Bikol to Hiligaynon Phrasebook
280 everyday phrases, grouped by the situation you need them in. Compiled from published references rather than generated by a translation engine, and marked pending review until native speakers have confirmed it.
No. Speakers of Bikol and Hiligaynon cannot follow each other without having learned the other language. They share sentence structure and Spanish loanwords, which makes written text look more approachable than it is, and almost none of the high-frequency vocabulary.
- Phrases
- 280
- Categories
- 24
- Cited sources
- 2
- Pending review
- 280
Showing all 280 phrases across 24 categories.
Greetings
The opener changes in every one of these languages — this is the fastest way to tell them apart.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Marhay na agapending review | Maayong aga | Good morningEvery one of these is literally 'good' + 'morning', and the word for 'good' is the giveaway: maayo in the Visayan languages, maupay in Waray, marhay in Bikol, mayap in Kapampangan, maabig in Pangasinan, naimbag in Ilocano. |
| Marhay na haponpending review | Maayong hapon | Good afternoon |
| Marhay na banggipending review | Maayong gab-i | Good evening |
| Marhay na aldawpending review | Maayong adlaw | Good day |
| Kumusta ka?pending review | Kamusta ka? | How are you?The one phrase that is effectively identical everywhere, because all eight borrowed it from Spanish '¿cómo está?'. Do not read that as evidence the languages are close. |
| Marhay manpending review | Maayo man | I'm fine |
| Paarampending review | Halong | GoodbyeCebuano 'ayo-ayo' and Hiligaynon 'halong' both mean 'take care' rather than 'farewell'; a bare word for goodbye is uncommon in the Visayan languages, and 'bye' is what people actually say. |
| Marhay na banggipending review | Maayong gab-i | Good night (on parting) |
Courtesy
Thank you, sorry, yes and no.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Salamatpending review | Salamat | Thank youIlocano is the odd one out. 'Salamat' is understood in Ilocos, but 'agyamanak' — literally 'I am grateful' — is the native form and the one a speaker will use back to you. |
| Dakulang salamatpending review | Madamo gid nga salamat | Thank you very muchThe intensifier is the tell: daghan (Cebuano), madamo (Hiligaynon), damo (Waray), dakula (Bikol), dakal (Kapampangan), dakel (Pangasinan) — all meaning 'many', none of them the Tagalog 'marami'. |
| Daing ano manpending review | Wala sang anuman | You're welcomeWaray's own name comes from this construction — 'waray' is the word for 'none', and the language is named after how often outsiders heard it. |
| Iyopending review | Huo | YesFour different words for yes across eight languages. Kapampangan 'wa' and Pangasinan 'on' are unrecognisable to a Tagalog speaker, and machine translation frequently passes them through untouched. |
| Daipending review | Indi | NoIlocano also uses 'saan' for no, which is a genuine trap: 'saan' is 'where' in Tagalog. Hiligaynon 'indi' and Waray 'diri' look alike but Waray 'diri' collides with Hiligaynon 'diri', meaning 'here'. |
| Patawada akopending review | Patawara ko | SorryIn everyday speech 'sorry' and 'pasensya' are what most speakers actually say in all eight; the native forms above are what you will see written. |
| Tabipending review | Palihog | PleaseNone of these behave like English 'please'. They are requests in their own right — Cebuano 'palihug' is closer to 'do me the favour' — and are usually attached to the verb rather than added at the end. |
| Tabi popending review | Tabi lang | Excuse me |
| Mayong problemapending review | Wala problema | No problemThe word for 'none' is the giveaway: wala, awan, walay, waray, mayo. Waray-speakers are named after theirs. |
| Mag-ingat kapending review | Halong | Take care |
Introductions
Names and first meetings.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ano an pangaran mo?pending review | Ano ang ngalan mo? | What is your name?Kapampangan shares no root here at all — 'nanu' for what, 'lagyu' for name — which is a fair summary of how far Central Luzon sits from everything else on this list. |
| An pangaran ko…pending review | Ang ngalan ko… | My name is… |
