Here Are The Top 10 Popular Languages In The Philippines
1 | Filipino Tagalog
The official national language is spoken in the Manila Area and nearby provinces including Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija.
2 | Cebuano
Also known as Bisaya, is the second most spoken language in the country. It is mostly used in Central Visayas particularly in the province of Cebu and Bohol. It is also used in some areas in Mindanao including Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and General Santos City.
3 | Ilocano
The third most spoken native language in the Philippines, Ilocano is used in Northern and Central Luzon, particularly in the Ilocos Region.
4 | Hiligaynon
Also referred to as Ilonggo, Hiligaynon is the second most-widely spoken Bisayan language and is used in Western Visayas particularly in Iloilo, Bacolod, Capiz, and Guimaras as well as some parts of Cotabato in Mindanao. Hiligaynon is known for its distinct sweet intonation.
5 | Waray
The opposite of Hiligaynon, Waray, also known as Waray-Waray, is known for its tough and strong intonation. It is the fifth most spoken language in the Philippines and is used in Eastern Samar and some parts of Masbate and Sorsogon.
6 | Bicolano
Also known as Central Bikol or Bikol Naga, Bikol is primarily used in southern Luzon, particularly in Bicol Region. It is also spoken in Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, and some parts of Albay, Catanduanes, Masbate, and Sorsogon.
7 | Kapampangan
8 | Pangasinense
9 |
10 | Tausug
English As A Global Language
English has ceased to be an “English language” in the sense of belonging only to people who are ethnically . Use of English is growing country-by-country internally and for international communication. Most people learn English for practical rather than ideological reasons. Many speakers of English in Africa have become part of an “Afro-Saxon” language community that unites Africans from different countries.
Modern English, sometimes described as the first global , is also regarded as the first . English is the world’s most widely used language in newspaper publishing, book publishing, international telecommunications, scientific publishing, international trade, mass entertainment, and diplomacy. English is, by international treaty, the basis for the required and Airspeak, used as of seafaring and aviation. English used to have parity with French and German in scientific research, but now it dominates that field. It achieved parity with as a language of diplomacy at the negotiations in 1919. By the time of the foundation of the at the end of , English had become pre-eminent and is now the main worldwide language of diplomacy and international relations. It is one of six official languages of the United Nations. Many other worldwide international organisations, including the , specify English as a working language or official language of the organisation.
Countries in which English Language is a Mandatory or an Optional Subject
What Languages Are Spoken In The Philippines
The Philippines is an island nation that is located in the western Pacific Ocean. In ancient times, the islands were gradually populated by Austronesians. European contact began in 1521 when the Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan arrived, and the first Spanish colony was established in 1565. This colony marked the beginning of a 300-year of Spanish rule. In 1898, the islands became US territory until 1946, when its independence was acknowledged. Today, the Philippines is an ethnically diverse country and because of this, over 150 languages can be heard here. This article takes a look at some of the major languages spoken in this country.
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Official Language Of Philippines
Tagalog was the official language of the Philippines in 1939. It was widely spoken in the countrys capital. To the South of the Philippines, there are many other languages spoken. The official language of the Philippines was changed to Filipino in 1973 under the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos. It was further elaborated with the development of the 1987 constitution.
Some Helpful Tagalog Phrases

Many helpful Tagalog phrases can be used in various situations. These phrases can be used to greet someone, show appreciation, ask for help, or apologize. Learning even a few of these phrases can help communicate with others who speak Tagalog.
One helpful Tagalog phrase is âkumusta ka?â This can be used as a greeting, equivalent to saying âhow are you?â in English. Another phrase that can be used as a greeting is âMagandang Araw,â which means âgood day.â
Another helpful Tagalog phrase is âsalamat,â which means âthank you.â This can be used to show appreciation for something someone has done for you. For example, if someone holds the door open for you, you can say âsalamatâ to show appreciation.
Another helpful Tagalog phrase is âtulongâ which means âhelp.â This can be used when you need assistance from someone. For example, if you are lost, you can ask someone for help by saying âtulong.â
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Learning And Preserving Languages Of The Philippines
Learning a regional language: If youre interested in learning one of the regional languages of the Philippines, there are many resources available to help you. You can find books, websites, apps, and classes that can teach you the basics of the language and help you improve your skills. Additionally, by spending time in the Philippines and immersing yourself in the language and culture, youll be able to learn even more and gain a deeper understanding of the language.
Preserving indigenous languages: Many of the regional languages of the Philippines are indigenous languages, meaning they are spoken by indigenous communities and are an important part of their cultural identity. In recent years, there has been a growing effort to preserve these languages and ensure that they are not lost. This includes initiatives to teach indigenous languages in schools, document and study the languages, and promote their use in daily life.
