Ilocano
Pagsasao nga Ilokano / Bahasa Ilokano
Contents
Information
Family:
Borean
Dené-Daic
Austric
Austronesian
Malayo-Polynesian
Western Malayo–Polynesian
Philippine
Northern Luzonian
Region: Northern Luzon, many parts of Central Luzon to Mindanao (pre-1900s), worldwide (post-1900s)
Ethnicity: Ilocano people and others
Speakers:
Terran: 8.1 million (second speaker), 2 million (first speaker)
Berbanian: 560 million (third or second speakers)
Reinachan: 1 million (first to third speakers)
Time Period: 1500s
Grammar Type:
Verb–subject–object (75%)
Subject–verb–object (25%)
Writing System:
Latin (1500s-present)
Baybayin (Ilocano version; 900s-1600s, revived at 2010s)
Language Status:
Earth: Vulnerable (Real-life only) / Not Endangered (Earth Responsibly only)
Berbania: Not Endangered
Reinachos: Critically Endangered
Delphia: Critically Endangered
Ilocano (Iloko or Standard and Hawaiian dialects) is classified as Vulnerable Language by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. (Pre-TROQA)
Ilocano (Berbanian) is not endangered according to the classification system of the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. (Post-TROQA)
Reinachan and Delphian Ilocano (and Hawaiian Ilocano) dialects are classified as Critically Endangered according to the classification system of the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. (Post-TROQA)
Ilocano language is an Austronesian language spoken in the Philippines, primarily by Ilocano people and as a lingua franca by the Igorot people and also by the native settlers of Cagayan Valley. It is the third most-spoken native language in the country. This language was introduced in all Earth Responsibly series as a language that is vulnerable language globally as well as a language that is safe in the Philippines and Hawaii.
Philippine
Northern Luzon
Old Ilocano
Classical Ilocano
Northern Ilocano / Standard Ilocano
Southern Ilocano
Cagayan Ilocano
American Ilocano
Hawaiian Ilocano
Distribution and Conservation
The Ilocano language is spoken in the Ilocos Region, the Babuyan Islands, the Cordillera Administrative Region, Cagayan Valley, northern parts of Central Luzon, Batanes, some areas in Mindoro, and scattered areas in Mindanao (particularly the Soccsksargen region). The language is also spoken in the United States, with Hawaii and California having the largest number of speakers, and in Canada. It is the third most spoken non-English language in Hawaii after Tagalog and Japanese, spoken by 17% of those speaking languages other than English at home (25.4% of the population).
A lingua franca of Northern Luzon and many parts of Central Luzon, it is spoken as a secondary language by more than two million people who are native speakers of Ibanag, Ivatan, Pangasinan, Sambal, and other local languages.
Unfortunately, because of dominance of Modern Tagalog (as Filipino) and Philippine English dialect are official languages in the Philippines, the Ilocano language is classified as Vulnerable Language by the UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. In 2009, the Department of Education instituted Department Order No. 74, s. 2009 stipulating that "mother tongue-based multilingual education" would be implemented. Even major Philippine languages, such as Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Bikol, and Ilokano, are in decline, with some languages disappearing faster than others because of Cebuano, Tagalog, and English. Foreigners have pushed against the revival or used Ilocano and other languages included Indonesian, debating the replacement of English and Spanish-language place names with original Filipino languages, not including Tagalog or Spanish-orthograph-based word origins.
Ilocano is a mysterious language from the Philippine languages family, but their close relative was from Cagayan Valley to Agta, making it their sole language like Armenian. Most words of Ilocano are native and the same words as Tagalog, Isneg, Kapampangan, Ibanag, Ivatan, Indonesian, Malay, and others prior to colonization. Now, the Ilocano language has various loanwords from Sanskrit, Tamil, Persian, Arabic, Hokkien, Spanish, Quechua, Nahuatl, English, and possibly Hawaiian.
In 2012, Department Order No. 16, s. 2012 stipulated that the mother tongue-based multilingual system was to be implemented for Kindergarten to Grade 3 Effective School Year 2012–2013. Ilocano is used in public schools mostly in the Ilocos Region and the Cordilleras. It is the primary medium of instruction from Kindergarten to Grade 3 (except for the Filipino and English subjects) and is also a separate subject from Grade 1 to Grade 3. Thereafter, English and Filipino are introduced as mediums of instructions.
It is the third most spoken non-English language in Hawaii after Tagalog and Japanese, spoken by 17% of those speaking languages other than English at home (25.4% of the population). Linguists were unsure if Ilocano and other endangered languages would survive.
The epic story Biag ni Lam-ang (The Life of Lam-ang) is undoubtedly one of the few indigenous stories from the Philippines that survived colonialism, although much of it is now acculturated and shows many foreign elements in the retelling. It reflects values important to traditional Ilokano society; it is a hero's journey steeped in courage, loyalty, pragmatism, honor, and ancestral and familial bonds.
