By Eden C. Navia
The Philippines has over 150 languages and dialects spoken in the different regions of the country. Filipino (based mostly on the Tagalog language) is the one of the two official languages of the Philippines, the other is English.
| A | As in cat. |
| E | As in get. |
| I | As in king |
| O | As in boy |
| U | As in June |
| NG | |
| G | Always hard |
| R | Always Rolling |
| H | Always aspirated |
| Ay | Like in My | Example: Bahay (house) |
| Aw | Like in Count | Example: Araw (Sun/day) |
| Iw | Pronounced: ee-oo | Example: Baliw (crazy) |
| Oy | Pronounced as Oi | Example: Kayoy (wood) |
Basics
| ENGLISH | ROMBLOMANON | FILIPINO |
| Yes | Oo | Oo/Opo |
| No | Indi | Hindi (po) |
| None | Waya | Wala |
| Please | Paki | Pakiusap |
| Thank you | Salamat | Salamat po |
| You’re welcome | Walang anuman | Walang anuman (po) |
| What is your name? | Ano ngayan mo? | Ano pangalan mo? |
| I am… | Ako si. . . | Ako si. . . |
| Who | Sin-o | Sino |
| What | Ano | Ano |
| When | Sauno | Kailan |
| Where | Diin | Saan |
| Why | Basi | Bakit |
| How | Pauno | Paano |
| How much? | Pila | Magkano |
| You | Ikaw (singular) Kamo(plural) | Ikaw (singular) Kayo (plural) |
| I / Me | Ako | Ako |
| We / Us | Kita | Tayo |
| They | Sinda | Sila |
| Yours | Imo | Iyo/Inyo |
| Mine | Akon | Akin |
| Theirs | Sainda | Kanila |
| And | Kag | At |
| Of | Ng (object) Ni (person) | Ng (object) Ni (person) |
| Is | Ay | Ay |
Language Difficulties
| ENGLISH | ROMBLOMANON | FILIPINO |
I can’t speak Filipino
|
Indi ako intigo maghambay Tagalog.
|
Hindi ako marunong mag-Filipino.
|
Do you speak English?
|
Intigo ka mag-English?
|
Nakakapagsalita ka ng English?
|
Do you understand English?
|
Nakaka-intindi ka ba ng English?
|
Nakakaintindi ka ng English?
|
How do you say…?
|
Paano mo ihambay. . .
|
Paano po sabihin(g). . .
|
I don’t understand
|
Indi ako ka-intindi.
|
Hindi ko maintindihan.
|
Greetings
| ENGLISH | ROMBLOMANON | FILIPINO |
How are you?
|
Kumusta ka?
|
Kumusta (po)?
|
Good morning
|
Maayong aga.
|
Magandang umaga.
|
Good
|
Maayo nga alas-dose.
|
Magandang tanghali.
|
Good afternoon
|
Maayong hapon.
|
Magandang hapon.
|
Good evening
|
Maayong gab-i.
|
Magandang gabi.
|
Goodbye
|
Babay
|
Paalam
|
Take Care
|
Ingat! Pakaayo lang.
|
Ingat
|
Getting Around
| ENGLISH | ROMBLOMANON | FILIPINO |
How much to go to…
|
Pila plite pakadto didto sa. . .
|
Magkano (po) sa. . .
|
How do I go to…
|
Pauno pagkadto sa. . .
|
Paano (po) pumunta sa. . .
|
To pay
|
Bayad
|
Bayad (po)
|
To stop
| ||
Here
|
Dire
|
Dito
|
There
|
Didto
|
Commonly Used Adjectives
| ENGLISH | ROMBLOMANON | FILIPINO |
Beautiful
|
Gwapa
|
Maganda
|
Handsome
|
Gwapo
|
Guwapo
|
Good
|
Maayo
|
Mabuti
|
Kind
|
Mabuot
|
Mabait
|
Delicious
|
Manamit
|
Masarap
|
Big
|
Mabahoy
|
Malaki
|
Small
|
Maisot
|
Maliit
|
Happy
|
Nalipay
|
Masaya
|
Sad
|
Nalangkag
|
Malungkot
|
Shallow
|
Mababaw
|
Mababaw
|
Deep
|
Madayom
|
Malalim
|
Hot
|
Mainit
|
Mainit
|
Cold
|
Malamig
|
Malamig
|
Under
|
Sa idayom
|
Sa ilalim
|
Over
|
Sa ibabaw
|
Sa ibabaw
|
Family
| ENGLISH | ROMBLOMANON | FILIPINO |
Grandmother
|
Lola
|
Lola
|
Grandfather
|
Lolo
|
Lolo
|
Mother
|
Mamay/Nanay
|
Nanay
|
Father
|
Tatay
|
Tatay
|
Big Brother
|
Manong
|
Kuya
|
Big Sister
|
Manang
|
Ate
|
Around the House
| ENGLISH | ROMBLOMANON | FILIPINO |
House
|
Bayay
|
Bahay
|
Living Room
|
Sala
|
Sala
|
Kitchen
|
Kusina
|
Kusina
|
Toilet
|
Banyo
|
CR/Banyo
|
Bedroom
|
Kwarto
|
Kwarto
|
Eating Time
| ENGLISH | ROMBLOMANON | FILIPINO |
Let’s eat!
