friend)”

nakakawala: “gets rid of”

pagod: “stress, tiredness”

ngiti: “smile”

tawa: “laugh”

If your friend is the mother or father, which phrase would you use on social media?

Congratulations, you know the basics of chatting about a baby in Filipino! But we’re not done with families yet…

15. Filipino Comments about a Family Reunion

Family reunions - some you love, some you hate. Share about it on your feed.

Juan goes to a family gathering, posts an image of the group, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Juan’s post.

Kumpleto ang pamilya!
“The family is complete!”

1- kumpleto ang

First is an expression meaning “complete.”
This is normally used as a caption for family group pictures during family reunions.

2- pamilya

Then comes the phrase - “family.”
Many Filipino families have a tradition of throwing a family reunion during Christmas or New Year. Because most Filipino families are large, distant relatives come to town to visit their family members during these reunions. Many of the activities include singing karaoke, lighting fireworks, and eating and drinking.

COMMENTS

In response, Juan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Hindi! Wala yung aso tito!

His nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “No! The dog isn’t there, uncle!”
Use this expression when you are feeling humorous.

2- Masaya kasama ang buong pamilya!

His wife, Ana, uses an expression meaning - “It’s fun being with the whole family!”
Use this expression to indicate your appreciation of the gathering.

3- Ang ganda ng pamilya ninyo!

His neighbor, Maria, uses an expression meaning - “Your family is beautiful!”
This phrase compliments the good looks of the family members.

4- Dapat talaga nagkikita nang madalas ang buong pamilya.

His supervisor, Bong, uses an expression meaning - “Families should really get together often.”
Use this expression to share a positive opinion about family get-togethers.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

masaya kasama: “happy to be with, good to be with”

kumpleto: “complete”

aso: “dog”

hindi: “no”

magkita: “to meet”

madalas: “often”

buo: “whole”

talaga: “really”

Which phrase is your favorite to comment on a friend’s photo about a family reunion?

16. Post about Your Travel Plans in Filipino

So, the family are going on holiday. Do you know how to post and leave comments in Filipino about being at the airport, waiting for a flight?

Ana waits at the airport for her flight, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Ana’s post.

Excited na ako! Sana walang maging problema!
“I’m excited! I hope there won’t be any problem!”

1- excited ako

First is an expression meaning “I’m excited”.
Filipinos borrow the English word “excited” because there is no equivalent Filipino word that expresses this emotion.

2- sana walang maging problema

Then comes the phrase - “hope there won’t be any problem.”
Since the Philippines is composed of around 7,000 islands, the only way to travel around the country is by plane. So when someone goes on a trip, many of their friends and relatives will wish and pray for their safety.

COMMENTS

In response, Ana’s friends leave some comments.

1- Enjoyin mo yan to the max!

Her high school friend, Bea, uses an expression meaning - “Enjoy it to the max!”
Use this expression to wish the poster full enjoyment of the holiday.

2- Tita pasalubong ko ha. Salamat po!

Her nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “Aunt, my souvenir, okay. Thank you!”
Use this expression to indicate you’re expecting a gift when they’re back.

3- Ingat sa biyahe.

Her supervisor, Bong, uses an expression meaning - “Have a safe trip.”
This is an old-fashioned, traditional way of wishing someone a good trip.

4- Dapat sinama ninyo ako!

Her college friend, Richard, uses an expression meaning - “You should’ve taken me with you!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling frivolous, and wish you were part of the expedition.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

ty: “thank you”

problema: “problem”

pasalubong: “souvenir”

ha: “okay”

mag-ingat: “to take care or caution”

biyahe: “trip”

sinama: “to be included, taken”

enjoyin: “to enjoy something”

Choose and memorize your best airport phrase in Filipino!

17. Posting about an Interesting Find in Filipino

So maybe you’re strolling around at a local market, and find something interesting. Here are some handy Filipino phrases!

Juan finds an unusual item at a local market, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Juan’s post.

Astig! Meron palang ganito!
“Epic! Didn’t know there was something like this!”

1- astig

First is an expression meaning “epic.”
This word is commonly used to express a person’s amazement about something or someone.

2- meron palang ganito

Then comes the phrase - “I didn’t know there was something like this”.
When someone finds something peculiar, they say this phrase to express that it’s the first time they’ve seen something like it. Filipinos love to share the things they find with their friends on social media sites.

COMMENTS

In response, Juan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Lupit! Para saan yan?

His college friend, Richard, uses an expression meaning - “Wow! What’s that for?”
Use this expression to show you are impressed and would like to know more about the object.

2- Hindi naman astig. Walang kwenta.

His nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “Not cool. Worthless.”
Use this expression when you don’t have a high opinion of the find.

3- Siguradong magugustuhan din iyan ng pamilya mo.

His high school friend, Liza, uses an expression meaning - “Your family will also surely like that.”
Use this expression to show you are feeling optimistic the find will be worth something to the family.

4- Minsan mas maganda pa talagang mamili sa palengke.

His supervisor, Bong, uses an expression meaning - “Sometimes it’s (really) nicer to shop at local stores.”
Use this to express a personal opinion about shopping, if you’re feeling positive about the find.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

pala: “apparently “

lupit: “extreme, super, severe, unbelievable”

kwenta: “worth”

sigurado: “surely”

mamili: “to shop”

lokal: “local”

pamilihan: “store, market”

mas maganda: “better”

Which phrase would you use to comment on a friend’s interesting find?

Perhaps you will even learn the identity of your find! Or perhaps you’re on holiday, and visiting interesting places…

18. Post about a Sightseeing Trip in Filipino

Let your friends know what you’re up to in Filipino, especially when visiting a remarkable place! Don’t forget the photo.

Ana visits a famous landmark, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Ana’s post.

The best ang lugar na ito!
“This place is the best!”

1- da best

First is an expression meaning “the best.”
This expression is borrowed from English; however, the spelling for “the” is changed. This describes something or someone as being number one or the best at something.

2- ang lugar na ito

Then comes the phrase - “this place is.”
When Filipinos go on vacation, the top two things they do are go shopping and take pictures for their social media sites.

COMMENTS

In response, Ana’s friends leave some comments.

1- Mabuti at nagustuhan mo mahal.

Her husband, Juan, uses an expression meaning - “Glad that you liked it dear.”
Use this expression to show you are feeling determined.

2- The best din yung kumuha ng litrato.

Her high school friend, Bea, uses an expression meaning - “The person who took the picture is also the best.”
Use this expression to be appreciative of the poster.

3- Bakit ka nandyan tita? Anong meron?

Her nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “Why are you there, aunt? What’s up?”
Use this expression if you’re curious and want to know more about the poster’s whereabouts.

4- Antayin ninyo! Pupuntahan ko rin iyan!

Her college friend, Richard, uses an expression meaning - “Just wait! I will go there too!”
Use this expression to show you wish to also visit the place.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

da best: “the best”

lugar: “place”

kumuha: “to take”

anong meron: “what’s up”

antayin: “to wait”

litrato: “picture”

nandiyan: “there”

pupuntahan: “to go”

Which phrase would you prefer when a friend posts about a famous landmark?

Share your special places with the world. Or simply post about your relaxing experiences.

19. Post about Relaxing Somewhere in Filipino

So you’re doing nothing yet you enjoy that too? Tell your social media friends about it in Filipino!

Juan relaxes at a beautiful place, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Juan’s post.

Pahinga din pag may time
“Relax when you have the time.”

1- magpahinga din

First is an expression meaning “relax”.
Filipinos love to rest. There is a tradition of taking an afternoon nap whenever someone has the time. Children, especially, are expected to take an afternoon nap.

2- pag may time

Then comes the phrase - “when you have the time.”
This expression is commonly used on social media by yuppies or young professionals to express that a person should do something if they have extra free time.

COMMENTS

In response, Juan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Tama! Mahalagang alagaan ang kalusugan.

His supervisor, Bong, uses an expression meaning - “Right! It’s important to take care of your health”.
Use this expression to be old fashioned.

2- Iba talaga kapag mayaman!

His college friend, Richard, uses an expression meaning - “It’s really different when you’re rich!”
Use this expression to share the personal opinion that only the rich can relax well.

3- Naks naman ang daming time ni tito! Pahingi ako.

His nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “Wow! Uncle has a lot of time! Give me some.”
Use this expression when you’re envious that the poster has the time to relax.

4- Mabuti iyan para sa inyong mag-asawa.

His neighbor, Maria, uses an expression meaning - “That’s good for the two of you.”
Use this expression when you’re happy that the poster has the opportunity to rest.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

magpahinga: “to relax”

din: “too”

pag: “when”

tama: “right, correct”

mahalaga: “important”

kalusugan: “health”

iba: “different”

mayaman: “rich”

Which phrase would you use to comment on a friend’s feed?

The break was great, but now it’s time to return home.

20. What to Say in Filipino When You’re Home Again

And you’re back! What will you share with friends and followers?

Ana returns home after a vacation, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Ana’s post.

Nandito na kami!
“We’re here!”

1- nandito na

First is an expression meaning “are here.”
This expression is very useful, especially when you want to inform your friends that you have arrived at home or at your meeting place.

