one of the above expressions sometimes be used in place of another?
Yes, Mawaláng-gálang pô may be used for situations 1 and 2 but not for 4.
Can one use Paumanhin pô instead of Patawad pô?
No, Paumanhin pô may mean Sorry but it is is too mild to use in cases of physical or emotional injury.
V. OTHER COMMON EXPRESSIONS
Tagalogs have common everyday expressions that should be memorized by students of this language. The following expressions have shortened forms that are used in everyday speech just as the shortened form of the English Let’s is used in place of Let us. More shortened forms are listed in Lesson Forty-Three.
| Saan kayó nakatirá? | Where do you live? |
| Anó ang pangálan mo? | What is your name? |
| Aywan ko. (shortened: Èwan ko.) | I don’t know. |
| Hindí ko alám. (shortened: Di ko alám.) | I don’t know. |
| Ayaw akó. (shortened: Ayòko.) | I don’t like. |
| Bahála na! | Come what may! |
| Kauntî lámang. (shortened: Lang) | Just a little. |
| Kung mínsan. | Once in a while. |
| Gísing na! | Wake up! |
| Hindî bale! | Never mind! |
| Hindî namán. | Not so. |
| Hintáy ka! (shortened: Teka!) | Wait for a moment. |
| Huwag na. Salámat. | No more. Thank you. |
| Bahálà ka. | It is up to you. |
| Magmadali ká. (shortened: Dali ka!) | Hurry up! (literally: Be quick, you!) |
| Mámayá na. | For a while. |
| Salámat. | Thank you. |
| Maráming salámat. | Thank you very much. |
| Anó pô? (or Anó?) | What did you say, sir/madam? |
| Saká na. | Later. |
| Sandalî lámang. (shortened: Lang) | Just a moment. |
| Síge na! | Go on! |
| Sáyang! | What a pity. What a loss. |
| Tahímik kayó. | Be silent. |
| Táma na. | It is all right. It is enough. |
| Táyo na. (shortened: Tena.) | Let’s go. |
| Totoó ba? (shortened: Totoò?) | Is it true? |
| Túlog na. | Go to sleep. |
| Maráhil. | Maybe. |
| Sigúro. | Maybe or definitely. |
Note that the meaning of sigúro depends on the response to the question being asked. For example, there may be three responses to the question Siguro ka? or Are you sure? :
| Oô, sigúro ako. | Yes, I am sure (or Yes, definitely). |
| Hindî ako sigúro. | I am not sure. |
| Sigúro. | Maybe. |
Remember to include pô or appropriately change ka into kayó or silá to all the above expressions whenever possible to show respect.
| Kataká-taká! | It seems incredible! |
| Magalíng! | Outstanding! (literally: Skilled) |
| Nakayáyamót! | It is annoying! |
| Mabúhay! | Welcome! (literally: May you live long!) |
Mabuhay, the official greeting of Filipinos to foreign visitors, has also become an expression of collective joy and pride for any occasion, especially when Filipinos are proud of an achievement whether in politics or sports; may also be used to greet newly weds, Mabuhay ang bagong kasal! or literally, May the newlyweds live long!
| Maligáyang batì (pô)! | Congratulations (sir/madam)! (literally: Happy greetings! The phrase has now come to be associated with birthday celebrations.) |
Exercises
Match a situation from Column B to the appropriate response from column A.
| COLUMN A | COLUMN B |
| Magalíng! | 1. Your mother calls out that dinner is ready. You are still tidying up your study table as you have just finished doing your homework. |
| Anó pô? | 2. Your 2-year old nephew sings the song Brother John from start to finish. |
| Magandáng hápon din pô. | 3. Your grandmother asks a question but you did not understand half of the words she was saying. |
| Sandalí lang pô. | 4. You are looking for a building along Ayala Avenue. While looking up at one tall building, you bump into somebody. |
| Paumanhín pô. | 5. The town mayor is leaving the municipal hall just as you were entering. He greets you good afternoon. |
LESSON FOUR
The Articles Si and Ang
Any noun that is used as the subject of a sentence—including names of persons, places, and things— is always preceded by an article, except in direct conversation and in imperative statements.
I. THE ARTICLES SI AND SINÁ
The singular article si is used before the name of a person and the plural article siná is used before the names of two or more persons.
| Si Ruth ay babáe. | Ruth is a woman. |
| Si Peter ay laláki. | Peter is a man. |
| Si Helen ay batáng babáe. | Helen is a young girl. |