| Maugma ako na mamidbid kapending review | Nalipay ako nga makilala ka | Nice to meet you |
| Taga-sain ka?pending review | Taga-diin ka? | Where are you from?Same frame, eight different question words bolted onto it. This single row is the clearest illustration of why machine translation between these languages fails: the shared 'taga-' makes the sentence look translatable while the word that carries the meaning is unique to each. |
Understanding
Getting by when you do not follow.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Dai ko nasasabutanpending review | Wala ko makaintiendi | I don't understand |
| Tataong ka mag-English?pending review | Kabalo ka mag-English? | Do you speak English?The verb for 'to know how' differs completely: kamao, kabalo, maaram, tataong. None of them is the Tagalog 'marunong'. |
| Tabi otrohapending review | Palihog liwata | Please say it again |
| Tabi luway-luwaypending review | Palihog hinay-hinay | Please speak slowly |
| Ano ini?pending review | Ano ini? | What is this? |
| Nasasabutan kopending review | Nakaintiendi ako | I understand |
| Ano an apod kaini?pending review | Ano ang tawag sini? | What is this called? |
Numbers
Native numerals one to ten, which diverge sharply between the Luzon and Visayan languages.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Saropending review | Isa | OneCebuano and Waray 'usa' is a false friend of the highest order: in Tagalog 'usa' is a deer. |
| Duwapending review | Duha | Two |
| Tulopending review | Tatlo | Three |
| Apatpending review | Apat | Four |
| Limapending review | Lima | FiveThe one numeral that survives intact across all eight — and in Pangasinan 'lima' is also the word for 'hand', which is where the numeral came from in the first place. |
| Anompending review | Anum | Six |
| Pitopending review | Pito | Seven |
| Walopending review | Walo | Eight |
| Siyampending review | Siyam | Nine |
| Sampulopending review | Napulo | TenPangasinan numerals carry a counting suffix -ra that none of the others use, so 'limara' and 'samplora' look longer than their neighbours for a structural reason rather than a phonetic one. |
| Kagsaropending review | Napulo kag isa | ElevenThree different strategies for building teens: Tagalog and Kapampangan prefix labing-, the Visayan languages say 'ten and one', and Bikol has a dedicated form (kagsaro). |
| Kagduwapending review | Napulo kag duha | Twelve |
| Duwang pulopending review | Kaluhaan | TwentyCebuano and Hiligaynon 'kaluhaan' bears no visible relation to their own word for two, duha. Waray's 'karuhaan' shows the same form after its regular l→r shift. |
| Tulong pulopending review | Katloan | Thirty |
| Limang pulopending review | Kalim-an | Fifty |
| Sanggatospending review | Isa ka gatos | One hundredKapampangan 'dinalan' and Pangasinan 'sanlasus' share nothing with the gatos/daan the rest use — another reminder that the Luzon languages are not a group. |
| Sangribopending review | Isa ka libo | One thousand |
Question words
Who, what, where and when — the words that differ most and trip up readers most.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Anopending review | Ano | What |
| Siisaypending review | Sin-o | WhoHiligaynon 'sin-o' and Waray 'hin-o' differ by a single consonant, and that s→h shift runs through the whole of Waray. It is the single most reliable way to tell the two apart. |
| Sainpending review | Diin | WhereSeven distinct words. Cebuano 'asa' is a false friend in Tagalog, where it means to hope or depend on someone. |
| Nuarinpending review | San-o | When |
| Pira?pending review | Tagpila? | How much? |
| Pira?pending review | Pila? | How many?Cebuano and Hiligaynon 'pila' means 'how many'. In Tagalog 'pila' is a queue — which makes 'Pila?' one of the most commonly misread words between Manila and Cebu. |
Time & days
Today, tomorrow, day and night.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ngonyanpending review | Subong | Today |
| Sa agapending review | Buas | TomorrowIlocano builds tomorrow out of 'bigat', the word for morning — the same root as in 'Naimbag a bigat'. |
| Kasuhaponpending review | Kahapon | Yesterday |