2- kami

Then comes the phrase - “we.”
Filipinos usually inform their friends and loved ones whenever they’re going away on a trip or when they have come back from one since everyone is expecting to hear stories about their adventure.

COMMENTS

In response, Ana’s friends leave some comments.

1- Maligayang pagdating!

Her neighbor, Maria, uses an expression meaning - “Welcome back!”
This is the traditional welcoming when people return from a trip.

2- Salamat sa Diyos at nakabalik kayo nang maayos.

Her supervisor, Bong, uses an expression meaning - “Thank God you came back safely.”
Use this expression to indicate your happiness about the poster’s safe return.

3- Kailan kayo bumalik? Balitaan mo ako!

Her high school friend, Bea, uses an expression meaning - “When did you come back? Update me!”
The question indicates that you wish to know more details, and want the conversation to go on.

4- Asan na ang pasalubong ko?

Her nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “Where’s my souvenir?”
Use this expression to be funny.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

nandito na: “already here”

pagdating: “arrival”

salamat: “thanks”

bumalik: “to return”

maayos: “well”

kailan: “when”

balitaan: “to inform, to tell”

How would you welcome a friend back from a trip?

What do you post on social media during a public commemoration day such as Independence Day?

21. It’s Time to Celebrate in Filipino

It’s an historic day and you wish to post something about it on social media. What would you say?

Juan watches Independence Day fireworks show, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Juan’s post.

Maligayang araw ng kalayaan!
“Happy Independence Day!”

1- maligayang

First is an expression meaning “happy.”
This phrase is used to greet people on the Philippine Independence Day on June 12. The Philippine flag is raised simultaneously at several locations in the country.

2- araw ng kalayaan

Then comes the phrase - “Independence Day.”
During Independence Day, most Filipinos put up a flag at their house, children usually wave flags around, and most stores give them away to their customers. Because Independence Day is a non-working holiday in the Philippines, some families go to Rizal Park in Manila to see the Independence Day parade and ceremony.

COMMENTS

In response, Juan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Ganoon din sa iyo.

His college friend, Richard, uses an expression meaning - “Same to you.”
Use this expression to return the poster’s wish.

2- Talaga bang malaya na tayo?

His nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “Are we truly free?”
This is a philosophical question that could indicate you’re not feeling optimistic about your freedom.

3- Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

His supervisor, Bong, uses an expression meaning - “Hooray for the Philippines!”
This is a traditional exclamation on Independence Day.

4- Cheers! Para sa mga susunod pang taon!

His high school friend, Liza, uses an expression meaning - “Cheers! For the next years!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling optimistic and enthusiastic.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

kalayaan: “independence, freedom”

malaya: “free”

tayo: “we”

mabuhay: “to live”

Pilipinas: “Philippines”

ng: “of”

ang: “the”

taon: “year”

If a friend posted something about a holiday, which phrase would you use?

Independence Day and other public commemoration days are not the only special ones to remember!

22. Posting about a Birthday on Social Media in Filipino

Your friend or you are celebrating your birthday in an unexpected way. Be sure to share this on social media!

Ana goes to her birthday party, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Ana’s post.

Maraming salamat sa lahat ng bumati sa akin ngayong birthday ko!
“Many thanks to all the people who greeted me today on my birthday!”

1- maraming salamat sa lahat ng

First is an expression meaning “many thanks to all who.”
Most Filipinos put their birthday information in public view on their social media websites so all of their friends can send them greetings on their birthdays.

2- bumati sa akin ngayong birthday ko

Then comes the phrase - “greeted me today on my birthday.”
Most Filipinos celebrate their birthdays. Children invite all their friends and relatives to their birthday party either at home, at school, or at restaurants. Adults usually celebrate their birthday with their friends and loved ones. Friends and relatives are supposed to bring a present when they are invited to a birthday party.

COMMENTS

In response, Ana’s friends leave some comments.

1- Walang anuman.

Her college friend, Richard, uses an expression meaning - “You’re welcome.”
Use this expression to show you are feeling frivolous.

2- Tumanda ka na ng isang taon ngayong araw tita!

Her nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “You’re one year older today aunt!”
Use this expression to make conversation in a humorous way, teasing the poster a bit about her age.

3- Maligayang kaarawan!

Her supervisor, Bong, uses an expression meaning - “Happy Birthday!”
This is the traditional birthday wish.

4- HBD! Masaya ako para sayo.

Her neighbor, Maria, uses an expression meaning - “Happy Birthday! I’m happy for you.”
A variation on the traditional birthday wish that also indicate your happiness for the poster.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

lahat: “all”

bumati: “to greet”

walang anuman: “you’re welcome”

tumanda: “to get older”

isang taon: “one year”

maligayang kaarawan: “happy birthday”

HBD: “Happy Birthday”

para sayo: “for you”

If a friend posted something about birthday greetings, which phrase would you use?

23. Talking about New Year on Social Media in Filipino

Impress your friends with your Filipino New Year’s wishes this year. Learn the phrases easily!

Juan celebrates the New Year, posts an image of the festivities, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Juan’s post.

Maligayang bagong taon!
“Happy New Year!”

1- maligayang

First is an expression meaning “happy”.
This expression is used to greet everyone during the new year in the Philippines. People usually say this to those they meet during the last week of December to the first week of January.

2- bagong taon

Then comes the phrase - “New Year.”
New Year’s celebrations in the Philippines are very lively. People normally light up fireworks, sing karaoke, eat a variety of foods, and play loud music. Neighborhoods are filled with loud music and noise from New Year’s Eve until the end of January 1st. Filipinos do a countdown and have a tradition of jumping at exactly 0:00 in the belief that they will grow taller if they do so.

COMMENTS

In response, Juan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Manigong bagong taon sa iyo at sa iyong pamilya.

His supervisor, Bong, uses an expression meaning - “Happy New Year to you and to your family.”
This is a traditional well-wish for New Year.

2- Yehey! Bagong taon! Tara tagay tayo!

His college friend, Richard, uses an expression meaning - “Hooray! New Year! Let’s cheers!”
Use this expression to show you are feeling frivolous and enthusiastic about the New Year.

3- Sana maging mabuti ang bagong taon na ito!

His high school friend, Liza, uses an expression meaning - “Let’s hope this year will be a good year!”
Use this expression to share your hope for a good year ahead.

4- Paalam sa nakaraang taon! Hello sa bagong taon!

His wife, Ana, uses an expression meaning - “Goodbye to last year! Hello to the New Year!”
Use these phrases to indicate you let the past go, and greet the future optimistically.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

bago: “new”

manigong: “prosperous”

pamilya: “family”

yehey: “hooray”

tagay: “cheers”

tayo: “we, us”

paalam: “goodbye”

nakaraang: “past, previous”

Which is your favorite phrase to post on social media during New Year?

But before New Year’s Day comes another important day…

24. What to Post on Christmas Day in Filipino

What will you say in Filipino about Christmas?

Ana celebrates Christmas with her family, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Ana’s post.

Maligayang Pasko sa inyong lahat!
“Merry Christmas to all of you!”

1- maligayang pasko

First is an expression meaning “Merry Christmas.”
We use this to wish people a Merry Christmas in the Philippines.

2- sa inyong lahat

Then comes the phrase - “to all of you.”
Since the Philippines is about 90% Catholic, a majority of Filipinos celebrate Christmas. People usually go to midnight mass for nine days beginning on December 16 and attend a special mass on Christmas day. People believe that if they complete the entire nine-day midnight mass their wishes will come true. On Christmas Day people visit their relatives and children ask for presents from their godparents and relatives. Filipinos also put up colorful lanterns and lights outside their houses and put up Christmas decorations.

COMMENTS

In response, Ana’s friends leave some comments.

1- Tita huwag ninyong kalimutan ang regalo ko!

Her nephew, Sam, uses an expression meaning - “Aunt, don’t forget about my gift!”
Use this expression to show you have a serious wish for a gift from the poster.

2- Maligayang Pasko din sa inyo!

Her neighbor, Maria, uses an expression meaning - “Merry Christmas to you too!”
This is the traditional response when someone addresses you with a Christmas greeting.

3- Tara simbang gabi tayo!

Her college friend, Richard, uses an expression meaning - “Let’s go to a midnight mass!”
Use this expression to make a suggestion for Christmas Eve.

4- Maligayang Pasko! Tara shopping tayo ang daming sale sa mall!

Her high school friend, Bea, uses an expression meaning - “Merry Christmas! Let’s go shopping, lots of sales at the mall!”
Use this expression if you want to go Christmas shopping with the poster.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

Pasko: “Christmas”

kalimutan: “to forget”

regalo: “present”

ko: “my”

inyo: “you, yours”

simbang gabi: “Midnight mass (nine consecutive days before Christmas Day)”

tara: “let’s go”

daming: “many”

If a friend posted something about Christmas greetings, which phrase would you use?

So, the festive season is over! Yet, there will always be other days, besides a birthday, to wish someone well.

25. Post about Your Anniversary in Filipino

Some things deserve to be celebrated, like wedding anniversaries. Learn which Filipino phrases are meaningful and best suited for this purpose!

Juan celebrates his wedding anniversary with his wife, posts an image of it, and leaves this comment:

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Let’s break down Juan’s post.

Maligayang anibersaryo mahal!
“Happy anniversary, dear!”

