<!-- tagalog phrasebook -->
Essential Tagalog phrases
for travellers (printable)
how to say hello in tagalog
Kumusta — koo-MOOS-tah — is how you say hello in Tagalog. It works at any hour, anywhere the language is spoken, with anyone. Pair it with Salamat (sah-LAH-maht) for thank you and you already have the two words you will use most.
Below are 36 phrases worth knowing before you land, grouped by the situation you will need them in. Every one has a plain-English respelling — stressed syllable in capitals — because IPA is no use to anyone standing at a pharmacy counter. The Philippines — around 80 million speakers of Filipino, of which Tagalog is the basis. One of roughly 180 languages in the country. Also searched as Philippines, Filipino.
take it with you
The whole card, on one page
All 36 phrases on a single sheet — print it, fold it into a passport, or keep it on your phone. Free, no signup, no watermark.
The essentials
The six words that carry most of a trip.
| English | Tagalog |
|---|---|
| Hello | Kumustakoo-MOOS-tah |
| Goodbye | Paalampah-AH-lahm |
| Please | Pakiusappah-kee-OO-sahpThe prefix paki- on a verb does the same job: pakibigay = please give. |
| Thank you | Salamatsah-LAH-mahtSalamat po to anyone older than you. |
| Yes / No | Oo / HindiOH-oh / hin-DEE |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pasensya napah-SEN-shah nah |
Getting by
What to say when the conversation outruns you.
| English | Tagalog |
|---|---|
| Do you speak English? | Nagsasalita ka ba ng Ingles?nahg-sah-sah-lee-TAH kah bah nahng ing-LES |
| I don't understand | Hindi ko naiintindihanhin-DEE koh nah-ee-in-tin-dee-HAHN |
| Could you repeat that? | Pwede mong ulitin?PWEH-deh mohng oo-LEE-tin |
| Please speak slowly | Dahan-dahan lang poDAH-hahn DAH-hahn lahng poh |
| My name is… | Ako si…ah-KOH see |
| Nice to meet you | Ikinagagalak kong makilala kaee-kee-nah-gah-GAH-lahk kohng mah-kee-LAH-lah kah |
Getting around
Streets, stations and the one question everyone needs.
| English | Tagalog |
|---|---|
| Where is…? | Nasaan ang…?nah-sah-AHN ahng |
| How do I get to…? | Paano pumunta sa…?pah-AH-noh poo-MOON-tah sah |
| Where is the toilet? | Nasaan ang banyo?nah-sah-AHN ahng BAHN-yoh |
| Left / Right | Kaliwa / Kanankah-lee-WAH / KAH-nahn |
| Straight ahead | Diretsodee-RET-soh |
| Is it far? | Malayo ba?mah-LAH-yoh bah |
Food and drink
Ordering, allergies, and asking for the bill.
| English | Tagalog |
|---|---|
| A table for two, please | Mesa para sa dalawaMEH-sah PAH-rah sah dah-lah-WAH |
| The menu, please | Pakibigay ang menupah-kee-bee-GAI ahng MEH-noo |
| I would like… | Gusto ko ng…GOOS-toh koh nahng |
| Water, please | Tubig poTOO-big poh |
| I am allergic to… | Allergic ako sa…ah-LER-jik ah-KOH sah |
| The bill, please | Pakibigay ang billpah-kee-bee-GAI ahng bil |
Shopping and money
Prices, cards, and politely not buying anything.
| English | Tagalog |
|---|---|
| How much is it? | Magkano?mahg-KAH-noh |
| That's too expensive | Masyadong mahalmah-SHAH-dohng mah-HAHL |
| Do you take cards? | Tumatanggap ba kayo ng card?too-mah-tahng-GAHP bah kah-YOH nahng kard |
| I am just looking | Tumitingin lang akotoo-mee-TEE-ngin lahng ah-KOH |
| Do you have…? | Meron ba kayong…?MEH-rohn bah kah-YOHNG |
| A receipt, please | Pakibigay ang resibopah-kee-bee-GAI ahng reh-SEE-boh |
Emergencies
Worth reading once before you need them.
| English | Tagalog |
|---|---|
| Help! | Tulong!TOO-lohng |
| Call the police | Tumawag ng pulistoo-MAH-wahg nahng poo-LEES |
| Call an ambulance | Tumawag ng ambulansyatoo-MAH-wahg nahng ahm-boo-LAHN-shah |
| I need a doctor | Kailangan ko ng doktorkah-ee-LAH-ngahn koh nahng DOK-tor |
| I am lost | Nawawala akonah-wah-wah-LAH ah-KOH |
| Where is the hospital? | Nasaan ang ospital?nah-sah-AHN ahng ohs-pee-TAHL |
<!-- saying it right -->
Four things that fix
most of the accent
Add po to anything to make it respectful
A tiny particle that carries enormous weight. Said to anyone older or in any formal setting: Salamat po. Oo po. Leaving it out with an elder reads as rude in a way no amount of tone can rescue.
Taglish is normal, not lazy
English is an official language of the Philippines and everyday speech mixes the two constantly. Substituting an English word mid-sentence is exactly what locals do.
Kumusta comes from the Spanish "¿cómo está?"
Three centuries of Spanish rule left several thousand loanwords — mesa, kabayo, kutsara. If a word looks Spanish, it very likely is, and pronounced the same way.
Stress placement changes meaning
Vowels are pure and simple, but where the emphasis lands does real work. The capitals below are worth following.
Spotted a mistake in the Tagalog? Tell us and we will fix it.
You will not remember
all 36
Nobody does. OmniTalk speaks Tagalog for you in real time — point the camera at a menu, or put the phone between you and let it translate both sides of the conversation as you talk. It works offline once you download the language, so it keeps going when your roaming does not.