The role of language in Philippine culture: Language plays a vital role in Philippine culture and identity. It is a means of communication, but it is also a reflection of the countrys history, values, and traditions. By learning and preserving the languages of the Philippines, we can better understand and appreciate the countrys unique culture and contribute to its ongoing vitality and diversity.
Major Languages In The Philippines
The Philippines has a diverse culture. An archipelago of about 7641 islands, it has a plethora of religions, cultures, and practices. Apropos of that, there are up to 187 languages spoken in this nation. Every language has its origin, dialect, and history with this country. A lot of them are native indigenous dialects that are spoken in small regions and populations. The major languages of the Philippines are Filipino and English.
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How Many Languages Are There In The Philippines
Ilocano, the third-most spoken language in the Philippines, is our language of the week this week. Weve previously taken a look at Cebuano, but considering that there are 187 languages spread over 7,000 islands, that means theres a lot more to cover! In this post, well do a quick overview of the Philippines languages, their status and which ones you can learn with us.
With 183 spoken languages, the Philippines is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. That being the case, how has just one of these risen to be the national language and what does that mean for the others?
For the three centuries that the Philippines was under colonial rule, Spanish was the official language. In 1571, Spain established Manila as the capital of the Spanish East Indies, and the country was governed as a territory of the Mexico-based Viceroyalty of New Spain after 1821 and the Mexican War of Independence, Madrid began to govern it again.
However, in 1898, after the Spanish-American War, the Philippines, along with Puerto Rico and Guam, were ceded to the United States. This led to a gradual decline in the use of Spanish, particularly after the 1940s, which was due in part to the fact that the 1935 Constitution added English as an official language alongside Spanish.
Due to the number of languages spoken across the Philippines, most Filipinos are polyglots they have to be to communicate with one another!
Languages Of The Philippines
Languages of the Philippines |
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Overview of the spread and overlap of the languages spoken throughout the country, by the KWF |
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There are some 120 to 187 languages spoken in the Philippines, depending on the method of classification. Almost all are Malayo-Polynesian languages native to the archipelago. A number of Spanish-influenced creole varieties generally called Chavacano are also spoken in certain communities. The 1987 constitution designates Filipino, a standardized version of Tagalog, as the national language and an official language along with English. Filipino is regulated by Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino and serves as a lingua franca used by Filipinos of various ethnolinguistic backgrounds.
On October 30, 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act 11106, which declares Filipino Sign Language or FSL to be the country’s official sign language and as the Philippine government’s official language in communicating with the Filipino Deaf.
While Filipino is used for communication across the country’s diverse linguistic groups and in popular culture, the government operates mostly using English. Including second-language speakers, there are more speakers of Filipino than English in the Philippines. The other regional languages are given official auxiliary status in their respective places according to the constitution but particular languages are not specified. Some of these regional languages are also used in education.
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English Loanwords And Calques In Other Languages
English has had a strong influence on the vocabulary of other languages. The influence of English comes from such factors as opinion leaders in other countries knowing the English language, the role of English as a world lingua franca, and the large number of books and films that are translated from English into other languages. That pervasive use of English leads to a conclusion in many places that English is an especially suitable language for expressing new ideas or describing new technologies. Among varieties of English, it is especially American English that influences other languages. Some languages, such as Chinese, write words borrowed from English mostly as , while others, such as Japanese, readily take in English loanwords written in sound-indicating script. Dubbed films and television programmes are an especially fruitful source of English influence on languages in Europe.
Nouns And Noun Phrases
English nouns are only inflected for number and possession. New nouns can be formed through derivation or compounding. They are semantically divided into and common nouns. Common nouns are in turn divided into concrete and abstract nouns, and grammatically into and .
Most count nouns are inflected for plural number through the use of the plural –s, but a few nouns have irregular plural forms. Mass nouns can only be pluralised through the use of a count noun classifier, e.g. one loaf of bread, two loaves of bread.
Regular plural formation:
- Singular: man, woman, foot, fish, ox, knife, mouse
- Plural: men, women, feet, fish, oxen, knives, mice
Possession can be expressed either by the possessive –s , or by the preposition of. Historically the -s possessive has been used for animate nouns, whereas the of possessive has been reserved for inanimate nouns. Today this distinction is less clear, and many speakers use –s also with inanimates. Orthographically the possessive -s is separated from a singular noun with an apostrophe. If the noun is plural formed with -s the apostrophe follows the -s.
Possessive constructions:
- With -s: The woman’s husband’s child
- With of: The child of the husband of the woman
Adjectives
Pronouns, case, and person
Both the second and third persons share pronouns between the plural and singular:
theirs | themselves |
Prepositions
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Understanding Languages In The Philippines
Though this is not as incredible as Papua New Guinea with over 800 languages spoken and only 5 million people, it is still interesting to note that most of the languages spoken in the Philippines have speakers that count by the thousands.
Did you know that its one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world?
In some other countries, there are lots of languages spoken but only a handful of native language speakers are left. In the Philippines, most of these languages are very much alive and widely spoken.
