Survival Tagalog. Joi Barrios

      HI! GOODBYE! GREETINGS

      Here are some common greetings and responses:

       How are you?

      Kumusta ka?

      (Ku-mus-tà ka)

       I’m fine. Thank you.

      Mabuti. Salamat.

      (Ma-bu-ti. Sa-la-mat)

       I’m okay.

      Okay lang.

      (O-kay lang)

      It is not unusual to use Miss, Mister, Mrs. and Ms. with surnames. However, we have included here their equivalents in Filipino/Tagalog in case you may hear these words spoken in the country. Also, know that Filipinos have a fondness for titles. For example, professionals are usually addressed in this manner: “Doctor Lumbera,” “Engineer Icasiano,” or “Attorney Taguiwalo.”

       Good morning, Mr. Cruz!

      Magandang umaga, Ginoong Cruz!

      (Ma-gan-dáng u-ma-ga, Gi-no-ong Cruz)

       Good afternoon, Mrs. Santos!

      Magandang hapon, Ginang Santos!

      (Ma-gan-dáng ha-pon, Gi-nang San-tos)

       Good evening, Miss Pineda!

      Magandang gabi, Binibining Pineda!

      (Ma-gan-dáng ga-bi, Bi-ni-bi-ning Pineda)

      When you are visiting a friend’s house, knocking or using the doorbell, and would like to signify your presence:

       I am here!

      Tao po! (literally, there is a person here!)

      (Ta-o po)

       Please come in!

      Tuloy po kayo!

      (Tu-loy po ka-yó)

      To be more polite, use the honorifics “po” and “ho” and the second person plural “kayo” instead of “ka.” For example, when addressing an older person, say:

       How are you?

      Kumusta po kayo?

      (Ku-mus-ta po ka-yó)

       I’m fine. Thank you.

      Mabuti po. Salamat.

      (Ma-bu-ti po. Sa-la-mat)

       Good morning!

      Magandang umaga po!

      (Ma-gan-dáng u-ma-ga po)

      When meeting each other on the street, Filipinos also like to ask each other where they have been or where they are going. This is not to be interpreted as nosiness, but just as a common way of greeting.

       Where did you come from?

      Saan ka galing?

      (Sa-án ka gá-ling)

      Saan po kayo galing? (formal)

      (Sa-án po ka-yó ga-ling)

       I came from my house.

      Galing ako sa bahay ko.

      (Ga-ling a-kó sa ba-hay ko)

      Galing po ako sa bahay ko. (formal)

      (Ga-ling po a-kó sa ba-hay ko)

       I came from ___ (insert place).

      Galing ako sa ___.

      (Ga-ling a-kó sa ___ )

       Where are you going?

      Saan ka pupunta?

      (Sa-án ka pu-pun-ta)

      Saan po kayo pupunta? (formal)

      (Sa-án po ka-yó pu-pun-ta)

       I am going to ___.

      Pupunta ako sa ___.

      (Pú-pun-ta a-kó sa___ )

      In these next common greetings/sentences, the formal form is used because most of the situations are interactions with strangers. Also, it is better to err on the side of “politeness.” In some cases, both the formal and informal phrases are given. When you are speaking to someone familiar to you and/or of the same age simply omit the word “po.”

       Do you speak English?

      Marunong po ba kayong mag-Ingles? (formal)

      (Ma-ru-nong po ba ka-yóng mag-Ing-gles)

       I understand.

      Naiintindihan ko po.

      (Na-í-in-tín-di-hán ko po)

       I don’t understand.

      Hindi ko po naiintindihan.

      (Hin-dî ko po na-í-in-tín-di-hán)

       Can you speak slowly please?

      Pakibagalan po ninyo ang pagsasalita. (formal)

      (Pa-kí-ba-gá-lan