Pronunciations
Vowels
a - A a
ɛ - E e
i - I i
o - O o
u - U u / O o
ɯ - E e (southern dialect only)
Consonants
b - B b
d - D d
dʒ - Di(V)*
g - G g
h - H h
j - Y y
k - K k
l - L l
ʎ/lʲ - Li(V)*
m - M m
n - N n
ɲ/nʲ - Ni(V)/Ñ ñ*
ŋ - NG ng
p - P p
r - R r / -rr-
ɾ - R r
s - S s
ʃ - Si(V)*
t - T t
tʃ - Ts(V) / Ti(V)*
v - V v
w - W w / Ku(V), Gu(V)^
Take Note
* - Letters in parentheses are orthographic conventions that are used, and the close front unrounded vowel /i/, [j].
^ - The close back rounded vowel /u/ becomes [w] before another vowel.
Words
Numerals
one - maysa
two - dua
three - tallo
four - uppat
five - lima
six - ennem
seven - pito
eight - walo
nine - siam
ten - sangapolo, pollo
11 - sangapulo ket maysa, sangapulo't maysa
12 - sangapulo ket dua, sangapulo't dua
13 - sangapulo ket tallo, sangapulo't tallo
14 - sangapulo ket uppat, sangapulo't uppat
15 - sangapulo ket lima, sangapulo't lima
16 - sangapulo ket innem, sangapulo't innem
17 - sangapulo ket pito, sangapulo't pito
18 - sangapulo ket walo, sangapulo't walo
19 - sangapulo ket siam/sham, sangapulo't siam/sham
20 - duapolo
21 - duapulo ket maysa, duapulo't maysa
30 - tallopulo
40 - uppat a pulo
50 - limapulo
60 - innem a pulo
70 - pitopulo
80 - walopulo
90 - siam a pulo
100 - sangagasut, gasut
101 - sangagasut maysa
111 - sangagasut sangapulo ket maysa
200 - dua gasut
234 - dua gasut tallo pulo ket uppat
300 - tallo gasut
400 - uppat a gasut
500 - lima gasut
600 - innem a gasut
700 - pito gasut
800 - walo gasut
900 - siam a gasut
1000 - sangaribu
2000 - dua ribu
10000 - sangapulo a sangaribo
1,000,000 - maysa a milion
2,000,000 - dua a milion
1,000,000,000 - maysa a bilion
Animals
dog - aso
cat - pusa
puppy - úken
cattle - baka
goat - kanding
pig - baboy
piglet - buriás / burias
horse - kabayo, kaballio
donkey - asno
mule - mullo, mulo
sheep - tupa, karnero
deer - ugsá
rat - baó
elephant - elepante, gadia
pangolin - balintong
possum - possum
lion - liyon
tiger - tigre, rimaw
leopard - leyopardo
rabbit - kuneho
hare - liebure
cloud rat - buot
squirrel - mútit
bat - kurarapnít, pannikí
bear - oso
polar bear - óso a puráw (lit. white bear)
weasel - wisel, armilio
civet - músang
chick - piék
chicken - manok, ayam, galo
wild chicken - abuyo
quail - pugo
duck - itik, pato
turkey - pábo, pabbo
crow / raven - wak
penguin - pengguin
parson bird / tui - tu-i
parrot - bulilising, lóro
kakapo - bulilising a rabi
hornbill - kalaw
woodpecker - tariktik
crane (bird) - kebkeb
oriole - kiaw
hawk - kali
owl - puek
moa bird - moa
pigeon - kalapati
fruit dove - alimuken
oystercatcher - ???
albatross - ???
gannet, bobby - ???
cormorant - ???
heron, egret - ???
tropicbird - ???
tern - salikap
fantail - ???
house gecko - alutiit, alutiít
crocodile - buaya, bukarot
snake - uleg
cobra - carasaen / karasaen
turtle - pag-óng
dragon - naga
frog - tukak
tadpole - bayyék / bayyek
anchovy - munámon
shark - pating
whale - baliena
dolphin - lumod
fish - ikan
halfbeak - siriw, susai
catfish - paltat
ricefish - ikan ti pagai
silver perch - ayungin
eel - igat
wasp - alumpipinig / alumpipínig
fly (Diptera) - ngílau, ngilaw
ant - kutón
butterfly - kulibangbang
dragonfly - tuwáto
mantis - wasaywásay, wasaiwasai
horned beetle - patsára, patiára
maggot - sur-ít
spider - lawwalawwá
scorpion - manggagamá
snail - karakol, birurukong
squid - pusit
octopus - kugita
seashell - tahong
worm - iggés
jellyfish - karomínas
egg - itlóg / itlóg
devil - saíro
Places
city - siudad
province - ili / probinsia
mountain - bantay
plateau - tanap ti tanap
volcano - bulkan
waterfall - dissúor / dissuor
Phrases
Greetings
Hello - Kablaaw.