There are around 120 to 175 languages spoken in the Philippines, depending on how they are classified. The national language is spoken, and the national language based on the current constitution are English and Filipino.
Its interesting to note that 13 of the Filipino languages spoken in the Philippines have at least 1 million speakers! Some of these languages include Cebuano, Hiligayno, Ilokano, Kapampangan, Kinaray-a, and Waray Waray.
Most of the languages spoken in the Philippines actually have Malayo-Polynesian language roots. However, there are also some Filipinos who can speak regional languages derived from Spanish language, Arabic language, and Chinese language.
Endangered Languages In The Philippines

The Philippines contains a diverse range of languages that are disappearing faster than they can be effectively documented. According to the language database Ethnologue, there are now 28 endangered Philippine languages, compared with 13 in 2016. There are eleven languages threatened with extinction, with several already extinct.
Even major Philippine languages, such as Kapampangan, Pangasinan, Bikol, and Ilokano, are in decline, with some languages disappearing faster than others. Medium-sized languages such as Ibanag, Itawis, and Sambal are experiencing a similar trend. The number of speakers as well as the frequency and situations in which these languages are spoken is in decline.
Local languages are still spoken in family gatherings, sari-sari stores, and barangay halls, but they are not generally spoken in public venues such as parks, banks, restaurants and schools.
Passengers have been said to speak in their own tongues until the bus reaches the main city, at which point they switch to Tagalog.
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A Look At The History:
One would most likely believe that native settlers in the Philippines brought Filipino with them. But stop to think just how many languages are spoken in Philippinesmore than 170!
In total, there are around 120 to 175 languages in the Philippines, depending on how they are classified. In the 19th century, the lingua franca was Spanish due to Philippines being under the colonial influence of Spain. In fact, Filipinos were forced to use Spanish as the language of communication in government and in schools. English replaced Spanish as the official language after the American colonization from 1898 to 1946.
The post-colonization era is marked by the growing influence of English, which began to be widely used as a means of communication till Philippines gained independence after a few years when Tagalog was declared its official language. In 1937, it was decided to choose a national language from among the native languages. English and Tagalogthe forerunner of the present Filipino language, are the two official languages spoken today.
The Filipino language is exclusively composed of Tagalog as spoken in the Manila region. It is spoken as a first language by approximately a third of the population and as a second language by the remaining population.
What Is The Major Religion In The Philippines
Roman CatholicThe Philippines proudly boasts to be the only Christian nation in Asia. More than 86 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, 6 percent belong to various nationalized Christian cults, and another 2 percent belong to well over 100 Protestant denominations.
How many countries speak Filipino?
Tagalog is among the 185 languages of the Philippines identified in the Ethnologue.Filipino language.
Filipino |
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How are many dialect in the Philippines?
Languages and Dialects of the Philippines Abellen, Abenlen, Aburlin Aborlan Tagbanwa Agta Agutaynen Aklanon Alangan Albayano Albuerahanon Cebuano dialect Ambala Ammutan
How many languages are spoken in Philippines?
There are some 120 to 187 languages and dialects in the Philippines , depending on the method of classification.
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How Many Languages Are Spoken In Philippines
By: Ricky velaPosted on Tue, 16-08-2022
The Philippines is a Southeast Asian country located in west of the Pacific Ocean. Composed of over 7,000 islands, this small region is a mix of cultures and boasts of a fusion of nationalities originating from different backgrounds and countries. You will most likely think that this town will have 50 or so languages.
But that is not the case. So exactly, how many languages are spoken in the Philippines?
The country of Philippines, with a modest population of 85 million, is home to more than 170 languages. Not as much as Papua New Guinea which has approximately 820 languagesbut still, 170 is a big number.
It is, however, interesting to note that most of these languages have native speakers that number in thousandsunlike other countries that have small groups of native speakers.
The Rationale Behind So Many Languages:
Despite the fact that the Philippines has undergone several colonization rules and has changed its constitution a few times, many languages still have native speakers. Those who were highly influenced by Spanish settlers retained the use of Chavacanoa derived language of Spain. The native populations influenced by the Muslims in the Southern part of the country still include Arabic as a second language. In fact, it seems like since the conquerors of the Philippines came from varied backgrounds, they all left influences on the natives who retained some expressions of their languages. This can be seen in the number of languages that are spoken by Filipinos todaymore than 170, all belonging to different dialects and backgrounds.
Trade and tourism also influence the local languages and they have been a contributing factor in answering the question of how many languages are spoken in Philippines.
The vast number of languages spoken in the Philippines owes to the trade and commerce practices of the Islands, especially the tourism industry. The Philippines and its islands are renowned for their picturesque beauty and tourism spots. As more people flock the islands, they bring in the tones, sounds, accents and dialects of their countries to these places, leaving an influence on the languages.
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