What are the languages of the Philippines? Will I get by if I don’t know much English? Is Spanish still spoken? These are some of the questions you ask us most when you’re preparing a trip to the Philippines. It’s normal, the archipelago is special in this sense, since several cultures passed through and left their legacy in many ways, language among them.
Don’t worry, here we’ll tell you what is spoken in the Philippines, some curious details and useful phrases to get by during your trip. But before anything else, we’d like to say that you will be able to travel the country without stress even if your English isn’t perfect. One of the best things about the Philippines is that its people are very welcoming and willing to help beyond words, making themselves understood one way or another.
English as an official language in the Philippines
Did you know that English is one of the Philippines’ official languages? This language has been spoken in the archipelago since the U.S. occupation in 1898, especially from the 1940s, when Spanish stopped being used almost entirely and English had already been established in education at the beginning of the century. It is estimated that more than 20% of the Filipino population could understand and speak English before the middle of the 20th century.
Today, it is believed that almost 60% of the more than 107 million people that make up the Filipino population can speak English, although only 0.04% do so as a first language. This is because English is part of the elementary and secondary school curriculum. In addition, when they pursue university studies, many of the more technical subjects are studied with English-language textbooks. Therefore, you won’t find it difficult to communicate with a large part of the young people you meet on your trip.
One of the great advantages of traveling to the Philippines, compared to other Asian countries, is that you’ll have the chance to delve much deeper into its culture. If you speak a bit of English, you can talk with people easily and they’ll be happy to do so.
Almost all Philippine laws and judicial decisions are written in English. This language is also used in religion, the media, and business. On television and at the cinema, films are usually shown directly in English and subtitles are rarely added.
Of course, Philippine English has been evolving little by little and, besides having a different pronunciation—closer to American than to British—it also has its own words and expressions. Not to mention taglish, a way of speaking that constantly mixes English with Tagalog, mainly in Manila. To this you can add conyo English (yes, you read that right) or colegiala English, which mixes English, Spanish, and Tagalog. Wealthy kids are often called conyo or conyos, mainly in Manila. So, conyo English would be the posh way of speaking taglish. Surprised?
Study English in the Philippines?
As you can see, English is one of the main languages of the Philippines. If you add to that the good weather, the gorgeous islands you can visit, and how cheap it is to live here, many travelers decide to study English in the Philippines. In fact, it has been a common destination for decades for this purpose among Asians such as Japanese, Koreans, and Chinese.
Although Filipino English pronunciation is not, let’s say, as perfect as that of the British or Americans, we find the country perfect for learning the language, especially if you don’t have much fluency yet. In the early stages of learning, the most important thing is to learn grammar and simply get used to speaking, and in the Philippines you’ll achieve that for several reasons:
- Since courses are considerably more affordable, they tend to be longer, so you’ll have no choice but to jump in at the deep end.
- Unlike courses in much of the world, in the Philippines you’ll have the chance to take lots of private lessons or one-to-one, instead of being in a classroom with 10–12 more people.
- Many schools also have Australian, American, and British teachers, in case the accent worries you.
- You’ll have to speak it out on the street to get by, losing your shyness. In addition, Filipinos aren’t fussy and don’t expect perfect pronunciation, so they’ll try to understand you—unlike what happens in other English-speaking countries.
Where are English schools in the Philippines? Basically in big cities like Cebu, Manila, or Clark; but what we suggest is choosing islands like Boracay or Siquijor, where you’ll really feel that island life you came looking for.
Filipino or Tagalog in the Philippines
The constitution states that the national and official language, together with English, is Filipino or Pilipino. This is the standardized version of Tagalog with influences and vocabulary from Spanish, English, and other Philippine languages. The government created it to foster national unity in the Philippines after centuries of colonization—not without controversy among non‑speakers, mainly Cebuanos.
Tagalog comes from the Austronesian family, specifically the Malayo‑Polynesian branch. It is one of the most spoken languages in the world, with more than 100 million speakers distributed around the globe due to growing Filipino emigration to other regions, mainly the United States and Canada.
It is said that a third of Tagalog is possibly of Spanish origin. Largely, the words that have endured are those that did not exist as concepts before the Spaniards arrived or objects that were unknown. That’s why today in the Philippines you can hear silya (chair) or tinidor (fork), or the days of the week (huwebes for Thursday) or months (mayo). Numbers in Tagalog have their own words, but a version heavily based on Spanish is used to say age, tell the time, count money, or play. For example:
- 0 sero
- 1 uno
- 2 dos
- 3 tres
- 4 kwatro
- 5 singko
- 6 sais
- 17 disisyete
- 80 otsenta
- 900 nwebe syentos
- 1000 mil
As a curiosity, before the Europeans arrived, the writing system used was baybayin. In addition, Tagalog also has lots of dialects and accents, which usually correspond to the provinces where it is spoken.