|
Makaon na kita.
|
Kain na (po) tayo.
|
I’m hungry
|
Gutom na ako.
|
Gutom na (po) ako.
|
I’m full
|
Busog na ako.
|
Busog na (po) ako.
|
I’m thirsty
|
Uhaw ako.
|
Nauuhaw ako.,
|
Breakfast
|
Pamahaw
|
Almusal
|
Lunch
|
Igma
|
Tanghalian
|
Dinner
|
Ihapon
|
Hapunan
|
Can I have some…?
|
Pwede mangayo ako abi ng. . .
|
Pahingi (po) ng. . .
|
Please pass the…?
|
Paki-abot ng. . .
|
Paki-abot ng. . .
|
Rice
|
Kan-on
|
Kanin
|
Viand
|
Suya
|
Ulam
|
Fish
|
Isda
|
Isda
|
Meat
|
Karne
|
Karne
|
Pork
|
Baboy
|
Baboy
|
Chicken
|
Manok
|
Manok
|
Beef
|
Baka
|
Baka
|
Vegetables
|
Utan
|
Gulay
|
Fruits
|
Prutas
|
Prutas
|
Water
|
Tubi
|
Tubig
|
Milk
|
Gatas
|
Gatas
|
Coffee
|
Kape
|
Kape
|
Tea
|
Tsaa
|
Tsaa
|
Bread
|
Tinapay
|
Tinapay
|
Salt
|
Asin
|
Asin
|
Pepper
|
Paminta
|
Paminta
|
Days of the Week
| ENGLISH | ROMBLOMANON | FILIPINO |
Monday
|
Lunes
|
Lunes
|
Tuesday
|
Martes
|
Martes
|
Wednesday
|
Miyerkules
|
Miyerkules
|
Thursday
|
Huwebes
|
Huwebes
|
Friday
|
Biyernes
|
Biyernes
|
Saturday
|
Sabado
|
Sabado
|
Sunday
|
Domingo
|
Linggo
|
Inside the Classroom
| ENGLISH | ROMBLOMANON | FILIPINO |
Child/Children
|
Unga/mga unga
|
Bata/mga bata
|
Sit
|
Pungko
|
Upo
|
Stand
|
Tindog
|
Tayo
|
Quiet
|
Hipos
|
Tahimik
|
Listen
|
Pamati
|
Makinig
|
Come in
|
Suyod
|
Pasok
|
Go out
|
Luwas
|
Labas
|
Do you want to…?
|
Gusto nindo mag-. .
|
Gusto n’yo bang. . .
|
Sing
|
Kanta
|
Kumanta
|
Draw
|
Drawing
|
Mag-Drawing
|
Write
|
Sulat
|
Magsulat
|
Eat
|
Kaon
|
Kumain
|
Dance
|
Saot
|
Sumayaw
|
Read
|
Basa
|
Magbasa
|
School Building
| ENGLISH | ROMBLOMANON | FILIPINO |
Hammer
|
Martilyo
|
Martilyo
|
Saw
|
Lagari
|
Lagari
|
Nails
|
Mga lansang
|
Mga pako
|
Drill
|
Barina
|
Barina
|
Measuring Tape
|
Measuring tape
|
Pulgadera
|
Spade
|
Pala
|
Pala
|
Crowbar
|
Tara-tara
|
Bara
|
Paint
|
Pintura
|
Pintura
|
Wood
|
Kahoy
|
Kahoy
|
Cement
|
Semento
|
Semento
|
Bamboo
|
Kawayan
|
Kawayan
|
Metal
|
Bakal
|
Bakal
|
Sand
|
Baybay
|
Buhangin
|
Cut
|
Utod/putol
|
Putol
|
Dig
|
Kutkot
|
Hukay
|
Measure
|
Sukat
|
Sukat
|
Build/ make
|
Trabaho
|
Gawa
|
To hammer
|
Puypog
|
Pukpok
|
Fix the…
|
Kaayuha ang. . .
