Tagalog/Filipino 101

Welcome to the Forum or better yet Welcome to the Philippines!

The official language is called Filipino. The Filipino language is basically developed from the Tagalog dialect thus the common mistake of interchanging the terms Filipino and Tagalog.

In general, the Filipino people understands English well but many are too awkward to converse in the universal language and it will be helpful to know some local Filipino or Tagalog terms.

Some useful Filipino /Tagalog words/phrases:

Basic Greetings
Magandang Umaga------------------- Good Morning
Magandang Tanghali----------------- Good Afternoon
Magandang Gabi--------------------- Good Evening
Mabuhay---------------------------- Long Live
Maligayang Pagdating---------------- Welcome

Basic Conversation

Magkano po ito?--------------------- How much is this?
Anong oras na?---------------------- What time is it?
Nasan ako?-------------------------- Where am I?
Paano pumunta sa________?--------- How to get to_________?
Nasan po ang CR?--------------------Where is the comfort room?

Impress the locals by using these phrases but notice that they'll respond in English. Ain't it ironic?!

MABUHAY!

There is no such thing as Filipino language as of the moment.
As of today local experts are still designing a Filipino language--but they could not agree. A government could not legislate a language. A language should evolve and that most accept it as its lengua franca. But in the case of the Filipino, which is not a language, many would not accept it. Particularly those living in Visayas and Mindanao. In fact there are many who speak the Sugbuhanon language than the so-called Filipino language.
With the failure of any administration to legislate a language for the Filipinos, many legislators are now agreeable to revert the use of American English or English in general as the nation's medium of instruction.
In Japan or China, their medium of instruction is their own language -- for they have their own. But in the Philippines there is no Filipino language--only Tagalog language.
Sugbuhanon is even richer than Tagalog.For example the word "bana" which means husband. In Tagalog the husband is called asawa, which is Subbuhanon is the equivalent to wife.You see, Sugbuhanon has gender while Tagalog has none. Another world is "din-ha" or there, nearer to the speaker. In Tagalog its equivalent is "diyan" which is both near or far. Another is the word "inday" or girl. The male equivalent is "undo". Tagalog's equivalent is "nene", which could be a grown up woman, not necessarily a teenage girl.
When I was a kid, the medium of instruction was Sugbuhanon in Grade 1. Starting grade 2 the medium of instruction was English, mixed with Sugbuhanon. Thus, those who come from Visayas and Mindanao are fluent in English than those who come from Luzon. They are using Tagalog, which is a mixture of most Luzon languages and dialects.
Again, I still insist that there is no Filipino language as of the moment. So in the absence better the government to decree the use of English as medium of instruction in all levels, even in preschools and kindergarten. I learned my English in kindergarten.

Originally Posted by smallbird

Welcome to the Forum or better yet Welcome to the Philippines!

The official language is called Filipino. The Filipino language is basically developed from the Tagalog dialect thus the common mistake of interchanging the terms Filipino and Tagalog.

In general, the Filipino people understands English well but many are too awkward to converse in the universal language and it will be helpful to know some local Filipino or Tagalog terms.

Some useful Filipino /Tagalog words/phrases:

Basic Greetings
Magandang Umaga------------------- Good Morning
Magandang Tanghali----------------- Good Afternoon
Magandang Gabi--------------------- Good Evening
Mabuhay---------------------------- Long Live
Maligayang Pagdating---------------- Welcome

Basic Conversation

Magkano po ito?--------------------- How much is this?
Anong oras na?---------------------- What time is it?
Nasan ako?-------------------------- Where am I?
Paano pumunta sa________?--------- How to get to_________?
Nasan po ang CR?--------------------Where is the comfort room?

Impress the locals by using these phrases but notice that they'll respond in English. Ain't it ironic?!

MABUHAY!

As I said in my previous reply, there is no Filipino language--only Tagalog as language. Mabuhay, for example, is not specific. It is not long live, as you explain. Mabuhay Ka may mean more power to you, or you live long, or even welcome or even Have a nice day. Foreigners in the Philippines say Mabuhay as greetings, not long live. Mabuhay is a very encompassing word that even the natives could not even exactly what is the meaning of the word.
It has different meaning in each occasion it will be used. Tagalogs use the words by not the Filipinos in general. Because Tagalog is used in the capital, the leaders insist that all others in the country must know Tagalog.
When I was in Masbate City, only the people in the city speak Tagalog. The other inhabitants of the island speak a mixture of Subbuhanon, Ilonggo, Waray and other Philippine languages. Why? Because there is no Philippine language. Only TAgalog language as required by the Imperial Manila.

hey guys, i think Tagalog is a dialect and Filipino is the national language. Filipino includes different dialects like Tagalog and Bisaya. Based on researches that I've done, Filipino was designated in the 1987 Philippine Constitution.