| Aldawpending review | Adlaw | DayIn the Visayan languages 'adlaw' is both the day and the sun. Tagalog keeps the same double meaning in 'araw'; Ilocano does not — 'aldaw' is the day and 'init' is the sun. |
| Banggipending review | Gab-i | Night |
| Semanapending review | Semana | Week |
| Taonpending review | Tuig | Year |
| Lunespending review | Lunes | MondayAll eight took the Spanish weekday names wholesale. Only Sunday diverges — see below. |
| Martespending review | Martes | Tuesday |
| Miyerkulespending review | Miyerkoles | Wednesday |
| Huwebespending review | Huwebes | Thursday |
| Biyernespending review | Biyernes | Friday |
| Sabadopending review | Sabado | Saturday |
| Domingopending review | Domingo | SundayTagalog is the outlier: 'Linggo' where the rest kept 'Domingo'. Pangasinan went further and uses 'Simba', from the word for churchgoing — the same root Tagalog uses for the verb 'to attend mass'. |
| Udtopending review | Udto | Noon |
| Agapending review | Aga | Morning |
| Mayamayapending review | Karon | LaterThe sharpest time-word trap in the Visayas. Hiligaynon 'karon' means later; Cebuano 'karon' means now. The same word moves an appointment in opposite directions. |
| Oraspending review | Oras | Hour |
| Pirmipending review | Pirme | Always |
Family & people
Relationships and forms of address.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Inapending review | Iloy | MotherKapampangan 'ima' is a mother; Ilocano 'ima' is a hand. Two Luzon languages a hundred kilometres apart, same three letters, nothing in common. |
| Amapending review | Amay | Father |
| Nanaypending review | Nanay | Mum |
| Tataypending review | Tatay | Dad |
| Akipending review | Bata | Child'Anak' is the offspring relationship in all eight; Bikol 'aki' is the exception and is a child in general. |
| Tugangpending review | Utod | SiblingSix unrelated roots. Only Tagalog 'kapatid' and Kapampangan 'kapatad' match, and that is a loan rather than shared inheritance. |
| Lolapending review | Lola | Grandmother |
| Lolopending review | Lolo | GrandfatherPangasinan 'laki' is a grandfather. In Tagalog, Cebuano and most of the rest, 'lalaki' is simply a man — close enough to mislead. |
| Katoodpending review | Abyan | FriendEight languages, eight unrelated words. Kapampangan 'kaluguran' doubles as a term of affection, which is why 'Kaluguran daka' means 'I love you'. |
| Lalakipending review | Lalaki | Man |
| Babayipending review | Babaye | Woman |
| Agompending review | Asawa | Spouse'Asawa' covers husband and wife alike in seven of the eight — the sex of the spouse is not marked. Bikol 'agom' is the odd one out. |
| Pangaranpending review | Ngalan | Name |
| Kataningpending review | Kaingod | Neighbour |
| Umboypending review | Lapsag | Baby |
| Tiyopending review | Tiyo | Uncle |
| Tiyapending review | Tiya | Aunt |
Food & eating
Meals, ingredients and asking for them.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Bagaspending review | Bugas | Rice (uncooked)All eight distinguish uncooked grain from cooked rice with separate words — a distinction English has to spell out. |
| Sirapending review | Isda | FishBikol and Pangasinan 'sira' is a fish. In Tagalog and Cebuano 'sira' means broken or spoiled — so a Bikolano menu can read alarmingly to a Manila reader. |
| Karnepending review | Karne | Meat |
| Manokpending review | Manok | Chicken |
| Urigpending review | Baboy | Pig |
| Sugokpending review | Itlog | EggOne of the sharpest splits in this file. 'Itlog' covers Tagalog through Hiligaynon, then Waray, Bikol, Kapampangan and Pangasinan each go their own way entirely. |
| Asinpending review | Asin | SaltThe province of Pangasinan is named for this word — 'pang-asin-an', the place where salt is made. |
| Gulaypending review | Utan | Vegetable |
| Magkakanpending review | Magkaon | To eatIlocano, Kapampangan and Pangasinan all use 'mangan' — a genuine Luzon isogloss, and one of the very few things the three share against the Visayan 'kaon'. |
| Gutom na akopending review | Gutom na ako | I'm hungry |
| Masirampending review | Namit | DeliciousEight languages, eight unrelated words for the same compliment. If you learn one word from this list, learn the local one for this. |
