Let's Speak Tagalog Lesson #2: Mga Simpleng Pagbati (Part 1)

Kamusta ka? This is Vincent Li and this is Let's Speak Tagalog Lesson #2. I hope you enjoy our first lesson. After you know how Tagalog words are pronounced, we will now move on how to greet someone in the Philippines.

The first phrase that we have is Kamusta ka.

How are you?

The most common Tagalog respond is "Ayos naman! Ikaw?" or "Mabuti naman! Ikaw?"

I'm good and you? 

But you can just simply say, "Mabuti. Ikaw?"

If you want to say you're really good. "Mabuting mabuti!"

If you want to say you're happy, say "Ito, masaya!"

If you want to say you're sad, say "Ito, malungkot!"

For someone you don't know, you may want to ask his name. "Anong pangalan mo?"

If you want to answer this question, say "Ako si ___________."

I am __________.

If you want to ask back, "Ikaw? Anong pangalan mo?"

When someone asks you, always ask back by saying "Ikaw?"

If you want to say nice to meet you, you can say it in English as "Nice to meet you." Some phrases used by Filipinos are already English. Most Filipinos do not use the Tagalog phrase "Kinagagalak kitang makilala." Most of us simply use "Nice to meet you" but of course, with Filipino accent.

The best response to this phrase is "Ganun din ako."

It literally translates to "I am the same."

Politeness is strictly observed by the Filipinos. You must talk to someone significantly elder than you politely, otherwise, you will sound rude. You have to talk politely to your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other elder people.

To sound polite, you just have to add po. Sometimes po is put somewhere in the sentence. But most of the times, it is placed at the end.

Example:

Someone asks you, "Kamusta ka?" To respond to someone older than you, say "Mabuti naman po. Kayo po?" Kayo means you in plural form.

Kamusta ka = Kamusta po kayo?

Mabuti naman. Ikaw? = Mabuti naman po. Kayo po?

Ito masaya. Ikaw? = Ito po. Masaya. Kayo po? 

Ito malungkot. Ikaw? = Ito po. Malungkot. Kayo po? 

Anong pangalan mo = Ano pong pangalan niyo? 

Ako si _____ = Ako po si

Nice to meet you = Nice to meet you po

Ganun din ako = Ganun din po ako.

Just practice on pronouncing this word and once you master this, starting a conversation will be easy for you.

So this is where our lesson ends. Let's see next time. Paalam!