Ilocano phrasebook
Ilocano, Iloco or Iluko is the main language of the Northern Philippines. According to the 2005 Census, there are about 8 million people who speak Ilocano as a mother tongue (locally called kabakketan a dildila) and still another 2 million who speak it as a second language. Although it has no official status in the country, those who use it often call it the National Language of the North. From their traditional homeland (the Ilocandia), Ilocanos have migrated southward, now forming large communities in Central Luzon, Metropolitan Manila and even in the main Urban centres of General Santos City and Zamboanga City in the Island of Mindanao.
There are also a sizable number of Ilocano speakers in the United States, especially in Hawaii, California, Alaska and Washington, as the Ilocanos were the first Filipinos to migrate en masse to the US. Speakers of this language are also found in Canada, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and Australia.
Belonging to the Austronesian family of languages, it is related to all the other languages in the Philippines like the larger Tagalog and Cebuano. It is also distantly related to Malagasy, Malay, Tetum, Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages.
Alagadan or Grammar
Ilocano is an agglutinative language. Meaning, it employs a number of affixes to signify changes in meaning. If you are having a hard time looking for a word in the dictionary, try dropping the following suffixes:
- --ak or -k
- I or my
- --tayo
- we or our
- --mo
- you or your (singular)
- --yo
- you or your (plural)
- --na
- his, her or its
- --da
- their
- --en or -n
- already
Pronunciation guide
Like all its sister languages, Ilocano is fairly easy to pronounce. And although there are two orthographic systems that are in common use, the one based on Tagalog is more commonly found in publications. The general rule is one sound for each letter. However, the language, like all the Borneo-Philippine Languages, employ the digraph ng to represent an initial velar nasal consonant (the ng in English sing).
Accents are very unpredictable and must be learnt while learning the new word. Although books about the language will show these signs, they are often not found in publications like newspapers.
Vowels
The Ilocano language has either five or six vowels, depending on what dialect you choose to speak. The language is generally divided into the Amianan (Northern) and Abagatan (Southern) Dialects. The only difference however between these two dialects is the way they pronounce the letter 'E'. In the Abagatan Dialect, only five vowels are present and they are pronounced as follows:
- a
- open front unrounded vowel IPA [a]; like the a in father
- e
- open-mid front unrounded vowel IPA [ɛ]; like the e in bed
- i
- close front unrounded vowel IPA [i]; like the ea in beat
- o
- close-mid back rounded vowel IPA [o]; like the au in author
- u
- close back rounded vowel IPA [u]; like the oo in boot
On the other hand, the Amianan Dialect has another vowel for the symbol 'e'. For the speakers of the Abagatan Dialect, the 'e' that was given above is used for words of foreign origin (e.g. elepante from Spanish). For native words, the sound of a close back unrounded vowel is used. There is no equivalent for this sound in English so some dictionaries use the IPA symbol for the schwa sign. But the proper symbol must be:
- e
- close back unrounded vowel IPA [ɯ]; like the ao in the Scots Gaelic caol.
Historically, Ilocano has only 3 vowels and this reality is still evident until today as the sounds of e and i and o and u' often merges.
When the letter i precedes another letter, its sound will glide resulting to the sound of [j]. This happens also to the letter u where it glides into the sound of [w].
Spanish cities such as Vigan were in contact with Spanish, hence, the additional open-mid front unrounded vowel "e".
Consonants
In modern written Ilocano (based on Tagalog Ortography), there are 16 symbols for the consonnts but there are more than 16 consonant sounds in the language. Here, we include the other letters that may likely occur in some prints.
- b
- like the English bed
- c
- like the k in sky not as in kite
- d
- like the d in the Japanese dojo
- f
- (in proper nouns only) like the English feather
- g
- like the English go
- g
- (in foreign words from Spanish only) like the English house
- h
- like the English house
- j
- (in foreign words from Spanish only) like the English house
- k
- like the k in sky not as in kite
- l
- like the l in London
- m
- like the m in mother
- n
- like the n in nanny
- p
- like the p in spot not as in pot
- qu
- like the k in sky not as in kite
- r
- like the r in right
- r
- (in foreign words from Spanish only) like the r in rojo
- s
- like the s in seven
- t
- like the d in the Chinese Dao De Jing
- v
- like the English bed
- v
- (in proper nouns only) like the v in vase
- w
- like the w in water
- x
- (in proper nouns only) like the x in six
- x
- (in proper nouns only) like the x in the Spanish Mexico
- y
- like the y in yam
- z
- like the s in seven
- z
- like the z in zebra
Some consonants change their sounds when followed by a vowel. The following sounds are produced:
- di
- like the j in jack
- si
- like the sh in shampoo
- ti
- like the ch in church
As mentioned above the digraph ng represents the sound of the same digraph in Singer. However, unlike in English, this sound may be used as initial.