1- maligayang anibersaryo

First is an expression meaning “Happy anniversary.”
We use this expression to greet people on their anniversary day.

2- mahal

Then comes the phrase - “dear.”
Couples usually celebrate their anniversary together. The Philippines is the only country in the world (excluding Vatican) where divorce is illegal. So couples normally celebrate their anniversary without fail every year. When people marry in the Philippines it is literally “till death do us part”.

COMMENTS

In response, Juan’s friends leave some comments.

1- Tnx mahal!

His wife, Ana, uses an expression meaning - “Thanks dear!”
This would be the normal response to the poster’s comment, if you’re the wife.

2- Nakakakilig naman!

His college friend, Richard, uses an expression meaning - “It’s so romantic!”
Use this expression if you think the anniversary is romantic.

3- Congrats sa anibersaryo ninyo.

His neighbor, Maria, uses an expression meaning - “Congratulations on your anniversary.”
This is the traditional wedding anniversary congratulation.

4- Alagaan mo nang mabuti si Ana kundi lagot ka sa akin!

His wife’s high school friend, Bea, uses an expression meaning - “Take care of Ana or else you’ll have to answer to me!”
Use this expression to be a bit threatening, but mostly in a humorous way.

VOCABULARY

Find below the key vocabulary for this lesson:

anibersaryo: “anniversary”

nakakakilig: “(romantic feeling)”

ninyo: “you, your”

tnx: “thanks”

kundi: “if not”

lagot: “to be in trouble”

ka: “you”

naman: “so”

If a friend posted something about Anniversary greetings, which phrase would you use?

Conclusion

Learning to speak a new language will always be easier once you know key phrases that everybody uses. These would include commonly used expressions for congratulations and best wishes, etc.

Master these in fun ways with Learn Filipino! We offer a variety of tools to individualize your learning experience, including using cell phone apps, audiobooks, iBooks and many more. Never wonder again what to say on social media!

Learn how to apologize in Filipino - fast and accurately! FilipinoPod101 makes it easy for you to make amends. Start with a bonus, and download your FREE cheat sheet - How to Improve Your Filipino Skills! (Logged-In Member Only)

Table of Contents

1. Common Ways to Say Sorry in Filipino
2. How To Refuse Something Politely in Filipino
3. Audio Lesson - Survival Phrases “How to Say Sorry”
4. Why You Will NOT Be Sorry For Learning Filipino through FilipinoPod101

1. Common Ways to Say Sorry in Filipino

Nobody’s perfect, not anywhere in the world. Everybody makes mistakes, and does and says regrettable things. Then it’s time to apologize, as saying ‘I’m sorry’ is not in vain. It can be very healing! Did you know that hearing a sincerely-meant apology can have a noticeable effect on a person’s body? Research has shown that it slows down breathing and heart rate, and even causes a drop in blood pressure.

Sometimes we cannot fix what’s broken, but we can make the experience a bit easier for anyone who suffered on account of our thoughtless actions or words.

Here are a number of ways to say sorry in Filipino. In any language, just make sure you really mean it! An insincere apology will not go down well with anyone.

Ako ay humihingi ng paumanhin.
I’m sorry

These words should precede anything else you have to say. Use them sincerely and whenever you are clearly in the wrong. Acknowledging your guilt and apologizing for any wrongdoing will lift your spirits too! Often, remorse can eat away at us, and a simple ‘I’m sorry’, in Filipino or any other language, can open the door for forgiveness and resolution of a bad situation. It can be a true gift!

Gusto kong humingi ng paumanhin.
I would like to apologize.

This is a slightly more formal way to say ‘I’m sorry’ in Filipino. Use this phrase if you’re addressing your superiors and/or elders.

Taos-puso akong humihingi ng paumanhin.
I sincerely apologize.

If you feel strongly about your apology, this is another slightly more formal phrase to use. Keep it handy for graver errors, or you might come across as insincere!

Hindi ko na iyon gagawin ulit.
I won’t do it again.

A promise you can only make if you intend to keep it! Few things feel as bad as having to hear repeated apologies from someone for the same behavior - it means the ‘sorry’ is not sincere. Don’t be that person!

Sisiguraduhin kong hindi magawa ang pagkakamaling ito muli.
I’ll make sure not to make this mistake again.

A beautifully strong phrase! Again, say this only if you mean it - not just in the moment, but always! A bit more formal, this is an especially good phrase to use when apologizing to superiors and/or elders. It will make an especially good impression at the workplace, where accountability is an excellent quality to display!

Hindi ko iyon sinasadya.
I didn’t mean that.

This is a tricky one… What did you mean, then?! Clear up any confusion with sincerity. Also, use this phrase only if the harm done or mistake made was due to an accident, and then admit to thoughtlessness on your part, if appropriate.

Kasalanan ko.
It’s my fault.

If the fault is really yours, own up to it. You will gain respect in the eyes of others! However, don’t take the blame when it’s not truly yours. It won’t be good for you, and ultimately you will not be respected much for it.

Pasensiya sa pagiging makasarili.
I’m sorry for being selfish.

This is a good phrase to keep handy, especially for your close relationships. It is difficult to admit you’re selfish, isn’t it?! However, it’s good to know when to be honest. We get used to our loved ones, which often means we forget that they need our good manners and unselfish behavior just as much as strangers do.

Sana’y patawarin mo ako.
I hope you will forgive me.

This is a polite and gentle wish that can smooth over many harsh feelings. It also shows that the other person’s opinion and forgiveness are important to you.

Ako ang may pananagutan ng lahat.
I take full responsibility.

This strong statement is similar to admitting that an error or transgression was your fault. It speaks of courage and the willingness to take remedial action. Good one to use…if you mean it!

Hindi ko dapat ginawa iyon.
I shouldn’t have done it.

This phrase is fine to use if you did or said something wrong. It shows, to an extent, your regret for having done or said what you did, and demonstrates that you understand your role in the mistake.

Pasensiya dahil nahuli ang pagsauli ko ng pera sayo.
Sorry for giving your money back late.

It’s rotten to have to loan money! Yet, it’s equally rotten to have to ask for the repayment of a loan. So, do your best not to pay late in the first place, but if it can’t be helped, this would be a good phrase to use!

Huwag ka sanang magalit sa akin.
Please don’t be mad at me.

Well, this is not a very advisable phrase to use if you are clearly in the wrong. If someone is justifiably angry with you, asking them not to be mad at you would be an unfair expectation. However, if you did something wrong by accident, and if the consequences were not too serious, this request would be OK.

Sorry nahuli ako.
Sorry I’m late.

Punctuality is valued in most situations, but if you really cannot help being late, then apologize! This way you show respect for your host, and win their approval.

Humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa pagiging masama sayo.
I apologize for being mean to you.

Acknowledging your own meanness towards someone is no small thing, so good for you! Use this apology only if your intention is to seriously address your mean tendencies, or these words could become meaningless over time.

2. How To Refuse Something Politely in Filipino

Congratulations! Now you know how to apologize in Filipino! After you have apologized for a mistake, focus on fixing whatever you can, and don’t punish yourself over something that cannot be taken back or reversed. That’s healthy for you! Regret can eat away at the soul, and even destroy it. It is ultimately a useless emotion if it consumes you.

However, in language, we use apologies not only when we’ve transgressed or made mistakes. They come in handy in other situations too, when there has been no wrongdoing. Sometimes we need to express regret for having to refuse a gift, an offer, or an invitation. This can be somewhat tricky. Learn from specialists at FilipinoPod101 about how to use the correct Filipino words for this kind of ‘sorry’!

3. Survival Phrases “How to Say Sorry”

On the run and need a quick lesson on how to say sorry in Filipino? Don’t fret, just listen and repeat! Click here for a recorded short lesson and learn how to give the perfect apology, with perfect pronunciation in Filipino. A little can go a long way, and you will sound like a native!

4. Why You Will NOT Be Sorry For Learning Filipino through FilipinoPod101

Online learning is here to stay, that’s a fact. In 2015, the Digital Learning Compass Partnership released a report based on surveys to determine online enrollment trends in US institutions for higher education. Thirty percent of all their students learned online! And the number is growing! However, how can you be sure you will not regret your choice of an online language learning school? First, look at the school’s credentials and what it has to offer…

• Fun and Easy Learning: It’s a commonly-known fact that when learning is made easy and fun, student motivation rises. And as motivation rises, so does the effort to learn - what a beautiful cycle! FilipinoPod101’s language learning system is designed to get you speaking from the onset. Learn at your own convenience and pace with our short, effective and fun audio podcast lessons. Our Learning Center is comprehensive and state-of-the-art, with a vibrant user community to connect to! Our lessons are recorded with native hosts and voice actors, providing a diverse range of dialects in your lessons. You can be confident that native speakers will understand you when speaking Filipino!
• Innovative Learning Tools and Apps: We make it our priority to offer you the best learning tools! These include apps for iPhone, iPad, Android and Mac OSX; eBooks for Kindle, Nook, and iPad; audiobooks; Roku TV and so many more. This means that we took diverse lifestyles into account when we developed our courses, so you can learn anywhere, anytime on a device of your choice. How innovative!
• Free Resources: Sharing is caring, and for this reason, we share many free resources with our students. For instance, start learning Filipino with our basic online course by creating a lifetime account - for free! Also get free daily and iTunes lessons, free eBooks, free mobile apps, and free access to our blog and online community. Or how about free Vocabulary Lists? The Filipino dictionary is for exclusive use by our students, also for free. There’s so much to love about FilipinoPod101…!
• Live Hosts and One-on-One Learning: Knowledgeable, energetic hosts present recorded video lessons, and are available for live teaching experiences if you upgrade. This means that in the videos, you get to watch them pronounce those tongue-twisters, as if you’re learning live! Add octane to your learning by upgrading to Premium Plus, and learn two times faster. Your can have your very own Filipino teacher always with you, ensuring that you learn what you need, when you need to - what a wonderful opportunity to master a new language in record time!
• Start Where You Are: You don’t know a single Filipino word? Not to worry, we’ve absolutely got this. Simply enroll in our Absolute Beginner Pathway and start speaking from Lesson 1! As your learning progresses, you can enroll in other pathways to match your Filipino level, at your own pace, in your own time, in your own place!

