Learn ilonggo

 learn Hiligaynon/ilonggo!  

 Most people in south cotabato speak hiligaynon/illonggo here are some basic ilonggo words

Expressions

a-GAY! :  ouch!

AY! :  expression of surprise

AY, a-HAY! / AY A-hay! – expression of pity or dismay

AY, NA-no? :  literally, “huh, what happened?”; expression of surprise at the result of an unexpected or wrong decision

a-YOS! :  alright!

am-BOT? : I don’t know. (innocently)

am-BOT! :  I don’t know! (condescendingly)

ba-LA :  asserting or agreeing with something ; allegedly

da-SON? :  then? / next?

ga-LI^? :  really?

GID / GUID (pronounced GID):  indeed

ha-LA! :  oh! / hullo!

HAM-ot:  amused

HOY! : hey! (considered impolite; the polite way is to address a person by his name or nickname)

HU-o:  yes

HU-o ba-LA:  yes, really / allegedly, yes

HU-o GID:  yes, indeed

IN-di^ ba-LA:  allegedly, no

IN-di^ GID:  no, indeed;  never

ka-NA-mi^:  so nice

TA-pos! :  (it’s) the end! / i’m doomed!

TI^? :  so? / and then?

Ilonggo: Short QueriesWhat:   a-NO

Where:  di-IN

When:  SAN-o

Why:  NGA-a

How:  pa-Ano

How many:  pi-LA / pi-LA ka BI-log / a-NO ka DA-mo^

How much:  pi-La / tag-pi-LA

How long (length):  a-NO ka LA-ba^

Ilonggo: Short Responses

Yes: HU-o

No: IN-di^

Maybe: BA-si^

None: wa-LA^

There is: may A-ra^

I have: may A-ra^ KO

I don’t have: wa-LA^ KO

Ilonggo: Pronunciation

a – AH

e – EH

i – IH

o – O

u – OO

Vowels with the ^ symbol on top are pronounced with a sudden stop (due to character limitations, the ^ symbol is typed right after the vowel with a sudden-stop sound). For example:

la-YA^ – dry / dried

NA-mi^ – nice

KA-lo^ – hat / cap

*Tip: For a more convincing sounding Hiligaynon, the trick is to speak in the famous Negrense or Ilonggo melodious tone.