The initial glottal stop is not written. Thus, it appears as if the word commences with a vowel. When it occurs at the middle of the word, a hypen (-) is inserted to represent the sound.
Common diphthongs
There are only three commonly used diphthongs in the Ilocano language. They are as follows:
- ay
- like the i in high
- iw
- like the iw in Tiw
- oy
- like the oy in boy
Other diphthongs are also likely to occur but they are generally from loaned words. They are usually pronounced as they are foreign.
Phrase list
Basics
- Hello.
- (There is actually no equivalent for this greeting. Instead, Ilocanos tend to greet in terms of time or by asking how are you.)
- How are you?
- Kumusta ka? (also kumustan?)
- Fine, thank you.
- Nasiyaat met, agyamanak! (also "naimbag nak met")
- What is your name?
- Ania ti naganmo? (often contracted ania't naganmo?) It is also "Ana't nagan mo?"
- My name is ______ .
- ______ ti naganko or siak ni ______. (or more formally although not usually used Ti naganko ket _____ . Note: Ilocanos tend to simply give their names.)
- Nice to meet you.
- . ( )
- Please.
- Pangngaasi . ( )
- Thank you.
- Agyamanak. ( )
- You're welcome.
- Awan ti anyaman na. (coll. Awan t'anyaman na.)
- Take care
- Agaluad ka or Agannad ka
- Yes.
- Wen.
- No.
- Saan. (in the Abagatan Dialect Haan)
- Excuse me. (getting attention)
- Pakawanen-nak. [also Excuse me. (Ilocanos don't usually use the native term anymore.)]
- Excuse me. (begging pardon)
- Dispensar.
- I'm sorry.
- Pakawanen nak. (also Dispensaren nak)
- Goodbye
- Agpakadaakon. (also Kastan or kasta pay lit. Till then.)
- Goodbye (informal)
- Innakon. (lit. I am going. )
- I can't speak name of language.
- Diak agsasao ti name of the language. (meaning: The speaker has no knowledge of the language.)
- I can't speak name of the language well.
- Diak nalaing iti or diak unay amo agsao itiname of the language. (meaning: The speaker has a knowledge of the language but not with enough competence.)
- Do you speak English?
- Agsasao ka iti Inggles? ( ?)
- Is there someone here who speaks English?
- Adda kadi tattao nga agsasao ti Inggles? ( ?)
- Help!
- Tulong!
- Look out!
- Agan-nad! (or Agan-nad ka!)
- Good morning.
- Naimbag a bigat.
- Good afternoon
- Naimbag a malem.
- Good evening.
- Naimbag a rabii.
- Good night.
- Naimbag a rabii. (Note: Ilocano has actually no equivalent words to express this sentence.)
- Good night (to sleep)
- . ( )
- I don't understand.
- Diak maawatan. (also Diak matarusan )
- Where is the toilet?
- Ayan-na ti banio?
Problems
- Leave me alone.
- Ibatidak! (or: Ibatinak!)
- Don't touch me.
- Dinak ig-igaman.
- I'll call the police!
- Agayabak ti pulis!
- Stop! Thief!
- Esardeng! Agtatakaw!
- I need your help.
- Masapulko ti tulong mo. (or when talking to many people: Masapulko ti tulong yo!)
- I am lost.
- Napukawak! (also: Na-iyaw-awan nak!)
- I lost my bag.
- Mapukaw ti bag ko.
- I lost my wallet.
- Mapukaw ti petakak.
- I am sick.
- agsakitak (Note: Filipinos generally equate this sentence with I have a fever. To say this, it is more proper to say, ag-gurigurak)
- I met an accident.
- Naaksidente ak!
- I need a doctor.
- Masapulko ti doktor.
Numbers
There exist two names for the numbers in Ilocano. The native Ilocano and the Spanish names. Generally, Ilocanos use the Spanish terms if they are talking about time of very large quantities. You will however see the native terms if you would read literary books. If you are going on a shopping, prices of small values are given in this form.
- Cardinal Numbers.