After this lesson, you will know almost every ‘sorry for’ in Filipino, but don’t let it be that you’re sorry for missing a great opportunity. Learning a new language can only enrich your life, and could even open doors towards great opportunities! So don’t wonder if you’ll regret enrolling in FilipinoPod101. It’s the most fun, easy way to learn Filipino!

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re trying to find a way to give someone your name—in perfect Tagalog. As we all know, first impressions last. And to make a good one, you have to know what you’re doing. So, after searching for “My name is,” in Tagalog, it’s time to take it to the next level.

So, how to introduce yourself in Filipino?

As in many places, in the Philippines, there are different ways of introducing yourself. There are different approaches for when you’re around buddies, older people, or in a corporate setting (unless your boss tossed all the rules and specifically requested you to call him by his nickname in a land called The Things that Never Happened). But hey, it can be a wild world sometimes.

By the time you’re through with this article, you should have no trouble during your next few Filipino self-introductions!

Table of Contents

1. Politeness Matters
2. The All-Important Kumusta
3. Say More About Yourself
4. When You Need to be Formal with Your Introduction
5. You’re All Set to Introduce Yourself in Filipino

1. Politeness Matters

Now, you already know how to say “My name is,” in the Filipino language, which means you’re ready to learn about another set of keywords: po and opo. These are included in the “Mano” tradition in the Philippines. In some Asian cultures such as Japan and Korea, they have a certain way of speaking to express respect or politeness, sometimes referred to as “honorifics.” It’s possible that something like this exists in other cultures too, so it’ll be interesting to see the similarities and differences.

1- So, how do you use po and opo?

It’s not too difficult to use these words when you introduce yourself in Tagalog. If you’re speaking to someone older, someone who’s possibly five or ten years older than you, you use po and opo when talking to them.

Now, imagine that you’re invited to a friend’s house. You can expect to meet his/her relatives, and naturally, you’ll have to introduce yourself when they ask about you or say the inevitable kumusta? But before that happens, greeting them when you enter the home will get things started on the right foot.

Here’s how that might go:

• You: Magandang umaga po.
• Friend’s parent/relative: Magandang umaga din sayo.
• You: “Good morning!”
• Friend’s parent/relative: “Good morning to you, too!”

As you can see, umaga translates to “morning,” and if you’re eager to be more time-specific, you can use tanghali or hapon which translate to “afternoon.” These words aren’t very different, but people say tanghali early in the afternoon (like at noon), and hapon late in the afternoon (like around three o’clock). But there’s no thought police here, so no one will stop you in your tracks if you said Magandang hapon at one o’clock.

For night time, there’s gabi which means “evening.” You can also keep things general with araw, which is “day.” Now, to see it used, here’s a tiny cheat sheet. You can also take a look at the examples here.

2- Greetings in Filipino

Here are some of the most useful Filipino and Tagalog greetings to use throughout the day!

In Filipino	Polite Version	In English
Magandang umaga.	Magandang umaga po.	“Good morning.”
Magandang hapon/tanghali.	Magandang hapon/tanghali po.	“Good afternoon.”
Magandang gabi.	Magandang gabi po.	“Good evening.”
Magandang araw.	Magandang araw po.	“Good day.”

Opo is mostly used to answer questions politely, and sentences usually start with it. Sometimes, it’s all you have to say for the equivalent of a courteous “yes.”

Here’s an example:

Friend’s parent/relative: Kasamahan ka ba ni Jason?
You: Opo. Magkasama kami sa opisina.

Friend’s parent/relative: “Are you and Jason co-workers?”
You: “Yes. We work in the same office.”

You can always look at more examples online of how you can speak politely in Filipino, or check out additional content on our site so you can hear them used in the wild. Okay, not too wild. But enough to make anyone smile because of your effort to be polite.

That seems pretty standard, doesn’t it? For a quick recap, you know how to say your name in Tagalog and some basic greetings in Filipino. Now, it’s time to unravel the mystery that is kumusta. It’s not really that much of a mystery because it’s probably one of the first things you hear about the Filipino culture.

2. The All-Important Kumusta

Once you’ve come across Kumusta ka, you got yourself something good in your Filipino language arsenal. That’s because it can be used as “Hi” or “How are you?” and Filipinos are known for being jolly—many are likely to let out a smile once they hear these magic words.

Let’s take a closer look at how it’s used, shall we?

Imagine you’re with a friend who happens to see another friend while you’re outside. It’s only natural to introduce you to that other person. Now, you don’t need to worry about doing something wrong. Chances are, your friend will say “hi” to that other person and introduce you as quickly as possible.

Here’s what you can expect:

Friend: Hi Jojo. Kumusta?
Jojo: Oy, pare! Kumusta?

Friend: Ayos naman. Si (your name) pala.
Jojo: Kumusta, (your name).

You: Kumusta. Ako si (your name).

In English:

Friend: “Hi Jojo. How are you?”
Jojo: “Hey, man! How are you?”

Friend: “I’m alright. This is (your name) by the way.”
Jojo: “Hi, (your name)?”

You: “Hi. I am (your name).”

It’s important to emphasize that this will happen in very informal settings, and you can find more examples on our site, as well as a lesson on how to talk about friends. Remember, though,that things change a bit when you talk to someone older or if you want to be more polite.

So far, the things you’ve learned can help you breeze through five to ten minutes of conversation. Just kidding! Of course, it’s about twenty minutes. Seriously though, it’s not so much about the amount of time you spend talking, but the impression you make.

Speaking of talking more, it’s time to bring in the goods. That introduction has been preparing you for this part: knowing what questions you may have to answer and things that are perfectly okay to ask in Filipino culture.

3. Say More About Yourself

It’s time to actually say details about yourself. But you may be wondering what can be considered “too much information,” or what you can casually talk about.

Like in many places, it’s wise not to get ahead of yourself and talk about your whole family history. You can easily share details such as where you live, your age, where you studied, your marital status, and whether you have kids or not. But wait a minute, doesn’t that sound like a bit too much?

In Filipino culture, you have to remember that mentioning these topics is common. People mean no offense by asking you these things. After you say your name in Filipino, you’re either going to face some questions, or you may just decide that you want to include some more details in your introduction.

Take a look at this dialogue between strangers.

1- Talk About Where You Live

Imagine that this is a colleague you met in the office for the first time:

You: Magandang umaga.
Colleague: Magandang umaga din sayo.

You: Ako si (your name.) Anong pangalan mo?
Colleague: Ako si Eric. Taga saan ka?

You: Nakatira ako sa Makati. Ikaw?
Colleague: Sa Antipolo kami pero nagrent ako ng apartment sa Makati para malapit sa office.

In English:

You: “Good morning.”
Colleague: “Good morning to you, too.”

You: “My name is (name.) What’s yours?”
Colleague: “My name is Eric. Where are you from?”

You: “I live in Makati. How about you?”
Colleague: “I am from Antipolo, but I rented an apartment in Makati because it’s closer to the office.”

After reading this, you may think that something isn’t quite right. Why are there English words in a Tagalog conversation? There’s a simple answer: English is considered the second language in the Philippines, so it isn’t difficult to see people mixing Tagalog and English words in one sentence. This is called Taglish. This is just used in informal communication or when words that are used have no equivalent in Filipino.

Asking about where one lives doesn’t seem too private, but notice that in the example, the colleague easily shared details about moving and where they lived previously.

2- Share Your Age, Marital Status, and Talk About Your Children

Things become more exciting (or unexpected) with this next part, but it all depends on how you look at it. Regardless, keep in mind that it’s all done in good faith. Talking about family is commonly done in the country, and reading this might give you better insight. Providing details such as your age, marital status, and even about your children, happens so casually, as you can see in this dialogue.

Colleague: Ilang taon ka na?
You: 27 na ako.

Colleague: Single ka?
You: Hindi, may asawa na ako.

Colleague: O talaga? Ako din may asawa na. Kailan kayo kinasal?
You: Two years ago.

Colleague: May anak na kayo?
You: Wala pa kaming anak ngayon. May anak na ba kayo?

Colleague: Oo, dalawa. Yung panganay ko grade one, yung bunso ko two years old palang.

In English:

Colleague: “How old are you?”
You: “I’m 27.”