| Basog na akopending review | Busog na ako | I'm full |
| Tinapaypending review | Tinapay | Bread |
| Asukarpending review | Asukar | Sugar |
| Batagpending review | Saging | Banana |
| Niyogpending review | Lubi | Coconut |
| Manggapending review | Mangga | Mango |
| Maispending review | Mais | Corn |
| Bawangpending review | Ahos | GarlicThe Visayan languages took the Spanish 'ajos'; the Luzon languages kept the native 'bawang'. |
| Sabawpending review | Sabaw | Soup, broth |
| Mahamispending review | Matam-is | Sweet |
| Maalsompending review | Maaslom | Sour |
| Maharangpending review | Maharang | Spicy |
| Maalatpending review | Maasin | Salty |
| Maglutopending review | Magluto | To cook |
| Platitopending review | Pinggan | Plate |
| Kutsarapending review | Kutsara | Spoon |
Drinks
Water, coffee and what to order.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tubigpending review | Tubig | WaterThe Luzon/Visayan split in one word: danum in the north, tubig everywhere else. Tagalog sides with the Visayan languages here despite sitting on Luzon. |
| Kapepending review | Kape | Coffee |
| Gataspending review | Gatas | Milk |
| Mag-inompending review | Mag-inom | To drink |
| Tubig tabipending review | Palihog sang tubig | Water, please |
| Tsaapending review | Tsa | Tea |
| Serbesapending review | Beer | Beer |
| Mainit na tubigpending review | Mainit nga tubig | Hot water |
| Malipot na tubigpending review | Mabugnaw nga tubig | Cold water |
Market & money
Prices, haggling, paying.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Kwartapending review | Kwarta | MoneyTagalog took 'pera' from Spanish 'perra'; everything north and south of it took 'cuarta' instead. The two are not interchangeable outside Manila. |
| Mahalpending review | Mahal | ExpensiveIn Tagalog 'mahal' means both expensive and beloved. Ilocano keeps them apart — 'nangina' for costly, 'ay-ayat' for love — so the pun does not survive translation. |
| Baratopending review | Barato | CheapFour of the eight reach for the Spanish 'barato' rather than a native word, while Tagalog and Ilocano kept their own. |
| Magbakalpending review | Magbakal | To buyCebuano 'palit' is to buy; in Tagalog 'palit' is to exchange or swap. Same root, opposite ends of a transaction. |
| Saudanpending review | Tiendahan | Market |
| Pira ini?pending review | Tagpila ini? | How much is this? |
| Mahal na marhaypending review | Mahal gid | That's too expensive |
| Pwede tawad?pending review | Pwede hangyo? | Can you lower the price? |
| Magtindapending review | Magbaligya | To sell |
Directions
Left, right, here, there and how far.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Walapending review | Wala | LeftThe most dangerous word on this page. 'Wala' means left in four of these languages and 'none' in Tagalog — so a Tagalog speaker hearing directions in Cebu can understand the sentence and take the wrong turn. |
| Tuopending review | Tuo | Right |
| Digdipending review | Diri | HereHiligaynon 'diri' is 'here'. Waray 'diri' is 'not'. The two languages are neighbours and this pair catches people constantly. |
| Dumanpending review | Didto | There |
| Harayopending review | Malayo | Far |
| Haranipending review | Malapit | Near |
| Sain an banyo?pending review | Diin ang kasilyas? | Where is the toilet? |
| Magdumanpending review | Magkadto | To go |
| Diretsopending review | Diretso | Straight ahead |
| Itaaspending review | Ibabaw | Up |
| Ibabapending review | Idalom | Down |
| Laogpending review | Sulod | Inside |
| Luwaspending review | Guwa | Outside |
Health & emergency
The phrases worth knowing before you need them.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tabang!pending review | Bulig! | Help!Worth memorising the local form before you need it. Cebuano 'tabang' is help; Hiligaynon 'tab-ang' is bland or tasteless, which is a poor thing to shout. |
| Doktorpending review | Doktor | Doctor |
| Ospitalpending review | Ospital | Hospital |
| May hilang akopending review | Masakit ako | I am sick |
| Makulogpending review | Masakit | It hurtsWaray 'maul-ul' and Bikol 'makulog' share nothing with the 'sakit' the other six use. |
| Pulispending review | Pulis | Police |