- 0
- awan or sero
- 1
- maysa
- 2
- dua
- 3
- tallo
- 4
- uppat
- 5
- lima
- 6
- innem
- 7
- pito
- 8
- walo
- 9
- siam
- 10
- sangapulo
- 11
- sangapulo ket maysa
- 12
- sangapulo ket dua
- 13
- sangapulo ket tallo
- 14
- sangapulo ket uppat
- 15
- sangapulo ket lima
- 20
- duapulo
- 30
- tallopulo
- 40
- uppat a pulo
- 50
- limapulo
- 60
- innem a pulo
- 70
- pitopulo
- 80
- walo a pulo
- 90
- siam a pulo
- 100
- sangagasut
- 101
- sangagasut ket maysa
- 150
- sangagasut ket limapulo
- 151
- sangagasut ket limapulo ket maysa
- 200
- duagasut
- 300
- tallogasut
- 400
- uppatgasut
- 500
- limagasut
- 1000
- sangaribu
- 10000
- sangariwriw
- 100000
- sangabillion
Time
Telling the time is rather complicated in Ilocano. People use a combination of the Spanish system and the native style of telling time. However, even the Spanish system has changed that those who has learnt how to tell time in Spanish may not understant it quite easily. Here are some phrases:
Clock Time
Ilocanos use the 12hr clock. So, no more to learn Spanish number beyond that (for time only).
- 0000
- a las dose iti tenggat rabii (may also be: Maika-sangapulu ket duwa iti tenggat rabii)
- 0100
- a la una iti bigat (also: maika-maysa iti bigat)
- 0200
- a las dos iti bigat (also: maika-dua iti bigat)
- 0300
- a las tres iti bigat (also: maika-tallo iti bigat)
- 0400
- a las kwatro iti bigat (also: maika-uppat iti bigat)
- 0500
- a las singko iti bigat (also: maika-lima iti bigat)
- 0600
- a las sais iti bigat (also: maika-innem iti bigat)
- 0700
- a las siete iti bigat (also: maika-pito iti bigat)
- 0800
- a las otso iti bigat (also: maika-walo iti bigat)
- 0900
- a las nuebe iti bigat (also: maika-siam iti bigat)
- 1000
- a las dies iti bigat (also: maika-sangapulu iti bigat)
- 1100
- a las onse iti bigat (also: maika-sangapulu ket maysa iti bigat)
- 1200
- a las dose iti tenggat adlaw(also: maika-sangapulu ket duwa iti tenggat adlaw)
- 1300
- a la una iti malem(also: maika-maysa iti malem)
- 1400
- a las dos iti malem (also: maika-dua iti malem)
- 1500
- a las tres iti malem (also: maika-tallo iti malem)
- 1600
- a las kwatro iti malem (also: maika-uppat iti malem)
- 1700
- a las singko iti malem (also: maika-lima iti malem)
- 1800
- a las sais iti rabii(also: maika-innem iti rabii)
- 1900
- a las siete iti rabii (also: maika-pito iti rabii)
- 2000
- a las otso iti rabii (also: maika-walo iti rabii)
- 2100
- a las nuebe iti rabii (also: maika-siam iti rabii)
- 2200
- a las dies iti rabii (also: maika-sangapulu iti rabii)
- 2300
- a las onse iti rabii (also: maika-sangapulu ket maysa iti rabii)
To say half-past an hour or a quarter of an hour, we may use the Spanish system or:
- Half-past one
- Maika-maysa ket kagadua
- Quarter past one
- Maika-maysa ket sangapulu key lima
Adverbs of Time
- now
- Tatta
- later
- madamdama
- before
- sakbay
- after
- kalpasan
- morning
- bigat
- this morning
- ita bigat
- noon
- tenggaat adlaw
- afternoon
- malem
- evening
- malem
- night
- rabii
- today
- ita nga adlaw
- yesterday
- idi kalman
- the day before yesterday
- idi sakbay kalman
- tomorrow
- inton bigat
- the day after tomorrow
- sumaruno a bigat
- this week
- ita lawas
- next week
- sakbay a lawas
Duration
- seconds
- segundo
- minutes
- minuto
- hours
- oras
- day
- aldaw
- week
- lawas
- month
- bulan
- year
- tawen
Days
Days of the Week (Adlaw iti Lawas) follow their corresponding Spanish counterparts:
- Domingo
- Sunday
- Lunes
- Monday
- Martes
- Tuesday
- Mierkoles
- Wednesday
- Juebes
- Thursday
- Biernes
- Friday
- Sabado
- Saturday
Months
Months of the year (dagiti Bulan iti Tawen) follows the names of their Spanish counterparts:
- January
- Enero
- February
- Febrero
- March
- Marso
- April
- Abril
- May
- Mayo
- June
- Junio
- July
- Julio
- August
- Agosto
- September
- Setiembre
- October
- Octubre
- November
- Noviembre
- December
- Disiembre
Writing time and date
Once we have learnt how to say time and date, writing them is very simple. In writing the date, one generally gives the day first, followed by the month and the year. If we have to indicate the time, it follows ifter the date.