Colleague: “Are you single?”
You: “No, I’m already married.”

Colleague: “Oh, really? I’m also married. When did you get married?”
You: “Two years ago.”

Colleague: “Do you have children?”
You: “We don’t have kids yet. Do you have children?”

Colleague: “Yes, we have two. My eldest is in first grade, my youngest is just two years old.”

Fun fact: “O” is just a filler in Tagalog and is very much like “Oh” in English.

3- Share What School You Went to & Your Major

Another tried and tested way of how you can introduce yourself in Tagalog is by talking about the school you went to, your major, or your job. To some cultures, this may be another sensitive topic (especially asking whether a person finished school or not), but it’s perfectly normal here.

Here’s another example conversation:

You: Kumusta? Ako si Andrew. Anong pangalan mo?
Colleague: Ako si Francis.

You: Ikaw yung kasama ni Jenny kanina, di ba?
Colleague: Oo ako ‘yon. Bago lang kasi ako sa office kaya sinasamahan niya ako at first job ko ito.

You: Matagal na ba kayong magkakilala ni Jenny?
Colleague: Oo pareho kami na Accounting ang course sa PUP. Ikaw, anong course mo?

You: Entrepreneurship ang major ko.
Colleague: First job mo ba ito?

You: Hindi. Marami akong naging trabaho noong nasa US ako.
Colleague: Talaga? Working student ka?

You: Oo. Kailangan ko kasi ng pambayad sa college.
Colleague: Ang galing mo naman. Mahirap mag-aral kapag may trabaho ka pa.

You: Marami naman ang ganon sa amin at madali lang ang trabaho sa bakery.
Colleague: Ah sa bakery ka pala nagtrabaho. Ayos yon.

You: Oo, sa bakery, sa supermarket, basta part-time na trabaho kinuha ko.

In English:

You: “Hi. My name is Andrew. What’s your name?”
Colleague: “My name is Francis.”

You: “You were with Jenny earlier, right?”
Colleague: “Yes, I was with her. This is my first job and I am new in the office, so she accompanies me.”

You: “Have you and Jenny known each other for a long time?”
Colleague: “Yes, we both took up Accounting in PUP. How about you, what was your major?”

You: “I took up Entrepreneurship.”
Colleague: “Is this your first job?”

You: “No. I had many jobs when I was in the U.S.”
Colleague: “Really? Were you a working student?”

You: “Yes. I needed the money to pay for college.”
Colleague: “That’s really great. It’s hard to go to school when you have work.”

You: “Many people do that back there and my work in the bakery was easy.”
Colleague: “Oh, you worked in a bakery? Sounds great.”

You: “Yes, I worked at a bakery, supermarket, and other places. I just took any kind of part-time work.”

Fun fact: In the Philippines, “course” is usually used instead of “major” when you talk about what you studied in college.

If you want to hear another example of what a profession-related conversation could look like, we have a relevant lesson on our website. Again, note that this is a very common conversation topic. Knowing how to talk about it will surely help you make friendly relations with more people.

4. When You Need to be Formal with Your Introduction

At this point, you’ve read about how you can be polite and friendly, and what subjects you might be asked about when you introduce yourself in Filipino. Give yourself a pat on the back. Chances are, saying your name in Filipino has become a piece of cake, and nothing you’ll face will make you sweat (figuratively, of course). Visiting the Philippines always means being ready for that tropical feel.

The Philippines isn’t all about staying at the beach and drinking coconut water, though. You still have to go to the office, talk to bosses, and say your name in Tagalog when you introduce yourself. An office setting requires a different kind of courtesy, but it’s nothing overwhelming. Take a look at this dialogue and see how it goes.

You: Magandang umaga po, Sir.
Department Head: Magandang umaga din sayo. Maupo ka.

You: Salamat po, Sir.
Department Head: Anong maitutulong ko sayo?

You: Sir, gusto ko po sana na magpalipat sa Makati branch natin.
Department Head: Pwede ko bang malaman kung bakit?

You: Mas malapit po kasi sa bahay ko yung Makati branch. Kung mas malapit po yung bahay ko, mas madali sa akin ang mag-overtime.
Department Head: Pag-iisipan ko yang sinabi mo sa akin. Ipapatawag kita kaagad kapag may balita na ako kung pwede kang lumipat o hindi.

You: Salamat po, Sir.

In English:

You: “Good morning, sir.”
Department Head: “Good morning to you, too. Please sit down.”

You: “Thank you, sir.”
Department Head: “What can I do for you?”

You: “Sir, I’d like to be transferred to our Makati branch.”
Department Head: “Could you tell me why?”

You: “It’s because I live closer to our Makati branch. If I lived closer to the office, I could work overtime more.”
Department Head: “I’ll think about it. I’ll let you know whether you can transfer or not as soon as I receive information about it.”

You: “Thank you, sir.”

There’s a lot of po usage in this dialogue and, as previously said, it’s to show politeness. Another notable thing is the use of “sir.” In the Philippines, addressing a superior in the office as Miss, Ma’am, or Sir, is enough to show your respect for them.

There are also a few things you’ll have to remember before having a chat with your boss (e.g. you should knock before entering a room). Lucky for you, FilipinoPod101.com has a lesson that covers the various phrases you may need for a good first impression.

5. You’re All Set to Introduce Yourself in Filipino

Most people who have been to the Philippines, or who have read a few things about the country, will tell you that Filipinos are quite friendly. The term “hospitable” is almost always used to describe the people of the Philippines. This means that to get the most out of your visit, you need to mirror this friendliness as much as you can, whether you’re saying your name or introducing yourself in Filipino.

Kumusta can be heard almost anywhere, and it’s impossible to forget. However, remembering how things are done gives you extra points. Besides, the aim is to learn; though skating by is fairly enjoyable, nothing beats the satisfaction of having a new skill.

Now that you’ve scratched bits of the surface, you can always keep an eye out for more. You can get past just knowing how to say your name in Tagalog; FilipinoPod101.com gives you a window to the culture, language, and just about anything to make your stay in the Philippines more enjoyable.

Before you go, let us know in the comments how you feel about self-introductions in Filipino and Tagalog! Write us a short self-introduction in Filipino about yourself to practice. We look forward to hearing from you!

Do you often feel lonely and sad? Do you long for romance and are willing to do whatever it takes to meet that special person? Speaking another language could revolutionize your love life! So, why wait? Learning how to say ‘love’ in Filipino could be just what you need to find it.

Or perhaps you were lucky, and have found your Filipino partner already. Fantastic! Yet, a cross-cultural relationship comes with unique challenges. Learning how to speak your lover’s language will greatly improve your communication and enhance the relationship. At FilipinoPod101, our team will teach you all the words, quotes and phrases you need to woo your Filipino lover with excellence! Our tutors provide personal assistance, with plenty of extra material available to make Filipino dating easy for you.

Table of Contents

1. Common Phrases You’ll Need for a Date
2. The Most Romantic Ideas for a Date
3. Must-know Valentine’s Day Vocabulary
4. Filipino Love Phrases for Valentine’s Day
5. Filipino Quotes about Love
6. Marriage Proposal Lines
7. 15 Most Common Break-Up Lines
8. Will Falling in Love Help You Learn Filipino Faster?

Start with a bonus, and download the ‘How To be a Good Lover Cheat Sheet’ for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

1. Common Phrases You’ll Need for a Date

So, you have met your Filipino love interest. Congratulations! Who knows where this could take you…?! However, the two of you have just met and you’re not ready to say the Filipino word for love just yet. Great, it is better to get to know him/her first. Wow your prospective love by using these Filipino date phrases to set up a spectacular first date.

Would you like to go out to dinner with me?

• Gusto mo bang lumabas at magdinner nang magkasama?

The important question! In most cultures, this phrase indicates: ‘I’m romantically interested in you’. Flirting in Filipino is no different, so don’t take your date to Mcdonald’s!

Are you free this weekend?

• Libre ka ba sa katapusan ng linggo?

This is a preamble to asking your love interest on a date. If you get an immediate ‘Yes’, that’s good news!

Would you like to hang out with me?

• Gusto mo bang lumabas nang magkasama?

You like her/him, but you’re not sure if there’s chemistry. Ask them to hang out first to see if a dinner date is next.

What time shall we meet tomorrow?

• Anong oras tayo magkikita bukas?

Set a time, and be sure to arrive early! Nothing spoils a potential relationship more than a tardy date.

Where shall we meet?

• Saan tayo magkikita?

You can ask this, but also suggest a place.

You look great.

• Ang ganda mo.

A wonderful ice breaker! This phrase will help them relax a bit - they probably took great care to look their best just for you.

You are so cute.

• Ang cute mo sobra.

If the two of you are getting on really well, this is a fun, flirtatious phrase to use.

What do you think of this place?

• Anong masasabi mo sa lugar na ito?

This another good conversation starter. Show off your Filipino language skills!

Can I see you again?

• Pwede ba kitang makitang muli?

So the date went really well - don’t waste time! Make sure you will see each other again.

Shall we go somewhere else?

• Pwede ba tayong pumunta sa iba?

If the place you meet at is not great, you can suggest going elsewhere. It is also a good question to follow the previous one. Variety is the spice of life!

I know a good place.

• May alam akong magandang puntahan.

