Telling Time in Tagalog

Filipinos most commonly use Spanish numbers to tell time.

Anong oras na?
What time is it?

Ala-una.
One o’clock.

Alas-singko.
Five o’clock.

Alas-singko ng umaga.
Five o’clock in the morning.

Alas-singko ng hapon.
Five o’clock in the afternoon.

Alas-dyes ng gabi.
Ten o’clock at night.

1:00 ala-una – one o’clock

2:00 alas-dos – two o’clock

3:00 alas-tres – three o’clock

4:00 alas-kwatro – four o’clock
5:00 alas-singko – five o’clock
6:00 alas-sais – six o’clock
7:00 alas-siyete – seven o’clock
8:00 alas-otso – eight o’clock
9:00 alas-nwebe – nine o’clock
10:00 alas-dyes – ten o’clock
11:00 alas-onse – eleven o’clock
12:00 alas-dose – twelve o’clock 

ala una y medya
half past one

alas dose kwarenta y singko
12:45

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Speak to Your Filipino In-Laws in Polite Tagalog

The most important thing language-wise is to use po and the second-person plural. 

Never use Kamusta ka? (“How are you?”) with a person older than you. Use Kamusta po kayo?

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With Your Filipina Maid

The Tagalog word for ‘maid’ is katulong, which literally means ‘helper.’ (The Tagalog word for ‘help’ is tulong.)

More recently, the word kasambahay (“someone sharing the same home”) is the preferred term for a live-in maid.

Here are a few Tagalog phrases to help you communicate with your Filipina maid:

Linisin mo ito.
Clean this.

Ganito. Ganyan.
This way.  Like that.

Gamitin mo ito.
Use this.

Huwag mo itong galawin.
Don’t touch this.

Huwag mo itong buksan.
Don’t open this.

Huwag kang pumasok doon.
Don’t go in there.

Huwag kang gumamit ng ____________.
Don’t use ____________.

 
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