Hello everyone - Kablaaw hello amin nga kakabsat.
Greetings to one - Naimbag a gasat kadakayo.
Greetings to two - Naimbag a gasat kadakayo a dua.
Greetings to three or more - Naimbag a gasat kadakayo.
Greetings to a friend - Kablaaw ti gayyem ko.
Dear Vice-Chancellor - Patpatgenmi a bise-tiansellor
Dear Sir/Madam - Patpatgek nga apo/maam
Dear Michael - Patpatgek a Michael (Miquel / Mikael / Mikhael)
I don't understand - Diak maawatan.
I don't speak Ilocano - Haan ko ammo ag-Ilocano.
Just a little - Basit lang.
What's your name - Ania ti nagan mo? / Ania ti naganmo?
My name is (name) - (Name) ti naganko. / Ti naganko ket (name).
Good morning - Naimbag nga bigat
Where are you from? - Tagaanoka?
I'm from (country) - Taga (country) ak.
Greetings to you (said to three or more people) - Kablaaw kadakayo amin.
Welcome - Naragsak nga isasangbay.
Fine, thank you - Naimbag nak met!
How are you? - Kumusta kan?
Good - Nasayaat.
Really good - Talaga a nasayaat
What you say? - Ania ti ibagam?
What? - Ania?
I am truly sorry for that. - Talaga a ladingitek dayta.
See you later - Agkita ta inton damdama.
See you next time - Agkitakami inton sumaruno.
Goodbye/farewell (said to someone leaving) - Agpakadan.
Goodbye (said to someone staying) - Diós ti kumúyog / Tuhan ti kumuyog
Would you like a coffee? - Kayatmo kadi ti agkape?
Would you like a tea? - Kayatmo kadi ti agtiaa?
Would you like a water? - Kayatmo kadi ti danum?
Sugar? Milk? - Asukar? Gatas?
Is (name) there (telephone) / Is Sarah's telephone - Ti telepono ni Sarah? / Ti telepono ni (name)?
Yes, one moment please - Wen, maysa a kanito pangngaasiyo.
Is (name) in (office) / Is Juan's office - Isu ti opisina ni (name)? / Isu ti opisina ni Juan?
Sorry she/he is in a meeting. - Sorry adda isuna/isu iti miting.
Sorry she/he is in a class. - Sorry isu/isu ket adda iti klase
Yes, but unfortunately she/he is busy at the moment. - Wen, ngem daksanggasat ta okupado isuna/isu iti agdama.
Send him/her an email. - Ipatulodmo kenkuana ti email.
I would like to meet with you. - Kayatko koma ti makipagkita kadakayo.
I would like to meet with you all. - Kayatko koma ti makipagkita kadakayo amin.
Shall I meet you (one person) for lunch? - Makipagkitaak kadi kenka (name) para iti pangngaldaw?
Shall I meet you Aurora for lunch? - Makipagkitaak kadi kenka Aurora iti pangngaldaw?
Shall I meet you Jericho for lunch? - Makipagkitaak kadi kenka Jerico para iti pangngaldaw?
Shall I meet you Arianna for lunch? - Makipagkitaak kadi kenka Ariana iti pangngaldaw?
Shall we (more than one person) meet for lunch? - Agtataripnongtayo kadi ket agtataripnongtayo a mangan?
Where? - Sadinno?
At the dap-ay? - Iti Dap-ayan?
At the marae? - Iti Marae?
At the Hub? - Iti Balay-sentro?
I will call past your office. - Tumawagakto a lumabas iti opisinayo.
I will call you at my castle. - Awaganka iti kastilio.
Meet me at the Library. - Maam-ammonak idiay kuarto-libro.
I am teaching until 1pm. - Mangisursuroak agingga iti ala una ti malem.
My computer is broken. - Nadadael ti kompiuterok.
Call 5050 - Awagam ti lima ribu limapulo, ita.
Call the herbalist now! - Tawagan itan ti erbolario! / Tawagan itan ti mangngagas!
The internet is slow today. - Nabannayat ti internet ita.
The printer is out of paper. - Naibus ti papel ti printer.
Do you have a pen I can borrow? - Adda kadi pen a mabalinko nga umutang?
Yes, I have a pen. - Wen, adda pen.
I will care for the pigs on your farm. - Siak ti mangaywan kadagiti baboy iti talonmo.
What is that smell, coming from a skunk. - Ania dayta nga angot, aggapu iti pantot.
Yours sincerely (one signatory) - Sipapasnek a kukuam.