Use this with the previous question. However, don’t say if you don’t know a good place!

I will drive you home.

• Ipag-drive na kita pauwi.

If your date doesn’t have transport, this is a polite, considerate offer. However, don’t be offended if she/he turns you down on the first date. Especially a woman might not feel comfortable letting you drive her home when the two of you are still basically strangers.

That was a great evening.

• Iyon ay magandang gabing magkasama.

This is a good phrase to end the evening with.

When can I see you again?

• Kailan kita ulit makikita?

If he/she replied ‘Yes’ to ‘Can I see you again?’, this is the next important question.

I’ll call you.

• Tatawagan kita.

Say this only if you really mean to do it. In many cultures, this could imply that you’re keeping the proverbial backdoor open.

Sneak Peek! Log in to Download this Cheat Sheet!

2. The Most Romantic Ideas for a Date

You learned all the Filipino phrases to make a date - congratulations! Now you have to decide where to meet, which can be tricky. Discuss these options with your lover to gauge whether you like the same things. Check out romantic date ideas in Filipino below!

museum

• museo

If you’re looking for unique date ideas that are fun but won’t break the bank, museums are the perfect spot! You won’t be running out of things to say in the conversations.

candlelit dinner

• candlelit dinner

A candlelit dinner is perhaps best to reserve for when the relationship is getting serious. It’s very intimate, and says: “Romance!” It’s a fantastic choice if you’re sure you and your date are in love with each other!

go to the zoo

• pumunta sa zoo

This is a good choice for shy lovers who want to get the conversation going. Just make sure your date likes zoos, as some people dislike them. Maybe not for the first date, but this is also a great choice if your lover has children - you’ll win his/her adoration for inviting them along!

go for a long walk

• maglakad ng malayo nang magkasama

Need to talk about serious stuff, or just want to relax with your date? Walking together is soothing, and a habit you can keep up together always! Just make sure it’s a beautiful walk that’s not too strenuous.

go to the opera

• pumunta sa opera

This type of date should only be attempted if both of you love the opera. It can be a special treat, followed by a candlelit dinner!

go to the aquarium

• pumunta sa aquarium

Going to the aquarium is another good idea if you need topics for conversation, or if you need to impress your lover’s kids! Make sure your date doesn’t have a problem with aquariums.

walk on the beach

• maglakad sa beach

This can be a very romantic stroll, especially at night! The sea is often associated with romance and beauty.

have a picnic

• mag picnic

If you and your date need to get more comfortable together, this can be a fantastic date. Spending time in nature is soothing and calms the nerves.

cook a meal together

• magluto ng pagkain nang magkasama

If you want to get an idea of your date’s true character in one go, this is an excellent date! You will quickly see if the two of you can work together in a confined space. If it works, it will be fantastic for the relationship and create a sense of intimacy. If not, you will probably part ways!

have dinner and see a movie

• mag hapunan at manood ng pelikula

This is traditional date choice works perfectly well. Just make sure you and your date like the same kind of movies!

3. Must-know Valentine’s Day Vocabulary

Expressing your feelings honestly is very important in any relationship all year round. Yet, on Valentine’s Day you really want to shine. Impress your lover this Valentine’s with your excellent vocabulary, and make his/her day! We teach you, in fun, effective ways, the meanings of the words and how to pronounce them. You can also copy the characters and learn how to write ‘I love you’ in Filipino - think how impressed your date will be!

4. Filipino Love Phrases for Valentine’s Day

So, you now have the basic Valentine’s Day vocabulary under your belt. Well done! But, do you know how to say ‘I love you’ in Filipino yet? Or perhaps you are still only friends. So, do you know how to say ‘I like you’ or ‘I have a crush on you’ in Filipino? No? Don’t worry, here are all the love phrases you need to bowl over your Filipino love on this special day!

I love you.

• Mahal kita.

Saying ‘I love you’ in Filipino carries the same weight as in all languages. Use this only if you’re sure and sincere about your feelings for your partner/friend.

You mean so much to me.

• Mahalaga ka para sa akin.

This is a beautiful expression of gratitude that will enhance any relationship! It makes the receiver feel appreciated and their efforts recognized.

Will you be my Valentine?

• Maari bang ikaw ang aking maging aking Valentino/Valentina?

With these words, you are taking your relationship to the next level! Or, if you have been a couple for a while, it shows that you still feel the romance. So, go for it!

You’re so beautiful.

• Napakaganda mo.

If you don’t know how to say ‘You’re pretty’ in Filipino, this is a good substitute, gentlemen!

I think of you as more than a friend.

• Higit pa sa magkaibigan ang pagtingin ko sa iyo.

Say this if you are not yet sure that your romantic feelings are reciprocated. It is also a safe go-to if you’re unsure about the Filipino dating culture.

A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you.

• Kulang ang isang daang puso para lamanin ang pagibig ko para sa iyo.

You romantic you…! When your heart overflows with love, this would be the best phrase to use.

Love is just love. It can never be explained.

• Ang pag-ibig ay pag-ibig lamang. Hindi ito kayang maipaliwanag.

If you fell in love unexpectedly or inexplicably, this one’s for you.

You’re so handsome.

• Napakaguwapo mo.

Ladies, this phrase lets your Filipino love know how much you appreciate his looks! Don’t be shy to use it; men like compliments too.

I’ve got a crush on you.

• May gusto ako sa iyo.

If you like someone, but you’re unsure about starting a relationship, it would be prudent to say this. It simply means that you like someone very, very much and think they’re amazing.

You make me want to be a better man.

• Dahil sa iyo, ninanais kong maging mas mabuting tao.

Gentlemen, don’t claim this phrase as your own! It hails from the movie ‘As Good as it Gets’, but it is sure to make your Filipino girlfriend feel very special. Let her know that she inspires you!

Let all that you do be done in love.

• Hayaan mong ang lahat ng iyong gagawin ay magawa sa ngalan ng pag-ibig.

We hope.

You are my sunshine, my love.

• Ikaw ang araw sa aking buhay, aking giliw.

A compliment that lets your lover know they bring a special quality to your life. Really nice!

Words can’t describe my love for you.

• Hindi kayang ilarawan ng mga salita ang pag-ibig ko para sa iyo.

Better say this when you’re feeling serious about the relationship! It means that your feelings are very intense.

We were meant to be together.

• Tayo ay nakatadhana para sa isa’t isa.

This is a loving affirmation that shows you see a future together, and that you feel a special bond with your partner.

If you were thinking about someone while reading this, you’re definitely in love.

• Kung may tao kang nasasaisip habang binabasa mo ito, siguradong ikaw ay in-love.

Here’s something fun to tease your lover with. And hope he/she was thinking of you!

5. Filipino Quotes about Love

You’re a love champ! You and your Filipino lover are getting along fantastically, your dates are awesome, your Valentine’s Day together was spectacular, and you’re very much in love. Good for you! Here are some beautiful phrases of endearment in Filipino that will remind him/her who is in your thoughts all the time.

6. Marriage Proposal Lines

Wow. Your Filipino lover is indeed the love of your life - congratulations! And may only happiness follow the two of you! In most traditions, the man asks the woman to marry; this is also the Filipino custom. Here are a few sincere and romantic lines that will help you to ask your lady-love for her hand in marriage.

7. 15 Most Common Break-Up Lines

Instead of moving towards marriage or a long-term relationship, you find that the spark is not there for you. That is a pity! But even though breaking up is never easy, continuing a bad or unfulfilling relationship would be even harder. Remember to be kind to the person you are going to say goodbye to; respect and sensitivity cost nothing. Here are some phrases to help you break up gently.

We need to talk.

• Kailangan natin magusap.

This is not really a break-up line, but it is a good conversation opener with a serious tone.

It’s not you. It’s me.

• Hindi ikaw. Ako.

As long as you mean it, this can be a kind thing to say. It means that there’s nothing wrong with your Filipino lover as a person, but that you need something different from a relationship.

I’m just not ready for this kind of relationship.

• Hindi pa ako handa para sa ganitong klase ng relasyon.

Things moved a bit fast and got too intense, too soon? Painful as it is, honesty is often the best way to break up with somebody.

Let’s just be friends.

• Maging magkaibigan na lang tayo.

If the relationship was very intense, and you have sent many ‘i love u’ texts in Filipino, this would not be a good breakup line. Feelings need to calm down before you can be friends, if ever. If the relationship has not really developed yet, a friendship would be possible.

I think we need a break.

• Sa tingin ko kailangan nating lumayo muna.

This is again honest, and to the point. No need to play with someone’s emotions by not letting them know how you feel. However, this could imply that you may fall in love with him/her again after a period of time, so use with discretion.

You deserve better.

• Nararapat kang makakilala ng mas higit pa sa akin.

Yes, he/she probably deserves a better relationship if your own feelings have cooled down.

We should start seeing other people.

• Dapat na nating umpisahang makipagkita sa ibang mga tao.

This is probably the least gentle break-up phrase, so reserve it for a lover that doesn’t get the message!

I need my space.

• Kailangan ko ng space.

When a person is too clingy or demanding, this would be an suitable break-up phrase. It is another good go-to for that lover who doesn’t get the message!

I think we’re moving too fast.