People also use “oo” a lot accompanied by a quick eyebrow raise to say yes or to agree. This becomes “opo” when used to say yes to elders or to people you respect. In addition, “po” or “opo” are also used when addressing those respected people almost all the time. Pay attention when they speak—it’s super curious!
But who speaks Filipino or Tagalog?
Well, it depends on what is considered Filipino. For some, Filipino and Tagalog are the same. For others, it’s the sum of all Philippine languages. Meanwhile, many tend to think it’s Tagalog mixed with English and other Philippine languages—the way people speak in Greater Manila.
Filipino students receive classes in their native tongue until so‑called third grade (8–9 years old), and English and Filipino are treated as separate subjects. In secondary school, English and Filipino become the main languages in which all subjects are taught. Therefore, almost all Filipinos can understand both.
In general, you could say Filipino is the country’s lingua franca. In daily life, people usually speak the language of their region—their mother tongue. However, when they meet people who don’t speak it, they switch to Filipino or English. Yes, it’s possible to see two Filipinos talking directly to each other in English. It’s also common to use Filipino in more formal situations. As a rule of thumb, Filipinos can speak 2 or 3 languages without problems.
Even so, the places where Tagalog is mainly spoken are Central Luzon (Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and Zambales), Metro Manila, Southern Luzon, Calabarzon and MIMAROPA (Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Quezon, Marinduque, Mindoro, Romblon, and Palawan), Bicol (Camarines Norte and Camarines Sur), and Maguindanao.
Other languages of the Philippines
OK, English and Filipino are the official languages of the Philippines, but how about if we tell you that there are believed to be 187 native languages? It’s thought that, except for Chabacano (which we’ll talk about later), all of them belong to the Malayo‑Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family.
- Languages with 9 million or more native speakers: Tagalog, Cebuano (Bisaya), Ilocano, and Hiligaynon (Ilongo).
- Languages with 1–3 million native speakers: garay (waray), Bicolano, Pampango, Pangasinense, Maranao, Tausug, Maguindanaon, Chabacano, Karay‑a, and Surigaonon.
- Other, more or less minority Philippine languages: Aklanon, Boholano Cebuano, Cuyunon, Masbateño…
The 10 most important languages of the Philippines by province. © Thinking Machines
If you’re interested in going further, in this article you’ll find interactive maps of these Philippine languages and where they are mainly spoken.
On the other hand, because many people who speak minority languages are not literate, it’s estimated that there is a risk they’ll be lost as happened with Ata (Negros Oriental) and Katabaga (Quezon).
In addition, Arabic is spoken in the Philippines among Muslim Filipinos, mostly in religious contexts. This happens mainly in the south of the country, since Islamic schools in Mindanao teach the subject “Modern Standard Arabic.” You can also find people who speak Hokkien, Japanese, Mandarin, Tamil, Punjabi, Korean, and Malay. These are mainly descendants of those who migrated to the Philippines from other Asian territories.
The constitution also recognizes regional languages as auxiliary and official in their respective regions, although it doesn’t mention any in particular. It also mentions Spanish and Arabic, which can be promoted as voluntary or optional languages in the Philippines.
For writing, the Latin alphabet is now used, but other indigenous scripts were also used, such as Kulitan for Kapampangan (spoken mainly in Central Luzon) or Tagbanwa (used mainly in Palawan).
Spanish as one of the languages of the Philippines
The Philippines was an overseas territory of the so‑called Spanish Empire in Asia for three centuries, specifically from 1565 to 1898. Although it became the official language, at the beginning learning Spanish was only optional. In 1863, Isabella II of Spain decreed the creation of a public school system in all territories belonging to the empire and, therefore, public schools with instruction in Spanish appeared in much of the Philippines.
Spanish was also the language used in the courts and registries, as well as in the press, commerce, the arts, and politics. Even so, it is estimated that in 1898 (when the Philippines passed into U.S. hands) only 60% of the Filipino population could speak Spanish. This figure was higher in Manila, the capital and where most of the military, leaders, wealthy classes, and their descendants were concentrated.
With the U.S. occupation, English was introduced as the language of instruction. However, it was not until the second decade of the 20th century that education in any language other than English was prohibited. In addition, the official language in the justice system was Spanish until the end of 1912. In 1913 it became English, but Spanish could be used in legal matters if all parties agreed. It remained in the Philippines as a co‑official language, together with English, until 1987, when it came to be considered “optional and voluntary.”
For this reason, Spanish predominated over English even after the Americans arrived. However, it gradually disappeared until roughly the end of World War II. The destruction of Intramuros, which could be considered the center of Spanish culture and language in the Philippines, represented almost the end of the language. It is often said that the last Spanish‑speaking generation in the archipelago was the one born in the post‑war period, roughly until 1950.
Is Spanish spoken in the Philippines today? What is the future of Spanish in the Philippines?
Because of what we’ve told you above, many people wonder whether Spanish is still spoken in the Philippines. You’re probably already guessing the answer.
