In this lesson you will learn everyday Filipino greetings and goodbyes. You will practice phrases for different times of day and for showing respect to elders, and you will hear them in a short conversation.
Objectives
- Greet someone in Filipino at different times of day.
- Use polite forms with elders and new acquaintances.
- Respond naturally in short greeting and goodbye exchanges.
Phrases
Hello / How are you?
Everyday greeting and how-are-you question; works with friends and family. Add po with elders or new acquaintances: Kumusta po?Good morning, po.
Polite morning greeting. Po is a politeness particle, not sir or madam.Good afternoon, po.
Polite afternoon greeting. Po is a politeness particle, not sir or madam.Goodbye, po.
Polite goodbye. Po is a politeness particle, not sir or madam.Take care.
Often said to friends.Explanations
Everyday hello and how are you
Kumusta? is the everyday way to say hello and ask how someone is. It works with friends and family. With an elder or someone you have just met, add po: Kumusta po? The reply Mabuti naman means I'm doing well; add po for politeness: Mabuti naman po.
Greetings for times of day
Magandang umaga means good morning and Magandang hapon means good afternoon. Maganda is an adjective meaning beautiful or good, and it links to the time word with -ng: magandang umaga, magandang hapon. Add po after the greeting when speaking to an elder, a teacher, or anyone you want to show respect to.
Saying goodbye and take care
Paalam po is a polite goodbye, and Ingat ka means take care, often said to friends. Po is a politeness particle, not a form of address; it does not mean sir or madam. Keep po short and clear at the end of the phrase.
Dialogue
Good morning, po.
Good morning, po. How are you, po?
I'm doing well, po. And you?
I'm doing well too, po. Goodbye, po.
Pronunciation
Listen closely to the recording, then repeat each phrase aloud and copy the speaker's rhythm and intonation. Say the phrases several times until they feel comfortable. For the polite forms, keep po short and clear at the end of the phrase.
Common mistake
Treating po as if it meant sir or madam, for example translating Magandang umaga po. as Good morning, sir/madam.
Po is a politeness particle, not a form of address. Magandang umaga po. means Good morning, po. Add po after a greeting when speaking to an elder, a teacher, or anyone you want to show respect to.
Practice
Listen to the recording and repeat the casual greeting used with a friend.
Listen to the recording, then repeat it aloud and copy the speaker's rhythm and intonation.
Show answer
Kumusta?Kumusta? is the everyday way to say hello and ask how someone is. It works with friends and family.
Listen to the recording and repeat the polite morning greeting used with an elder.
Listen to the recording, then repeat it aloud and copy the speaker's rhythm and intonation.
Show answer
Magandang umaga po.Magandang umaga po. is a polite morning greeting. Po is a politeness particle, not sir or madam.
Listen to the recording and repeat the polite goodbye.
Listen to the recording, then repeat it aloud and copy the speaker's rhythm and intonation.
Show answer
Paalam po.Paalam po. is a polite goodbye. Po is a politeness particle, not sir or madam.
Use Kumusta? with friends and family, add po for elders and new acquaintances, and match your greeting to the time of day. Paalam po is a polite goodbye, and Ingat ka means take care.
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