| Kalayo!pending review | Sunog! | Fire!Bikol shouts 'Kalayo!', which in Tagalog would be parsed as 'distance'. In an emergency that is the worst possible ambiguity. |
| Parahabon!pending review | Kawatan! | Thief! |
| Mag-ingat kapending review | Maghalong | Be careful |
| Nawara akopending review | Nadula ako | I am lost |
| Kalinturapending review | Hilanat | Fever |
| Kulog kan payopending review | Sakit sang ulo | Headache |
The body
Head to foot, where several of these languages share nothing at all.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Payopending review | Ulo | HeadBikol 'payo' is a head. In Tagalog 'payo' is advice — which makes it one of the neatest false friends in the country. |
| Matapending review | Mata | Eye |
| Kamotpending review | Kamot | HandThree separate traps in one row: Ilocano 'ima' is Kapampangan for mother, Visayan 'kamot' is Tagalog for scratching, and Pangasinan 'lima' is the numeral five in every other language here. |
| Bitispending review | Tiil | Foot |
| Ngusopending review | Baba | MouthVisayan 'baba' is a mouth; Tagalog 'baba' is a chin, and with different stress it is also 'down'. Neighbouring body parts, different words. |
| Tulakpending review | Tiyan | Stomach |
| Buhokpending review | Buhok | Hair |
| Talingapending review | Dulunggan | Ear |
| Dungopending review | Ilong | Nose |
| Ngiponpending review | Ngipon | Tooth |
| Dugopending review | Dugo | BloodIlocano and Kapampangan both say 'daya' for blood — and in Tagalog and Cebuano the same word means cheating. Worth care in any medical setting. |
| Pusopending review | Tagipusuon | Heart |
Nature & weather
Sun, rain, sea and mountain.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Saldangpending review | Adlaw | SunIlocano 'init' is the sun; Tagalog 'init' is heat. Related idea, different part of speech, and machine translation routinely mixes the two. |
| Bulanpending review | Bulan | MoonSeven of the eight kept 'bulan'; Tagalog alone shifted the l to w. The same word means 'month' in all of them. |
| Bitoonpending review | Bituon | Star |
| Uranpending review | Ulan | RainIlocano is alone here. 'Tudo' shares nothing with the ulan/uran the other seven use. |
| Dagatpending review | Dagat | Sea |
| Bukidpending review | Bukid | MountainTwo traps at once. Ilocano 'bantay' is a mountain; in Tagalog it is a guard. Visayan 'bukid' is a mountain; in Tagalog 'bukid' is a field or farm. |
| Harongpending review | Balay | House |
| Kalayopending review | Kalayo | FireVisayan 'kalayo' is fire; Tagalog 'kalayo' would be parsed as 'distance'. The Luzon languages all keep apoy/apuy. |
| Salogpending review | Suba | RiverWaray and Bikol 'salog' looks close to Tagalog 'ilog' but is a separate root — and in Cebuano 'salog' is a floor. |
| Dagapending review | Duta | Land, soilSix unrelated roots for the ground under your feet, and Ilocano 'daga' collides head-on with Tagalog, where it means a rat. |
| Kahoypending review | Kahoy | Tree |
| Burakpending review | Bulak | FlowerIlocano 'sabong' is a flower. In Tagalog 'sabong' is cockfighting — an unusually large gap for two languages spoken on the same island. |
| Gapopending review | Bato | Stone |
| Durospending review | Hangin | Wind |
| Langitpending review | Langit | SkyPangasinan 'tawen' is the sky; Ilocano 'tawen' is a year. Two Northern Luzon languages, one word, no shared meaning. |
| Linogpending review | Linog | Earthquake |
| Bagyopending review | Bagyo | Typhoon |
Describing things
Big, small, good, beautiful.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Dakulapending review | Daku | Big |
| Saditpending review | Gamay | Small |
| Marhaypending review | Maayo | Good |
| Maraotpending review | Malain | Bad |
| Magayonpending review | Matahum | BeautifulBikol 'magayon' is the root behind Mayon, the volcano. Waray 'mahusay' means beautiful; in Tagalog the same word means skilled or well-arranged. |
| Mainitpending review | Mainit | Hot |
| Malipotpending review | Mabugnaw | Cold |
| Marikaspending review | Madasig | Fast |
| Bagopending review | Bag-o | New |
| Lumapending review | Daan | Old (of a thing)Ilocano and the Visayan languages use 'daan' for old — the same string Tagalog uses for a road. |
