Getting around in Tagalog
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet. Play the ten Tagalog words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Tagalog phrases in this lesson
- Nasaan ang banyo?na-sa-AHN ang BAN-yo
- Where is the toilet?
- Paano pumunta sa...?pa-A-no poo-MOON-ta sa
- How do I get to...?
- Kaliwaka-LEE-wa
- To the left
- Kananka-NAN
- To the right
- Diretso langdee-RET-so lang
- Straight ahead
- DitoDEE-to
- Here
- Estasyones-ta-SYON
- Train station
- BusBOOS
- Bus
- Paliparanpa-lee-pa-RAN
- Airport
- Isang tiket, pakiusapee-SANG TEE-ket pa-ki-OO-sap
- One ticket, please
Banyo means toilet or bathroom. Also "comfort room" or "CR", a Filipinism. In restaurants and cafes, you may need to ask for a key. It is usually clean and free.
Directions in Manila are chaotic and traffic is legendary. Locals navigate by landmarks: "doon sa lado ng McDonald's" (by that McDonald's). Asking twice is normal.
Simple and direct. Filipinos gesture generously when giving directions, so watch the hand signals. Left and right are less important than landmarks.
Literally "just straight".
Close by. Pointing is more important than the word. "Dito lang" (just here) indicates immediate proximity.
Metro Manila has the MRT and LRT systems, modern and efficient. Outside the capital, trains are rare. Station is estasyon in Filipino. Pronunciation is Spanish-influenced.
Jeepneys are the iconic transport: minibuses in wild colors, cheap and chaotic. Buses are available but jeepneys are the cultural experience. Riding is an adventure.
Tickets are cheap in the MRT. Asking shows respect. Locals use cards more than cash, but single tickets still exist. Navigating is visual and simple.