Philippines Languages

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Philippines

Languages

Description

Filipino and English are the official languages of the Philippines.
Both Filipino and English are used in government, education, print, broadcast media, and business.
Filipino is a standardized version of Tagalog, spoken mainly in Metro Manila.

A total of 182 native languages are spoken in the Philippines and four languages have been classified as extinct.
There are 4 indigenous languages with approximately 9 million or more native speakers:

• Tagalog language
• Cebuano language - also known as Bisaya or Binisaya
• Ilocano language - also known as Ilokano
• Hiligaynon language - also known as Ilonggo

Plus an additional 10 indigenous languages with 1 million to 3 million native speakers:

• Waray language - also known as Waray-Waray or Bisaya/Binisaya nga Winaray/Waray
• Bikol language - also known as Central Bikol or Bikol Naga
• Kapampangan language
• Pangasinan language
• Maranao language
• Tausug language
• Maguindanao language - also known as Maguindanaon
• Chavacano language - also known as Chabacano
• Karay-a language
• Surigaonon language

Alphabet and Pronunciation

Alphabet

Pronunciation

Language Aids and Dictionaries

Dictionaries

Online Dictionaries

Language Aids

Additional Resources

Most pre-1900 genealogical material is written in Spanish, although you will also occasionally find records in Latin, French, Dutch, or Hebrew. You do not need to be fluent in Spanish to research Philippine records. Language aids can give you the language information you need.

For word lists and help researching in Philippine records, see:

• Spanish Genealogical Word List
• Latin Genealogical Word List
• French Genealogical Word List
• Dutch Genealogical Word List

• Spanish Records Extraction: An Instruction Guide. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981. (FHL book 980 D27s; fiche 6089702.)