| Gurangpending review | Tigulang | Old (of a person)Ilocano 'lakay' is an old man specifically; 'baket' is the word for an old woman, and that one collides with Kapampangan 'baket', meaning why. |
| Dakolpending review | Madamo | Many |
| Kadikitpending review | Diutay | Few |
| Halabapending review | Malaba | Long |
| Halipotpending review | Malip-ot | Short |
| Magabatpending review | Mabug-at | Heavy |
| Malinigpending review | Matinlo | Clean |
| Maatipending review | Mahigko | Dirty |
Feelings
Saying how you are, and how you feel about someone.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Namumutan ta kapending review | Palangga ta ka | I love youEight languages and eight completely different verbs. This row alone answers the question of whether Philippine languages are 'dialects of each other'. |
| Maugmapending review | Malipayon | Happy |
| Mamundopending review | Masubo | Sad |
| Pagalpending review | Kapoy | Tired |
| Anggotpending review | Akig | Angry |
| Namimibian takapending review | Ginahidlaw ako sa imo | I miss you |
| Takotpending review | Hadlok | Afraid |
| Nagkukurahawpending review | Nakibot | Surprised |
Colours
Basic colour terms.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Pulapending review | Pula | Red |
| Putipending review | Puti | White |
| Itompending review | Itom | BlackKapampangan 'matuling' is black. Tagalog 'matulin' — one letter apart — means fast. |
| Asulpending review | Asul | Blue |
| Berdepending review | Berde | GreenOnly Kapampangan kept a native word. The other seven took the Spanish 'verde' and never replaced it. |
| Kahelpending review | Kahel | Orange |
| Abuhonpending review | Abuhon | GreyEvery one of these is built on the word for ash — abo, dapo — rather than being a colour term of its own. |
Everyday verbs
The actions that carry most sentences.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Magturogpending review | Magtulog | To sleep |
| Mahilingpending review | Makita | To see |
| Sabihonpending review | Isiling | To sayIlocano and Pangasinan share 'ibaga' — but in Tagalog 'baga' is an ember, and in Ilocano it is the colour red. |
| Arampending review | Kabalo | To know |
| Gustopending review | Gusto | To wantKapampangan 'buri' is to want or like. In Tagalog 'buri' is a species of palm. |
| Magtaopending review | Maghatag | To give |
| Magtrabahopending review | Magtrabaho | To work |
| Maglakawpending review | Maglakat | To walk |
| Magtarampending review | Maghambal | To speakThe Visayan languages disagree with each other completely here — sulti, hambal, yakan — which is a useful corrective to the idea that they are one language. |
| Maghinanyogpending review | Mamati | To listen |
| Magsuratpending review | Magsulat | To write |
| Magbasapending review | Magbasa | To read |
| Magtukawpending review | Maglingkod | To sit |
| Magtindogpending review | Magtindog | To stand |
| Magdalaganpending review | Magdalagan | To run |
| Maghalatpending review | Maghulat | To wait |
| Buksanpending review | Buksan | To open |
| Isarapending review | Sirhan | To close |
| Maghugaspending review | Maghugas | To wash |
| Magdigdipending review | Magkari | To come here |
Months
The Spanish-derived month names, and where the spellings part company.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Eneropending review | Enero | JanuaryThe month names are Spanish in all eight languages. What varies is spelling: Tagalog respells the Spanish f as p (Pebrero), while several of the others keep Febrero. |
| Pebreropending review | Pebrero | February |
| Marsopending review | Marso | March |
| Abrilpending review | Abril | April |
| Mayopending review | Mayo | May |
| Hunyopending review | Hunyo | June |
| Hulyopending review | Hulyo | July |
| Agostopending review | Agosto | August |
| Setyembrepending review | Setyembre | September |
| Oktubrepending review | Oktubre | October |
| Nobyembrepending review | Nobyembre | November |
| Disyembrepending review | Disyembre | December |
Getting around
Roads, boats, jeepneys and how to get off one.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tinampopending review | Dalan | RoadSeven of the eight use 'dalan'. Tagalog's 'daan' is the same root worn down, and Bikol went its own way with 'tinampo'. |