|
Ayusin ang. . .
|
Window
|
Bintana
|
Bintana
|
Roof
|
Bubong
|
Bubong
|
Wall
|
Dingding
|
Dingding
|
Ceiling
|
kisame
|
Kisame
|
Post
|
Haligi
|
Poste/haligi
|
Health
| ENGLISH | ROMBLOMANON | FILIPINO |
Fever
|
Sagnat
|
Lagnat
|
Colds
|
Sip-on
|
Sipon
|
Cough
|
Ubo
|
Ubo
|
Flu
|
Trangkaso
|
Trangkaso
|
Dizziness
|
Lipong
|
Pagkahilo
|
Vomiting
|
Suka
|
Pagsusuka
|
Painful
|
Masakit
|
Masakit
|
Head
|
Ulo
|
Ulo
|
Stomach
|
Tiyan
|
Tiyan
|
Ears
|
Talinga
|
Tenga
|
Nose
|
Ilong
|
Ilong
|
Eyes
|
Mata
|
Mata
|
Mouth
|
Baba
|
Bibig
|
Lips
|
Bibig
|
Labi
|
Chest
|
Dughan
|
Dibdib
|
Tongue
|
Dila
|
Dila
|
Breathe
|
Ginhawa
|
Hinga
|
Environment
| ENGLISH | ROMBLOMANON | FILIPINO |
Mangroves
|
Bakawan
|
Bakawan
|
Sea
|
Dagat
|
Dagat
|
Low Tide
|
Taob
|
Taob
|
High Tide
|
Hunas
|
Kati
|
Plant
|
Tanom
|
Tanim
|
Swim
|
Langoy
|
Langoy
|
Waves
|
Humbak
|
Alon
|
Fishing
|
Pagbunit
|
Mangisda
|
Boat (paddle boat)
|
Baroto
| |
Boat (motorized)
|
Motor
|
Bangkang de-motor
|
Bouy
|
Buya
|
Palutang
|
Fishnet
|
Pukot
|
Lambat
|
Fish cage/fish pen
|
Likom/pangulong
|
Pangulong
|
Numbers and Counting
| ENGLISH | ROMBLOMANON | FILIPINO |
1
|
Uno/usa
|
Isa
|
2
|
Dos
|
Dalawa
|
3
|
Tres
|
Tatlo
|
4
|
Kwatro
|
Apat
|
5
|
Singko
| |
6
|
Anim
| |
7
|
Siyete
|
Pito
|
8
|
Otso
|
Walo
|
9
|
Nuwebe
|
Siyam
|
10
|
Diyes
|
Sampu
|
11
|
Onse
|
Labing isa
|
12
|
Dose
|
Labing dalawa
|
13
|
Trese
|
Labing tatlo
|
14
|
Katorse
|
Labing apat
|
15
|
Kinse
|
Labing
|
16
|
Desi-sais
|
Labing anim
|
17
|
Desi-siyete
|
Labing pito
|
18
|
Desi-otso
|
Labing walo
|
19
|
Desi-nuwebe
|
Labing siyam
|
20
|
Bente
|
Dalawampu
|
20+
|
Bente + number
|
Dalawampu’t + number
|
30
|
Trenta
|
Tatlumpu
|
30+
|
Trenta y + number
|
Tatlumpu’t + number
|
40
|
Kuwarenta
|
Apatnapu
|
40+
|
Kuwarenta y + number
|
Apatnapu‘t+ number
|
50
|
Singkwenta
|
Limampu
|
50+
|
Singkwenta y + number
|
Limampu’t + number
|
60
|
Saisenta
|
Animnapu
|
60+
|
Saisenta y + number
|
Animnapu’t + number
|
70
|
Sitenta
|
Pitumpu
|
70+
|
Sitenta y + number
|
Pitumpu’t + number
|
80
|
Otsenta
|
Walumpu
|
80+
|
Otsenta y + number
|
Walumpu’t + number
|
90
|
nubenta
|
Siyamnapu
|
90+
|
Nubenta y + number
|
Siyamnapu’t + number
|
100
|
Sien
|
Isang daan
|
1,000
|
Mil
|
Libo
|
1,000,000
|
Isang milyon
|