- 07 March 1983 at 2245
- Maika-pito iti Marso 1983 iti maika-sangapulu ket uppat a pulu ket lima iti rabii.
Colours
Primary Colours
- blue
- asul
- red
- baga (or as an adj. nalabaga or nalabbasit)
- yellow
- duyaw
Secondary Colours
- green
- berde (or more poetically nalangto)
- orange
- kahel (or simple orange)
- violet
- violet
Other Colours
- black
- nangisit
- white
- puraw
- brown
- kayumanggi
- grey
- dapo
Note: As adjectives may be places at either sides of the noun, one must not forget the ligature nga (if the next word begins with a vowel) or a (if the next word begins with a consonant) to establish the connection.
Sample: yellow dress may be rendered as bado a duyaw or duyaw a bado.
Transportation
Like the rest of the Philippines, busses and taxis are not the primary mode of transportation in Ilocandia (i.e. the Northern Philippines). For short distances, the tricycles remain to be the most available form of transportation. For average distance travels, the modified Filipino jeep will be the best way to navigate the area. Indeed, these jeepneys dominate the streets of the Philippines that they are often called The King of the Streets throughout the archipelago. Busses and trains are only used for very long distances.
Tricycles and Jeepneys
- How much is the fare to name of the place?
- Manu ti plete inggana idiay name of the place? (Literally: How much to the name of the place.)
- How many people can take a ride?
- Manu nga tao ti mabalin nga sumakay?
- Stop!
- Para! (This is used only for modes of transportation and never for people.)
Bus and Train
- How much is the ticket for name of the place?
- Manu ti ticket nga mapan idiay name of the place?
- I'll take one ticket.
- Mangalaak ti maysa nga tiket
- Where does this bus/ train go to?
- Papanan na datoy bus/ tren? (Note: Busses in the Philippines tend to have signboards so you won't be needing to ask this question frequently.)
- Does this bus/ train stop at name of the place?
- Agsardeng kadi datoy bus/ tren idiay name of the place?
- What time does this bus/ train leaves?
- Kaatno nga pumanaw datoy bus/ tren? (also: Anya oras nga pumanaw datoy bus/ tren? lit. What time does this bus/ train leave?)
- What time does this bus/ train arrive at name of the place?
- Kaatno nga sumangpet datoy bus/ tren idiay name of the place? (also: Ania oras nga sumangpet 'toy bus/ tren idiay name of the place?)
Directions
- Excuse me sir, how do I go to name of the place?
- Excuse me Manong, kasano ti mapan idiay name of the place?
- _____ bus station
- _____ estasyon ti bus
- _____ airport
- _____ airport
- _____ market
- _____ palengke
- _____ town proper
- _____ ili
- _____ American (Australian, British, Canadian) Consulate
- Konsulado ti Amerika (Australia, Britania, Canada) [note: There is actually no Embassy or Consulate in the Ilocandia as almost all of them are in Metro Manila.]
- Where are there many _____?
- Ayanna nga lugar ti adu ti _____?
- _____ hotels
- _____ hotel
- _____ restaurants
- _____ restaurant (note: When visitng the Philippines, a foreigner might want to eat at the Philippine cafetiria called carinderia.)
- _____ bars
- _____ bar
- _____ sights to see
- _____ mabuya
- Can you show me in the map?
- Mabalin nga pakitam kaniak ayanna idiay mapa?
- street
- kalye (also dalan)
- You turn left.
- Kumannigidka.
- You turn right.
- Kumannawka.
- You go straight ahead.
- Lumintegka.
- Near the name of the place
- Asideg iti name of the place
- Before the name of the place
- Sakbay iti name of the place
- After the name of the place
- Kalpasan iti name of the place
- Intersection
- Rotonda
- North
- Amianan
- East
- Daya
- South
- Abagatan
- West
- Laud
- North-West
- Amianan nga Laud
- North-East
- Amianan nga Daya
- South-West
- Abagatan nga Laud
- South-East
- Abagatan nga Daya
Lodging
- Do you have an available room?
- Adda pay ti kwarto yo?
- How much is a single room?
- Manu ti kwarto para maysa nga tao?
- How much is a room for two/ three people?
- Manu ti kwarto para dua/ tallo nga tao?
- Is a __________ included in the room?
- Adda ti __________ idiay kwarto?
- blanket
- ules
- bathroom
- banio
- telephone
- telepono
- television
- telebisyon (or simply TV)
- May I see the room?
