Things to ask others or others might ask you and some common ways to answer them

1) Ano (What questions)

• Anong pangalan mo? / Ano (nga) ulit pangalan mo?
• What’s your name? / What is your name (again)?
  • Ako po si (your name).
  • (Your name) po.
• Anong paborito mong ___ ?
• What is your favorite ___?
  • (Answer) po.
  • Paborito/Favorite ko po ang ___.
• Anong grade mo na?
• What grade level are you in now? (Referring to the grade level in school. In the Philippines, it is normally called by Grade and number, unlike in the US where it is called in the ordinal number like “tenth grade”.)
  • Grade 10 na po ako.
  • High school na po ako.
• Anong course mo? / Anong kinukuha mong kurso? / Ano nang tinatapos mo?
• What is your college course? / What course are you taking? / What (degree) have you finished?
  • (Your major, course, or degree) po.
  • Kumukuha po ako ng Architecture. (I’m taking up Architecture.)
• Anong school mo? Saan ka nag-aaral?
• literally What school are you studying in? / Where do you study?
  • Sa (your uni/school) po ako nag-aaral. (I’m studying in ___.)
  • Kaga-graduate ko lang po. (I just finished my studies.)(literally I just graduated.)
• Anong trabaho mo? / Ano na ang trabaho mo? / Anong work mo ngayon?
• What’s your job? / What is your work now?
  • Isa po akong nurse. (I am a nurse.)
  • Nag-a-apply-apply pa po ako. (literally I’m still passing my applications.)(I’m still looking for a job.)
  • Part time / Freelance po ang work ko ngayon. (I’m currently working part time/freelance.)
  • Work from home po ang work ko ngayon. (I’m currently in a work from home setup.)

2) Sino (Who questions)

• Sino ang panganay / bunso sa inyo?
• Who is the oldest/youngest among you?
  • Ako / Siya / Si ___ po. (I am / She/He / ___ is the oldest/youngest.)

3) Ilan/Pang-ilan (Number-related questions / How many / In what order)

• Ilan kayong magkakapatid? / Ilan ang anak mo?
• How many siblings are you? / How many kids do you have?
  • Tatlo po kaming magkakapatid. (We are three siblings.)
  • Dalawa na ang anak ko. (I (already) have two kids.)
• Pang-ilan ka sa magkakapatid? / Pang-ilan mo nang ___ ?
• In what order do you fit among your siblings? (This is a difficult question. For so long, nobody is really sure about how to translate this!)
  • Pangalawa po ako sa aming/’ming magkakapatid. (I’m second among my siblings.)
  • Panganay po ako. (I am the eldest / first child.)
  • Bunso po ako. (I am the youngest.)
  • Panggitna po ako. (I am a middle child)
  • Nag-iisang anak po ako. (I am a single/solo child.)

4) Saan (Where questions)

• Saan ka/kayo nag-____?
• Where do you ___?
  • Sa ___ po. (Sa is a place or location marker.)
• Saan ka sa USA nakatira? Saang state?
• Where in the USA do you live? / Which state?
  • Nakatira po ako sa L.A, sa California. (I live in L.A., in California)
• Taga-saan ka/kayo sa Pilipinas?
• literally You are from where in the Philippines? Where do you hail from in the Philippines?
  • Taga-Pangasinan po sina Mama. Taga-Davao naman po sina Papa. (Mom’s family is from Laguna, while Dad’s family is from Davao.)

5) Kailan (When questions)

• Kailan ka nagsimula sa bago mong trabaho?
• When did you start your new job?
  • Noong January po.
• Kailan ka magsisimula sa bago mong trabaho?
• When will you start in your new job?
  • Magsisimula po ako sa May. (I will start on May.)
  • Sa May po ang simula. (literally On May is the start.)
• Gaano na katagal mula nang… / Kailan pa…?
• How long since you have…? / Since when?
  • Mula po noong… (Since…)
  • Noong… (On… / Since…)