Yours sincerely (two signatories) - Sipapasnek kadakayo a dua.
Yours sincerely (three signatories) - Sipapasnek tallo kadakayo,
Yours faithfully (one signatory) - Kukuam a simamatalek.
That is all for now. - Dayta laengen iti agdama.
See you (again) - Agkitata (manen).
With best wishes - Buyogen ti naimbag a tarigagay.
I love you - Ay-ayaten ka (formal), ipat-pateg ka (informal), ikarkarayo ka
Get well soon - Agpalaingkan, Lumaing ka koma a dagus
Regards - Pammadayaw.
Thanks - Agyaman.
Thank you - Aagyaman.
Many thanks - Adu nga salamat.
Thank you so much/very much - Agyaman kami unay/napalalo.
All the best - Amin a kamayatan.
See you tomorrow - Agkita tan to inton bigat.
See you on Monday - Agkitatayo inton Lunes.
All of the city's barangays will have designated Wi-Fi zones - Amin dagiti baranggay ti siudad ket addaan iti naituding a Wi-Fi lugar-dalan.
Hateful / Profanity
How dare you - Kasano a maituredmo
What have you done! - Ania ti inaramidmo!
I hate you - Kaguraka
Damn you - Makariribukka
You're crazy - Nauyongka
Let's masturbate - Agsalsal ta
Pussy Gee spot - Bagaas ti ukim
Stink Pussy - Bangsit uki
Your armpit so stinky - Bungsit tikilikili mo
You dickhead - Luk dit mo
Fuck you - Ukininam
Motherfucker - Yot ni inam
Phrases
The Lord's Prayer / Amami (Catholic Version)
Amami, nga addaka sadi langit,
Madaydayaw kuma ti Naganmo.
Umay kuma ti pagariam.
Maaramid kuma ti pagayatam
Kas sadi langit kasta met ditoy daga.
Itedmo kadakam ita ti taraonmi iti inaldaw.
Ket pakawanennakami kadagiti ut-utangmi,
A kas met panamakawanmi
Kadagiti nakautang kadakami.
Ket dinakam iyeg iti pannakasulisog,
No di ket isalakannakami iti dakes.
The Lord's Prayer / Amami (Protestant Version)
Amami nga adda sadi langit,
Madaydayaw koma ti Naganmo,
Dumteng koma ti Pagariam,
Matungpal koma ti nakemmo
Ditoy daga a kas sadi langit.
Itdem kadakam iti aldaw itoy
Ti kanenmi iti patinayon nga aldaw.
Pakawanen dagiti basolmi
A kas iti pammakawanmi
Iti basol dagiti nakabasol kadakami,
Dinakam met baybay-an nga umannugot iti sulisog,
Isalakannakam ket iti dakes. Amen.
The Rosary
Mamatiak ti Dios Ama a Mannakabalin-amin
A Namarsua ti Langit ken Daga
Mamatiak met ken Jesucristo
A Bugbugtong nga Anak na ken Apotayo
A timmao ti Espirito Santo
Inyanak ni Santa Maria Virgen
Nagtutuok ti panagturay ni Poncio Pilato
Nailansa iti Krus,Natay ket Naitanem
Immulog ti yan dagiti natay,
Nagungar iti maikatlo nga aldaw,
Immulit sadi Langit ket situtugaw
Iti makannawan ti Dios Ama a Mannakabalin-amin
Aggapuntot sadiay a Mangukom
Kadagiti sibibiag ken dagiti natay
Mamatiak met ti Santa Iglesia Katolika
Ti panagririnnanod dagiti Sasantos
Ti pannakapakawan dagiti basbasol
Ken addanto met panagungar ti bagi
Ken Biag nga agnanayon. Amen.
Hail Mary
Ave Maria, napno ka ti gracia,
ni Apo Diyos ti adda kenka.
Sika ti nangruna a bendita iti amin a babbai,
ket bendito met ti bunga ti tian mo a ni Jesus.
Life of Poliahu / Biag ni Poliahu
On the eastern side of Mauna Kea, Poliahu encountered the ali'i Aiwohikupua. As a result of their love affair, Aiwohikupua brought Poli'ahu to his native Kaua'i. There Poliʻahu discovered that the aliʻi was already betrothed to a princess of Hawaiian Islands.
Iti daya a bangir ti Mauna Kea, nasabat ni Poliahu dagiti ali'i Aiwohikupua. Kas gapuanan ti panagayatda, ni Aiwohikupua ket nangiyeg kenni Poli'ahu idiay katutubona a Kaua'i. Sadiay, naduktalan ni Poli'ahu a ti ali'i ket naitulagdan iti maysa a dayang-dayang a taga Hawaii.
Update
3/1/2023 - Ilocano was introduced.
3/2/2023 - Ilocano words were added.