Today, it is believed that a little over 3 million Filipinos know a bit of Spanish and that fewer than 3,000 have it as a native language. Considering that there are currently more than 100 million Filipinos, the math is fairly clear and you won’t be hearing Spanish on the streets during your trip.
Even so, in recent years there has been a growing interest in learning Spanish. In 2010 the education ministries of Spain and the Philippines, the Instituto Cervantes, and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) signed an agreement to promote teaching in public schools and high schools in the Philippines.
Due to cuts in development cooperation and the limited contribution of funds by the Philippine government, these efforts have not progressed much; however, it’s true that Filipinos see it as an opportunity to advance in their careers. This is because the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry has become very prominent, and working in a call center offers a fairly competitive salary in a developing country like the Philippines. For this reason, it is increasingly important as one of the languages of the Philippines.
Chabacano, the “broken Spanish” spoken in the Philippines
As you can see, Spanish is not in its best shape and is barely spoken in the Philippines. However, there is a witness to the past that is still alive in some parts of the country and that, if you are a Spanish speaker, you’ll understand almost in its entirety. We’re talking about Chabacano (or chabavano), also known as “broken Spanish” and one of the curiosities of the Philippines. You only have to watch this video to get the idea:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqaDimxoXrM
This creole language was born in different areas of the archipelago, but where it took strongest root was in the south, specifically in the city of Zamboanga, Mindanao. Founded by the Spaniards in 1635, the natives needed to understand the Spanish foremen and soldiers, so they began to repeat their way of speaking. They were joined by a group of migrants from Cavite (a naval base), who had mixed their language with that of workers brought from Mexico.
The peoples who lived in this area of Mindanao did not have a common language either, so little by little Chabacano filled that space and Filipinos began to use it among themselves.
Roughly 85% of Chabacano vocabulary came from Spanish. However, it has been losing its purity, as it has mixed with English, Tagalog, and other Philippine languages. It is believed that only around 800,000 people in Zamboanga speak it and only 14% of the population over 16 can speak it well. However, they have the support of a sizable group of academics who want to prevent its disappearance, so there are local TV and radio programs in Chabacano. Since 2016, the basic rules of this language have also been taught in primary school.
Although it is the best known and most widespread, the Zamboanga variety, or Zamboangueño, is one of the so‑called Chabacano languages. There are also the Caviteño and the Ternateño, which are spoken, to a lesser extent, in the cities of Cavite and Ternate near Manila. Cotabateño, Davaoeño (or Abakay), and Ermiteño have already disappeared.
Useful phrases in the languages of the Philippines
Filipinos love it when you try a bit of their language and they’ll surprise you with a big smile if you do. So here are some common phrases and words.
In Tagalog:
- Magandang araw! Magandang umaga! Magandang hapon! Magandang gabii! – Good day! Good morning! Good afternoon! Good night!
- Kumusta? – How are you?
- Mabuhay! – Welcome!
- Salamat! Maraming salamat! – Thank you! Many thanks!
- Palihug – Please
- Oo / Hindi – Yes / No
- Walang anuman – You’re welcome
- Walang problema – No problem
- Nasaan ang CR? – Where is the bathroom? (in the Philippines, CR is widely used as an abbreviation for ‘comfort room’)
- Ano iyan? – What is that?
- Ang sarap / masarap! – Delicious!
- Magkano? – How much is it?
- Para po! – Stop here
- Ingat! – Take care
- Mahal kita – I love you
This video is very interesting to pick up a bit before you go.
In Bisaya or Cebuano:
The previous phrases will be very useful if you travel around Luzon (including Manila), Romblon, Mindoro, or Palawan. If you travel around the Visayas (Bohol, Cebu, Malapascua, Siquijor, Bantayan…), you’ll find Bisaya or Cebuano is spoken much more there. Therefore, these specific ones will help:
- Maayong adlaw! Maayong buntag! Maayong hapon! Maayong gabii! – Good day! Good morning! Good afternoon! Good night!
- Pila? / Tagpila ni? – How much is it?
- Mahal / Barato – Expensive / cheap
- Maayo ra ko – I’m fine
- Oo / Dili – Yes / No
- Asa ang banyo? – Where is the bathroom?
- Lami! – Delicious!
- Gwapo/a ka! – You’re handsome/pretty! (people also use gwapito/a a lot)
Here you can learn a little Bisaya or Cebuano.
As you can see, there are many languages in the Philippines, resulting in a cultural richness almost unique to each island. It’s a very interesting topic that we’ve tried to summarize as best we can. In our opinion, it’s well worth “keeping your ears open,” noticing the different ways of speaking, and catching words on the fly. For example, there’s a big difference between traveling around Luzon or Palawan and doing so around the Visayas region.
We hope you liked it and, if you have any questions or suggestions, we’ll be happy to read you in the comments.