• Sa tingin ko medyo mabilis yata ang takbo ng ating relasyon.

Say this if you want to keep the relationship, but need to slow down its progress a bit. It is also good if you feel things are getting too intense for your liking. However, it is not really a break-up line, so be careful not to mislead.

I need to focus on my career.

• Kailangan kong mag-focus sa aking career.

If you feel that you will not be able to give 100% in a relationship due to career demands, this is the phrase to use. It’s also good if you are unwilling to give up your career for a relationship.

I’m not good enough for you.

• Hindi ako sapat para sa iyo.

Say this only if you really believe it, or you’ll end up sounding false. Break-ups are usually hard for the receiving party, so don’t insult him/her with an insincere comment.

I just don’t love you anymore.

• Hindi na kita mahal ngayon.

This harsh line is sometimes the best one to use if you are struggling to get through to a stubborn, clingy lover who won’t accept your break up. Use it as a last resort. Then switch your phone off and block their emails!

We’re just not right for each other.

• Hindi talaga tayo nararapat para sa isa’t-isa.

If this is how you truly feel, you need to say it. Be kind, gentle and polite.

It’s for the best.

• Para ito sa ikabubuti ng lahat.

This phrase is called for if circumstances are difficult and the relationship is not progressing well. Love should enhance one’s life, not burden it!

We’ve grown apart.

• Nagkahiwalay na ang loob natin.

Cross-cultural relationships are often long-distance ones, and it is easy to grow apart over time.

8. Will Falling in Love help you Learn Filipino faster?

Most people will agree that the above statement is a no-brainer - of course it will! Your body will be flooded with feel-good hormones, which are superb motivators for anything. FilipinoPod101 is one of the best portals to help help make this a reality, so don’t hesitate to enroll now! Let’s quickly look at the reasons why falling in love will speed up your learning of the Filipino language.

Three Reasons Why Having a Lover will Help you Learn Filipino Faster!

1- Being in a love relationship with your Filipino speaking partner will immerse you in the culture
FilipinoPod101 uses immersive methods and tools to teach you Filipino, but having a relationship with a native speaker will be a very valuable addition to your learning experience! You will gain exposure to their world, realtime and vividly, which will make the language come alive even more for you. The experience is likely to expand your world-view, which should motivate you to learn Filipino even faster.

2- Having your Filipino romantic partner will mean more opportunity to practice speaking
Nothing beats continuous practice when learning a new language. Your partner will probably be very willing to assist you in this, as your enhanced Filipino language skills will enhance the relationship. Communication is, after all, one of the most important pillars of a good partnership. Also, you will get to impress your lover with the knowledge gained through your studies - a win/win situation!

3- A supportive Filipino lover is likely to make a gentle, patient teacher and study aid!
With his/her heart filled with love and goodwill for you, your Filipino partner is likely to patiently and gently correct your mistakes when you speak. This goes not only for grammar, but also for accent and meaning. With his/her help, you could sound like a native in no time!

Three Reasons Why FilipinoPod101 helps you learn Filipino Even Faster when you’re In Love

Start with a bonus, and download the ‘How To be a Good Lover Cheat Sheet’ for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

1- All the Resources and Materials Will Help Both of You
Falling in love with a man or woman speaking Filipino is an opportunity for both of you to learn a new language! For this reason, every lesson, transcript, vocabulary list, and resource at FilipinoPod101 is translated into both English and Filipino. So, while your partner can help you learn Filipino faster, you can potentially also help him/her learn and master English!

2- Lessons Are Designed to Help You Understand and Engage with Filipino Culture
At FilipinoPod101, our focus is to help our students learn practical vocabulary and phrases used by everyday people in Philippines. This means that, from your very first lesson, you can apply what you learn immediately! So, when your Filipino partner wants to go out to a restaurant, play Pokemon Go, or attend just about any social function, you have the vocabulary and phrases necessary to have a great time!

3- Access to Special Resources Dedicated to Romantic Filipino Phrases
You now have access to FilipinoPod101’s specially-developed sections and tools to teach you love words, phrases, and cultural insights to help you find and attract your Filipino soul mate. A personal tutor will assist you to master these brilliantly - remember to invite him/her to your wedding!

Most everyone is familiar with this day, as it is celebrated nearly everywhere the world. Yet, when exactly is April Fools’ Day? And where did April Fools come from? April Fools’ Day is observed on April 1st every year. This day of jokes and pranks is believed to have stemmed from the 16th-century calendar change in France, when New Year’s Day was moved from April 1 to January 1. This action was taken due to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar.

However, a few people were resistant to the calendar change, so they continued to observe New Year’s Day on April 1st, rather than the new date. They were referred to as the “April Fools”, and others started playing mocking tricks on them. This custom endured, and is practiced to this day around the world!

Table of Contents

1. Top One Million Words You Need to Know for April Fools’ Day
2. Filipino Phrases You Can Use on April Fools’ Day
3. Some of the Coolest April Fools’ Pranks To Play on Anybody
4. How Can FilipinoPod101 Make Your April Fools’ Day Special?
5. Top 1000 Most Useful Phrases in Filipino - Testing New Technology

1. Top One Million Words You Need to Know for April Fools’ Day

Do you want to know how to say April Fools’ Day in Filipino? Well, there are millions of ways and words, but here are the top one million Filipino words you really need to know! Simply click this link. Here are some of them you will find useful:

1. joke - magbiro
2. funny - nakakatawa
3. lie - magsinungaling
4. sneaky - mapanlinlang
5. prankster - pilyo
6. prank - kapilyuhan
7. play a joke - lokohin ang isang tao
8. humor - katatawanan
9. deceptive - mapanlinlang
10. April 1st - ika-una ng Abril
11. surprise - manggulat
12. fool - loko

2. Filipino Phrases You Can Use on April Fools’ Day

Don’t limit yourself to practical jokes - use these April Fools’ phrases in Filipino to prank your favorite Filipino friend or colleague!

1. I learned Filipino in 1 month.
   • Nag-aral ako ng Filipino sa loob ng isang buwan.
2. All classes for today got canceled.
   • Lahat ng klase ngayong araw na ‘to ay nakansela.
3. I’m sorry, but I’ve just broken your favorite pair of glasses.
   • Sorry, pero nasira ko ang paborito mong pares ng salamin sa mata.
4. Someone has just hit your car.
   • May kakabangga lang sa kotse mo.
5. I’m getting married.
   • Magpapakasal na ako.
6. You won a free ticket.
   • Nanalo ka ng libreng tiket.
7. I saw your car being towed.
   • Nakita kong tinotow ang kotse mo.
8. They’re giving away free gift cards in front of the building.
   • Namimigay sila ng mga libreng gift card sa harap ng building.
9. A handsome guy is waiting for you outside.
   • May gwapong lalaking naghihintay sa’yo sa labas.
10. A beautiful lady asked me to give this phone number to you.
    • May isang magandang babaeng nagpapabigay nitong numero ng telepono sa’yo.
11. Can you come downstairs? I have something special for you.
    • Pwede ka bang bumaba? Mayroon akong isang espesyal na bagay para sa’yo.
12. Thank you for your love letter this morning. I never could have guessed your feelings.
    • Salamat para sa love letter kaninang umaga. Hindi ko kailanman maiisip na ganon pala ang iyong nararamdaman.

Choose your victims carefully, though; the idea is to get them to laugh with you, not to hurt their feelings or humiliate them in front of others. Be extra careful if you choose to play a prank on your boss - you don’t want to antagonize them with an inappropriate joke.

3. Some of the Coolest April Fools’ Pranks To Play on Anybody

Right, now that you know the top million April Fools’ words in Filipino, let’s look at some super pranks and tricks to play on friends, colleagues and family. Some April Fools ideas never grow old, while new ones are born every year.

Never joke in such a way that it hurts anyone, or humiliates them badly in front of others - the idea is for everybody to laugh and enjoy the fun! Respect is still key, no matter what day of the year it is.

1- Infestation

This trick is so simple, yet so creepy, it’s almost unbelievable. Take black paper, cut out the silhouette of a giant cockroach, a spider or another insect, and stick it inside the lampshade of a table lamp. When the lamp is switched on, it will look like a monstrous insect is sitting inside the lampshade. Or, get a whole lot of realistic-looking plastic insects, and spread them over a colleague’s desk and chair, or, at home, over the kids’ beds etc. Creep-factor: stellar.

2- Which One Doesn’t Fit?

Put the photo of a celebrity or a notorious politician in a frame, and take it to work on April Fools’ Day. Hang the photo on the staff picture wall, and wait. You’ll be surprised how long it can take for people to notice that one picture doesn’t fit.

3- Something Weird in the Restroom

At work, replace the air freshener in the restroom with something noxious like insect killer, oven cleaner or your own odious mixture in a spray bottle. Be sure to cover the bottle’s body so no one suspects a swap.

Or paint a bar of soap with clear nail polish, and leave it at the hand wash basin. It will not lather.

Or, if your workplace’s restroom has partitioned toilets with short doors, arrange jeans or trousers and shoes on all but one of the toilet covers, so it looks like every stall is occupied. Now wait for complaints, and see how long it takes for someone to figure out the April Fools’ Day prank. You’ll probably wish you had a camera inside the restroom. But, unless you don’t mind getting fired, don’t put your own recording device in there!

