100+ basic Tagalog phrases (with English translations)
Everything you need for Manila, the provinces, or your first chat with a Filipino friend.
Tagalog — the base of Filipino, the national language — is understood practically everywhere in the Philippines. It’s also beginner-friendly to pronounce: say every letter, keep the five vowels pure (a e i o u as in Spanish), and you’ll be understood. Two words before you start: ako is “I” and ka is “you” — you’ll see them everywhere. And adding po to anything makes it respectful.
Magandang umagaGood morning
Magandang tanghaliGood noon
Magandang haponGood afternoon
Magandang gabiGood evening
Kumusta ka?How are you?
Mabuti naman, salamatI'm fine, thanks
Ikaw, kumusta ka?And you, how are you?
Anong pangalan mo?What's your name?
Ako si ___I am ___
Taga saan ka?Where are you from?
Taga-___ akoI'm from ___
Ikinagagalak kitang makilalaPleased to meet you (formal)
Ingat ka!Take care!
PaalamGoodbye (formal)
Sige, una na akoOkay, I'll head off (the everyday goodbye)
Kita tayo bukasSee you tomorrow
Add po to any sentence to make it respectful; opo is the polite yes. With elders and strangers, po is not optional — it is good manners itself.
po / oporespect marker / polite yes
Salamat poThank you (respectful)
Maraming salamat poThank you very much
Walang anumanYou're welcome
Pasensya na poMy apologies / please bear with me
Makikiraan poExcuse me, coming through
PakiusapPlease (a plea)
Paki- + verbplease do — pakiulit (please repeat), pakiabot (please pass)
Hindi poNo (polite)
Sandali lang poJust a moment
Marunong ka ba ng English?Do you speak English?
Hindi ko maintindihanI don't understand
Naiintindihan koI understand
Pakiulit poPlease repeat that
Bagalan mo lang poPlease slow down
Anong ibig sabihin nito?What does this mean?
Paano sabihin ang ___ sa Tagalog?How do you say ___ in Tagalog?
Hindi ko alamI don't know
Native numbers count things; for money, time, and often age, everyday speech switches to Spanish numbers (bente, singkwenta, alas-dos…).
isa, dalawa, tatloone, two, three
apat, lima, animfour, five, six
pito, walo, siyam, sampuseven, eight, nine, ten
bente / singkwentatwenty / fifty (Spanish, for money)
Magkano?How much?
Ilan?How many?
Saan ang ___?Where is ___?
Nasaan ang CR?Where is the bathroom?
dito / diyan / doonhere / there / over there
kaliwa / kananleft / right
Diretso lang poJust go straight
Malapit lang ba?Is it near?
Malayo pa ba?Is it still far?
Para po!Stop here please! (jeepney)
Bayad po!Here's my fare! (passed hand-to-hand)
Magkano ang pamasahe?How much is the fare?
Gutom na akoI'm hungry
Uhaw akoI'm thirsty
Kain tayo!Let's eat! (said to anyone nearby — accept or decline politely)
Ang sarap!So delicious!
Busog na akoI'm full
Tubig po, isaOne water, please
Isang kape poOne coffee, please
Maanghang ba ito?Is this spicy?
Ano ang masarap dito?What's good here?
Magkano lahat?How much for everything?
Magkano ito?How much is this?
Ang mahal naman!That's so expensive!
Mura langThat's cheap
Tawad naman po?A discount, please? (markets only, never malls)
Meron ba kayong ___?Do you have ___?
Titingin lang poI'm just looking
Kukunin ko na itoI'll take this one
Wala na po ba?Is there nothing left?
Ang init ngayon!It's so hot today!
Umuulan na namanIt's raining again
Anong trabaho mo?What's your job?
Ilang taon ka na?How old are you?
May asawa ka na ba?Are you married?
Ang ganda moYou're beautiful
Ang gwapo moYou're handsome
Mahal kitaI love you
Tara, tambay tayoCome on, let's hang out
Tulong!Help!
Tumawag kayo ng pulis!Call the police!
Kailangan ko ng doktorI need a doctor
Masakit ang ulo koMy head hurts
Masakit ang tiyan koMy stomach hurts
Nawawala akoI'm lost
Mag-ingat kaBe careful
These little words are what make you sound local — sprinkle them and you stop sounding like a textbook.
Grabe!Whoa! / intense!
Talaga?Really?
Diba?Right? Isn't it?
namansoftener — "Ang mahal naman!"
palaoh, it turns out — "Ikaw pala!"
kasibecause — "Traffic kasi!"
bastabasically / just because
sanahopefully — "Sana all!" (wish that were me!)
Ayos!Nice! / all good
Sige na ngaOh fine, alright
Bahala naCome what may
Joke lang!Just kidding!
Hala!Oh no! / wow!
Tara na!Let's go!
Uy!Hey! (friendly surprise)
Stress matters in Tagalog — PU-no is a tree, pu-NO is full. Vowels never reduce the way English ones do, ng is a single sound even at the start of a word (ngayon — now), and the little word mga is pronounced “ma-NGA”. Every phrase above has natural audio in the Bisdak na! app — listen and repeat out loud.
Ready to actually speak Bisaya?
Bisdak na! takes you from zero to conversational with bite-size lessons, audio, stories, and smart flashcards. No account needed. Free forever.
Start learning free 🌞Tagalog greetings: good morning, how are you & more
How to learn Tagalog: a practical guide
Bisdak na! · Free forever · About · Contact · Privacy · Terms