As the holiday approaches, it's time to brush up on some Ilokano phrases to impress the in-laws and friends. So here's a short cheat sheet for those who just got excited after reading the first sentence.
Holiday/Celebration Greetings
Happy Birthday - Naragsak nga Panagkasangay
(Nah-rug-sak ngah pa-nahg-kah-sang-ai)
Happy Valentines - Naimbag nga aldaw ti puspuso
(Nah-eem-bug ngah al-dao tee poos-poo-so)
Happy Thanksgiving - Naragsak/Naimbag nga Panagyaman
(Nah-rug-sak / Nah-eem-bug ngah pa-nahg-ya-mahn)
Merry Christmas - Naragsak/Naimbag nga Paskua
(Nah-rug-sak / Nah-eem-bug ngah Pas-kwa)
Happy New Year -Naragsak nga baro nga tawen
(Nah-rug-sak ngah ba-ro ngah tah-wen)
When in doubt, just say your English holiday greeting. Of course, when you encounter Ilokanos at one of the many holiday parties that you will be attending, you will need a conversation freshener, enough to get some "Ooh" and "Aah" or "Ala!" followed by giggles and laughter.
When that happens, please don't be offended. Ilokanos gets very excited when someone of other races speaks their language. The initial response is to giggle and laugh not because they are making fun but because they are impressed with your effort.
Simple phrases to remember:
Hello/How are you?- Kablaaw / Kumusta kayo? / Musta apo ( you add "apo" to a grandpa/grandma)
Nice to meet you - Naragsakkak a maamammo ka (Nah-rug-sak-kahk ah mah-um-um-moh kah)
I am fine - Nasayatak met (Nah-sa-yah-at-tak met) / Mayat met (mah-yaht met)
Thank you - Agyamanak (Ugh-yah-mahn-nahk)
I am (your name) - Siak ni_____( Syak nee......)
I am so and so's spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend/friend
Siak ti asawa/nobya/nobyo/gayyem ni (your partner's name)
( Syak tee ah-sah-wah/noob-yah/noob-yo/guy-yem nee......)
And when everything else fails to juggle your memory or you've had one too many San Miguel by then,
Saan ko maawatan (Sa-an- koh mah-ah-wah-tun) = I don't understand
Diak makaawat (Jack mah-kah-ah-what) = I am not able to understand
or as my husband like to say:
Diak ammo, saan ko maawatan, tulingak!
(Jack uhm-mo, Sa-an- koh mah-ah-wah-tun, too-ling-ak)
which means.... I don't know, I don't understand, I am deaf!)
So if you get a chance to attend a Filipino party, GO! You would not want to miss the awesome food and the company with the corny cheesy jokes. Plus you get to practice and show off what you've learned with Ilokano Learner.
But first, go through all the greeting lessons we've posted. These two in particular.
Greetings Part 1
Common Phrases
Inton Maminsan Manen
Happy Learning!
NOTES: These lessons are designed with the English Speakers in mind. The pronunciation is spelled out to emphasize sounds of the English language and alphabet to help the person say it correctly in sounds that they are familiar with. For Tagalog/Filipino readers seeking to utilize our lessons, read the words in your native tongue and do not follow the suggested pronunciation.
Holiday/Celebration Greetings
Happy Birthday - Naragsak nga Panagkasangay
(Nah-rug-sak ngah pa-nahg-kah-sang-ai)
Happy Valentines - Naimbag nga aldaw ti puspuso
(Nah-eem-bug ngah al-dao tee poos-poo-so)
Happy Thanksgiving - Naragsak/Naimbag nga Panagyaman
(Nah-rug-sak / Nah-eem-bug ngah pa-nahg-ya-mahn)
Merry Christmas - Naragsak/Naimbag nga Paskua
(Nah-rug-sak / Nah-eem-bug ngah Pas-kwa)
Happy New Year -Naragsak nga baro nga tawen
(Nah-rug-sak ngah ba-ro ngah tah-wen)
When in doubt, just say your English holiday greeting. Of course, when you encounter Ilokanos at one of the many holiday parties that you will be attending, you will need a conversation freshener, enough to get some "Ooh" and "Aah" or "Ala!" followed by giggles and laughter.
When that happens, please don't be offended. Ilokanos gets very excited when someone of other races speaks their language. The initial response is to giggle and laugh not because they are making fun but because they are impressed with your effort.
Simple phrases to remember:
Hello/How are you?- Kablaaw / Kumusta kayo? / Musta apo ( you add "apo" to a grandpa/grandma)
Nice to meet you - Naragsakkak a maamammo ka (Nah-rug-sak-kahk ah mah-um-um-moh kah)
I am fine - Nasayatak met (Nah-sa-yah-at-tak met) / Mayat met (mah-yaht met)
Thank you - Agyamanak (Ugh-yah-mahn-nahk)
I am (your name) - Siak ni_____( Syak nee......)
I am so and so's spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend/friend
Siak ti asawa/nobya/nobyo/gayyem ni (your partner's name)
( Syak tee ah-sah-wah/noob-yah/noob-yo/guy-yem nee......)
And when everything else fails to juggle your memory or you've had one too many San Miguel by then,
Saan ko maawatan (Sa-an- koh mah-ah-wah-tun) = I don't understand
Diak makaawat (Jack mah-kah-ah-what) = I am not able to understand
or as my husband like to say:
Diak ammo, saan ko maawatan, tulingak!
(Jack uhm-mo, Sa-an- koh mah-ah-wah-tun, too-ling-ak)
which means.... I don't know, I don't understand, I am deaf!)
So if you get a chance to attend a Filipino party, GO! You would not want to miss the awesome food and the company with the corny cheesy jokes. Plus you get to practice and show off what you've learned with Ilokano Learner.
But first, go through all the greeting lessons we've posted. These two in particular.
Greetings Part 1
Common Phrases
Inton Maminsan Manen
Happy Learning!
NOTES: These lessons are designed with the English Speakers in mind. The pronunciation is spelled out to emphasize sounds of the English language and alphabet to help the person say it correctly in sounds that they are familiar with. For Tagalog/Filipino readers seeking to utilize our lessons, read the words in your native tongue and do not follow the suggested pronunciation.