| Barotopending review | Baroto | Boat |
| Awtopending review | Salakyan | Car |
| Magsakaypending review | Magsakay | To ride |
| Para tabipending review | Para lang | Stop here, please'Para' comes from Spanish 'parar', to stop, and is the universal way to get off a jeepney anywhere in the country. |
| Sain ka maduman?pending review | Diin ka makadto? | Where are you going? |
| Tiketpending review | Tiket | Ticket |
Somewhere to stay
Rooms, doors, keys — a category where almost nothing carries between languages.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Yabapending review | Yabi | KeyAnother row where nothing carries over. Ilocano 'tulbek' and Tagalog 'susi' share no history at all. |
| Pintopending review | Puertahan | Door |
| Bintanapending review | Bintana | WindowIlocano 'tawa' is a window. In Tagalog it is laughter. |
| Kuwartopending review | Kuwarto | Room |
| Katrepending review | Katre | Bed |
| Kasilyaspending review | Kasilyas | Toilet |
Things to buy
Everyday items you might need to ask for.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Badopending review | Panapton | Clothes |
| Sapatospending review | Sapatos | Shoes |
| Bulongpending review | Bulong | MedicineWorth knowing before a pharmacy visit, and the source of a nasty trap: Tagalog 'gamot' is medicine, but in the Visayan languages the same word means a root. |
| Sabonpending review | Sabon | Soap |
| Libropending review | Libro | Book |
| Papelpending review | Papel | Paper |
Animals
Everyday creatures, and several of the sharpest false friends on the site.
| Bikol | Hiligaynon | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ayampending review | Ido | DogFour unrelated words for the commonest domestic animal. Worth pairing with the Cebuano trap: 'aso' means smoke there, so the Tagalog word for dog is a real Cebuano word meaning something else entirely. |
| Ikospending review | Kuring | Cat |
| Karabawpending review | Karabaw | CarabaoThe national animal, and three of the eight have their own word for it — Ilocano nuang, Kapampangan damulag, Pangasinan dueg. |
| Kandingpending review | Kanding | Goat |
| Bakapending review | Baka | Cow |
| Kabayopending review | Kabayo | Horse |
| Halaspending review | Man-ug | SnakeFive unrelated words, and the one worth memorising before you need it. Ilocano and Pangasinan share 'uleg', which is unusual — the two rarely agree. |
| Gamgampending review | Pispis | BirdCebuano 'langgam' is a bird; Tagalog 'langgam' is an ant. One of the most-cited false friends between the two largest languages in the country. |
| Lamokpending review | Namok | Mosquito |
Words that trap you
These exist in both languages but mean different things. They are where confident readers get caught, and where machine translation is least reliable.
- tabanghigh risk
- In Bikol
- Help.
- In Hiligaynon
- Bland, tasteless — written tab-ang. The word for help is bulig.
Worth knowing before you need it: shouting for help in the wrong Visayan language reads as a complaint about the seasoning.
How often the machine gets these right
We ran 280 Bikol entries from the phrasebook below through the same engine this site uses, and compared each result against the human-written Hiligaynon. Categories are our own; the comparison ignores punctuation and casing. Neither Bikol nor Hiligaynon is well resourced and the engine routes between them through English, so this measures two stacked translations rather than one.
Machine output matched or came close to the human Hiligaynon for 51.8% of 280 phrases. The rest were partly or entirely wrong.
Least reliable
- Greetings13%
- Everyday verbs15%
- Market & money22%
- Introductions25%
- Understanding29%
Most reliable
- Nature & weather77%
- Months75%
- Health & emergency75%
Sources
- Ilocano phrasebook — Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Accessed 2026-07-26.
- 52 Useful Ilocano Words & Phrases to Learn for Travelers — Chill and Travel. Accessed 2026-07-26.
Last updated 2026-08-06. 280 entries are marked “pending review” — carried on general reference and awaiting confirmation from a native speaker.