More probable than not, you have met a Filipino or Filipina personally or online, worked or currently working with, or have been introduced to someone who is from the Philippines. Why not try to impress them with a greeting in their local language, Filipino or Pinoy in local slang. Or when you do get to visit the Philippines, try to impress the locals with your expanded vocabulary

In learning a new language, it’s important to start with the basics. So for today, Filipino language for Dummies 1 brings you the greetings..

The Ingrid Show brings you Pinoy for Dummies!

Helow! = Hello (hahaha)

Hay! = Hi! (Hay can also be used as a sigh of relief or desperation)

Kamusta po? = How are you? How are things? (When talking to someone older or of certain authority, PO is used to indicate respect. PO can be eliminated if you are talking to someone of the same age, a friend or someone familiar).

Magandang araw/umaga! = Good day! or Beautiful day (as maganda literally means beautiful)

Magandang hapon! = Good afternoon!

Magandang gabi! = Good evening!

Anong pangalan mo? = What’s your name?

Ang pangalan ko ay… = My name is…

Ako ay = I am… (i.e. Ako ay nagugutom = I am hungry, Ako ay inaantok = I am sleepy, Ako ay na-iihi = I need to weewee hehehe)

Salamat = Thank you

Paki = PleasePaalam = Good bye!
Ba-bye = Good bye! (informal)

*When talking to older people, remember to use po, ho (po and ho can be used alternately) and opo:

Nasaan po ang kubeta? = Where is the toilet?

Saan po ang airport? = Where is the airport?

Ako ho si John Smith! = I am John Smith!
Opo = Yes
Hindi ho = No

That’s it for now. Paalam! Hanggang sa muli (until next time)! ~Ingrid

Reposted with permission from Pinoy for Dummies by Ingrid Nieto.

Posted in Language, Philippines

This entry was posted on Friday, December 7th, 2007 at 10:09 am and is filed under Language, Philippines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.