- Mabalin nga makitak diay kwarto?
- Do you have any room that is more quiet?
- Adda ti kwartoyo nga naul-ulimek?
- bigger
- dakdakkel
- cleaner
- nadaldalus
- cheaper
- nalaklaka
- I'll stay for one/ two nights.
- Agyanak ti maysa/ dua anga rabii.
- Can you suggest another place?
- Adda ammum nga sabali nga lugar?
- Do you have a safe?
- Adda ti safeboxyo?
- Do you have a locker?
- Adda ti lockeryo?
- Please clean my room.
- Pakidalus man toy kwartok.
- Can you wake me up at time?
- Mabalin nga riingen nak titime?
- I am going to check out.
- Ag-check-outak.
Money
- Do you accept American Dollars?
- Ag-alakayo ti Dolar nga Amerikano?
- How much is a dollar here?
- Manu ti maysa a dollar idtoy?
- Do you accept credit cards?
- Ag-alakayo ti credit card?
- Is there an ATM here?
- Adda ti ATM idtoy?
Eating
- A table for one/ two person, please.
- Maysa a mesa para maysa/ dua a tao, please.
- Can I see the menu?
- Mabalin a makitak ti menu?
- What is the your specialty?
- Ania ti specialty-yo?
- I am vegetarian.
- Vegetarianak.
- I don't eat pork.
- Diak mangan ti baboy.
- I don't eat beef.
- Diak mangan ti baka.
- chicken
- manok
- pork
- baboy
- beef
- baka
- fish
- ikan (or sida)
- ham
- ham
- sausage
- longganisa
- cheese
- keso
- egg
- itlog
- salad
- salad
- vegetables
- nateng
- fruits
- prutas
- bread
- pan
- noodles
- pancit (if there is broth soup mami)
- rice
- kanen
- May I have a glass of water please.
- Maysa a baso ti danom. Please.
Bars
- Do have you wine/liqueur?
- Adda ti arakyo?
- One/ Two bottle/s of beer, please.
- Maysa/ Dua a bote ti beer, please.
- Water
- Danom
- Food
- Tarangen
- Coffee
- Kape
- Milk
- Gatas
- Chocolate
- Tsokolate
- Another one, please.
- Maysa pay, please.
- What time do you close?
- Ania ti oras nga agrikepkayo?
Shopping
- Do you have something bigger/ smaller?
- Adda dakdakkel/ basbassit?
- Expensive
- nangina
- Cheap
- nalaka
- I don't wan't it.
- Diak kayat.
- I'll take it.
- Alaekon.
- I need _____ .
- Masapulko ti _____.
- toothpaste
- toothpaste
- toothbrush
- sepilyo
- condom
- kondom
- sanitary napkin
- napkin
- soap
- sabon
- shampoo
- siampo
- razor
- labahas
- umbrella
- payong
- post card
- post card
- stamps
- selyo para iti surat
- battery
- bateria
- paper
- papel
- pen
- bolpen
- English Book
- libro nga Inggles
- English Magazine
- Magasine nga Inggles
- English Newspaper
- Diario nga Inggles
- English-Ilocano Dictionary
- Diksyonario nga Inggles
Driving
- I want to rent a car.
- Kayatko nga agrenta ti kotse.
- Can I get an insurance?
- Mabalin nga ag-ala-ak ti insurance?
- Stop!
- Sardeng!
- gasoline
- gasolina
Note: As Ilocano enjoys no official status in the Philippines, no street sign is written in the language. Street signs and even public notices are posted in English.
Authority
- What's the problem, Sir?
- Ania ti problema, Manong?
- Where are you taking me?
- Sadino ti pangipanam kaniak?
- I am an American Citizen.
- Amerkanoak.
- I need a lawyer.
- Masapul ko ti abugado.
- Can I pay the fine here?
- Mabalin nga agbayadak ti multa ditoy?
- President
- Presidente
- Vice-President
- Vice Presidente
- Secretary of the Cabinet
- Secretario ti Gabinete
- Senator
- Senador
- Representative
- Diputado
- Judge
- Huwes
- Police
- Pulis
- Soldier
- Soldado
Asking about language
- How do I say English Word in Ilocano?
- Kasano sabien ti English Word iti Ilocano?
Interrogative words
- What
- Ania
- Who
- Asino or siasino
- Where
- Ayanna
- When
- Kaano or katno
- Why
- Apay
- How
- Kasano (used when you expect an adverb manner as an answer)
- How much?
- Manu
- How many?
- Manu
- How long?
- Kasatno kabayag?
- How big?
- Kasatno kadakkel?