What Filipino (Tagalog) phrases should I learn before visiting the Philippines?

Greetings and goodbyes

Magandang umaga literally means "beautiful morning", and the same pattern gives magandang hapon (afternoon) and magandang gabi (evening). Kumusta works as hello and how are you at once. A quick double raise of the eyebrows is also a silent hi.

Paalam is the dictionary goodbye, but it is formal and mostly heard in films and writing. People actually say "bye", or ingat (take care). Most people simply say "nice to meet you" in English.

Polite essentials

Po and its yes form, opo, mark respect toward elders, superiors and strangers, including shop and restaurant staff.

There is no standalone word for please. Requests attach paki- to the verb, as in pakibagalan po (please slow down). In casual speech people just say "sorry po" or "excuse me po" in English; mawalang-galang na po is for formal moments.

Eating and drinking

In turo-turo (point-point) canteens, you point at the trays and say ito po. To ask for the bill, the English word is normal, or draw a rectangle in the air with your thumbs and index fingers. Most Filipino food is mild, though Bicol-style dishes can be hot.

At a drinking session (tagay), one glass is often passed round and refilled by a pourer, the tanggero. Kumain ka na? (have you eaten?) is usually a greeting, not an invitation.

Shopping and markets

Haggling is expected at tiangge (bazaar stalls), palengke (wet markets), Divisoria in Manila, ukay-ukay (secondhand clothing) and street stalls. Malls such as SM and Robinsons are fixed-price. Keep it friendly, and buying several items helps.

Calling a vendor ate (AH-teh, older sister) or kuya (KOO-ya, older brother) is a polite, friendly way to address them. Markets and jeepneys run on cash; malls and hotels take cards.

Getting around

On a jeepney, pass your fare forward with pakiabot po ng bayad and call para po! when you want to get off; exact change helps. CR (comfort room) is the everyday word for toilet in both Tagalog and Philippine English. Expect directions to be given by pointing with the lips rather than a finger.

Outside the Tagalog-speaking regions, the local language changes: in Cebu, for example, most people speak Cebuano. English works everywhere, and Filipino is widely understood.

Numbers 1-10, 100 and 1,000

Tagalog numbers are used for counting things, but clock time uses Spanish-derived numbers (alas tres is 3 o'clock). Prices are commonly said in English, and markets and fares mix in Spanish forms such as bente (20) and singkwenta (50).

Help and emergencies

911 is the national emergency number for police, fire and ambulance. Because English is an official language, English is the safest choice when it matters.

Etiquette that matters more than words

Mano po. Filipinos greet elders by taking the back of the elder's hand and touching it to their forehead, a sign of respect and a request for a blessing. Visitors aren't expected to do it, but you will see it.

Point with your lips, not your finger. Pointing at people with an index finger can seem rude; Filipinos point with pursed lips or an open hand. "Psst" is a common way to get someone's attention but impolite in formal settings, and a palm-down "come here" wave can come across as rude from a foreigner.

Ate, kuya and po. Address older strangers as ate or kuya and add po. Hosts may insist you eat after you first decline: that is hospitality, not pressure. Schedules often run late ("Filipino time").

For more on what to expect, see things to know before visiting the Philippines.

Frequently asked questions