4- Call Me Funny

Prepare and print out a few posters with the following instructions: Lion Roar Challenge! Call this number - 123-456-7890 - and leave your best lion’s roar as voicemail! Best roarer will be announced April 10 in the cafeteria. Prize: $100. (Lion’s roar is just an example; you can use any animal call, or even a movie character’s unique sound, such as Chewbacca from Star Wars. The weirder, the funnier. Obviously!) Put the posters up in the office where most of the staff is likely to see them. Now wait for the owner of the number to visit you with murderous intent. Have a conciliatory gift ready that’s not a prank.

5- Minty Cookies

This is another simple but hugely effective prank - simply separate iced cookies, scrape off the icing, and replace it with toothpaste. Serve during lunch or tea break at work, or put in your family’s lunch boxes. Be sure to take photos of your victim’s faces when they first bite into your April Fools’ cookies.

6- Wild Shopping

At your local grocer, place a realistic-looking plastic snake or spider among the fresh vegetables. Now wait around the corner for the first yell.

7- The Oldest Trick in the Book

Don’t forget probably the oldest, yet very effective April Fools’ joke in the book - smearing hand cream or Vaseline on a door handle that most staff, family or friends are likely to use. Yuck to the max!

8- Sneeze On Me

Another golden oldie is also gross, yet harmless and utterly satisfying as a prank. Fill a small spray bottle that you can easily conceal with water. Walk past a friend, colleague or one of your kids, and fake a sneeze while simultaneously spraying them with a bit of water. Expect to be called a totally disgusting person. Add a drop of lovely smelling essential oil to the water for extra confusion.

9- Word Play Repairs

Put a fresh leek in the hand wash basin at home or work, and then tell your housemates or colleagues this: “There’s a huge leak in the restroom/bathroom basin, it’s really serious. Please can someone go have a look?!” Expect exasperation and smiles all around. Note that this prank is only likely to work where people understand English well.

10- Scary Face

Print out a very scary face on an A4 sheet of paper, and place it in a colleague’s, or one of your kid’s drawers, so it’s the first thing they see when they open the drawer. You may not be very popular for a while.

11- Wake Up To Madness

Put foamy shaving cream, or real whipped cream on your hand, and wake your kid up by tickling their nose with it. As long as they get the joke, this could be a wonderful and fun way to start April Fools’ Day.

12- Computer Prank

This one’s fabulous, if you have a bit of time to fiddle with a colleague, friend or your kid’s computer. It is most effective on a computer where most of the icons they use are on the desktop background itself (as opposed to on the bottom task bar).

Take and save a screenshot of their desktop with the icons. Set this screenshot as their background image. Now delete all the working icons. When they return to their computer, wait for the curses when no amount of clicking on the icons works.

13- Monster Under the Cup

This one will also work well anywhere people meet. Take a paper cup, and write the following on it in black pen: “Danger! Don’t lift, big spider underneath.” Place it upside-down on prominent flat surface, such as a kitchen counter, a colleague’s desk or a restaurant table. Expect some truly interesting responses.

14- Prank Door

Write in large letters on a large and noticeable piece of paper: PUSH. Tape this notice on a door that should be pulled to open, and watch the hilarious struggle of those clever souls who actually read signs.

4. How Can FilipinoPod101 Make Your April Fools’ Day Special?

If you happen to visit Philippines, or if you work for any Filipino company, knowing the above Filipino prankster phrases can really lighten up your day. Showing you have a sense of humor can go a long way to cement good relationships in any situation. These phrases are at your disposal for free, as well as are these 100 core Filipino words, which you will learn how to pronounce perfectly.

Also, don’t stop at learning April Fools’ phrases in Filipino - bone up your Filipino language skills with these FREE key phrases. Yes, FilipinoPod101 doesn’t joke when it comes to effective, fun and easy learning.

Now, as a bonus, test our super-learning technology, and learn the Top 1000 most useful phrases in Filipino below! But that’s not all. Read on to learn how you can be eligible for large enrollment discounts at FilipinoPod101.

5. Top 1000 Most Useful Phrases in Filipino - testing new technology

Help us by being a language guinea pig! Listen to this video above with embedded cutting-edge, frequency-based learning technology that enables you to learn large amounts of data in record time.

• Note: This technology is in beta-phase of development, and we invite your input for fine-tuning.
• To participate: Watch the video for instructions, and leave a comment to rate it. Your comment will make you eligible for large enrollment-fee discounts. To watch the video, please click the play button.

Thank you for helping FilipinoPod101! We’re serious about making learning Filipino fun.

Learn a little Filipino everyday with the free Filipino Word of the Day Widget. Check back daily for more vocabulary!

martilyo hammer (noun)

Mayroon lang akong isang martilyo at iilang disturnilyador sa aking toolbox.
In my toolbox I only have one hammer and a few screwdrivers.

pangalmot na martilyo
claw hammer

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Learn a little Filipino everyday with the free Filipino Word of the Day Widget. Check back daily for more vocabulary!

kilo kilogram (noun)

Isang kilo ay halos 2.2 libra.
One kilogram is roughly 2.2 pounds.

22 kilo
22 kilograms

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Learn 4 honest reasons you need Filipino slang words and why they are so vital to truly learning and mastering the language.

Teachers may normally cringe at the thought of their students learning Filipino slang words. After all, slang words and phrases are typically defined as being grammatically incorrect. So why would your teacher want you to spend time learning the “wrong way” to speak Filipino? Here are 4 of the top reasons why you should study slang words and expressions when learning Filipino or any new language.

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1. Native Speakers Use Slang Expressions in Everyday Conversation

If you are going to study a foreign language and plan to use it to speak with native speakers, then you have to learn slang words and expressions. Otherwise, just using formal expressions and grammar may alienate you from native speakers and make it more difficult to establish a real connection. So it is best to at least learn some common slang words and expressions if you’re planning to meet or speak socially with someone.

2. Slang Words Are Used All Throughout Filipino Culture

If you turn on any popular Filipino TV show, listen to any song, or watch any movie, you are quickly going to see the value of learning Filipino slang phrases. Just like everyday conversations between native speakers, Filipino culture is filled with slang phrases and expressions. Without at least some knowledge of the more common slang phrases, popular culture and most conversations will be very confusing and potentially alienating.

Want to Amaze Native Speaker? Be a Good Lover? Our Vocabulary Lists are Made for You!

3. Slang Expressions Help You Better Express Your True Thoughts and Feelings

Only relying on formal grammar and vocabulary is very limiting, especially in social situations. Just like in your native language, using the appropriate Filipino slang words can help you express a broader range of emotions, thoughts, and feelings.

4. Proper Use of Slang Makes You Sound More Natural

We’ve all met foreigners who technically used formal language perfectly but still sounded odd and well….foreign. But when you use the right slang words and expressions, you will sound more natural and like a true native speaker. If you notice, even most politicians include a sprinkling of slang expressions and words throughout their speeches to help them sound more natural and to better connect with the audience.

The Dark Side of Slang Expressions

Learning Filipino slang words can indeed help you sound more natural, better understand the people and culture, and make integration much easier. However, there is a dark side: using the wrong slang expressions can also make you look foolish, uneducated, and potentially disrespectful.

But how do you know which slang words or phrases to use and when?

The truth is that you can’t learn the most modern and appropriate slang words in textbooks or formal classroom settings. By the time the information gets incorporated into a formal curriculum, it’s already outdated and no longer in use by actual Filipino people. And while you can learn current slang expressions from Filipino TV shows, movies, songs, and games, you may not understand the context. If that happens, you may use the right Filipino slang words but in the wrong situation and still look like a fool or possibly even offend someone.

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So where can you learn current slang expressions and the right context in which to use them?

At FilipinoPod101, native speaking instructors create audio and video lessons that can include slang expressions and words. Our instructors provide context and examples for all the Filipino slang words used in any lesson to make sure students understand the right time and place to use them.

Filipino slang words and expressions may be grammatically incorrect but they are vital to truly understanding and immersing yourself in the culture. In fact, it will be very difficult to fully understand any movie, TV show, song, game, or even 1-on-1 conversation without knowing a few of the more common slang expressions.

However, it is important to learn the proper context and use of even popular slang expressions or you may come across as confusing, disrespectful, or uneducated.
At FilipinoPod101, you’ll learn how to use slang phrases and words to draw the right attention and avoid these problems.

Don’t forget to sign up for a Free Lifetime Account on FilipinoPod101.com to access tons of FREE lessons and features to become fluent in Filipino!

Learn a little Filipino everyday with the free Filipino Word of the Day Widget. Check back daily for more vocabulary!

alugbati spinach (noun)

Kulitis ay isang mayamang mapagkukunan ng iron at kalsyum.
Spinach is a rich source of iron and calcium.

dahon ng kulitis
spinach leaves

ensaladang kulitis
spinach salad

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Learn a little Filipino everyday with the free Filipino Word of the Day Widget. Check back daily for more vocabulary!

agila eagle (noun)

Ang agila ay lumilipad sa himpapawid.
The eagle is flying in the sky.

Ang agila ay lumilipad at mabilis na humablot ng isda.
The eagle is flying and swooping for fish.

kalbong agila
bald eagle

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