Ilokano Learner

Holidays with Ilocanos

2023-11-01T12:38:00.001-05:00

A Parol is a star-shaped ornament that is an iconic Christmas symbol in the Philippines. Some are fancy with lights and some are just made of paper or plastic. It represents the star of Bethlehem which helped guide the Three Kings to the Nativity of Jesus.

The presence of a Parol outside someone's window or porch is a telltale sign of Filipino culture. Although it is only November, it's common to see their Christmas trees and lights already up. In the Philippines, Christmas festivities begin as soon as the "BER" months start. The hundred-day countdown to Christmas Day commences on September 16th, and Filipinos like to celebrate early.

Gathering with loved ones holds a crucial place in Filipino culture, and they need no specific occasion to host a party. Of course, the holiday season provides even more reasons to celebrate. Christmas festivities in the Philippines are not limited to just families; the entire community comes together to celebrate. This year's exceptional circumstances caused by the pandemic may affect the celebrations, but Filipinos will undoubtedly find ways to enjoy each other's company and share their blessings.

To begin a new lesson, it's fitting to focus on the holidays. We've previously published an article on holiday celebrations, which you can read HERE.

HOLIDAY GREETINGS!

Since it is just around the corner, let's start with Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving - Naragsak/Naimbag nga Panagyaman
(Nah-rug-sak / Nah-eem-bug ngah pa-nahg-ya-mahn)

***Tagalog: Maligayang Pasasalamat

Now for the rest of the holidays, here you go!

Merry Christmas - Naimbag a Paskua
(Nah-rug-sak / Nah-eem-bug ah Pas-kwa)

You (Singular) Kenka (Ken-yah-yoh)

You (Plural) Kendakayo (Ken-duh-kah-yoh)

Kenyayo (ken-yah-yoh)

Y'all / You all Kendakayo Amin (ken-duh-kah-yoh Ah-meen)

Kenyayo Amin (ken-ya-yo Ah-meen)

***Tagalog: Maligayang Pasko

Happy New Year -Naragsak a baro nga tawen
(Nah-rug-sak ah ba-ro ngah tah-wen)

You (Singular) Kenka (Ken-yah-yoh)

You (Plural) Kendakayo (Ken-duh-kah-yoh)

Kenyayo (ken-yah-yoh)

Y'all / You all Kendakayo Amin (ken-duh-kah-yoh Ah-meen)

Kenyayo Amin (ken-ya-yo Ah-meen)

***Manigong Bagong Taon or Maligayang Bagong Taon

Here's a list of words that will be helpful along the way:

Here are some phrases that you definitely need to remember:

Ready to rock people's socks off? Check out these mind-blowing lessons from our blog below! Or, if you're a curious cat, take a peek at our older posts for even more goodies. And, if you're not already part of our Facebook family, come join us for some daily laughs and fun!

GREETINGS PART 1

GREETINGS PART 2

COMMON PHRASES

Our apologies for the lack of recent uploads to this page. We will be taking action to rectify this by releasing more content in the near future. Additionally, we plan to revisit and update some of our prior postings in response to the feedback we have received.

Until Next Time,

Siak ni Gigi

NOTES: These lessons are designed with the English Speakers in mind. The pronunciation is spelled out to emphasize sounds of the English language and alphabet to help the person to say it correctly in sounds that they are familiar with.

For Tagalog/Filipino readers seeking to utilize our lessons, read the words in your native tongue and do not follow the suggested pronunciation.

Why the Ilokano language?

2021-08-27T20:42:00.003-05:00

Why the Ilokano Language?

As you embark on the journey of learning a new language, there's always that one question that pops up: "Why that language?" And we get it too! On our blog and social media handles, folks often ask us why we chose Ilokano over Tagalog. Well, let us spill the beans on how and why this blog came to be.

Let me paint a picture of me for you! I started my adventure in the lush Northern region of the Philippines, where I spent my first dozen years soaking in the culture. But, then my family and I made the big move to the Lone Star State of Texas! My mother tongue is Ilokano, but I'm fluent in Tagalog and Kankanaey (a dialect within Ilokano). When I entered the land of the free, I picked up English fluently and Spanish on a conversation level. My sis still has her ear tuned to Ilokano and Tagalog, but she's a little shy with speaking. Our baby sister was born and bred in America, so she's yet to learn the lingo of our Filipino roots.

Following our initial trip to the Philippines, my husband experienced his first bout of culture shock. Despite its small size, the country's diverse culture, population, and languages overwhelmed him. Although my husband was enamored with the Philippines, he struggled to comprehend its native tongue. My grandmother, who spoke limited English, attempted to communicate with him, and her efforts touched him deeply. As a result, he committed to mastering her language before our next visit.

Why did we choose Ilokano? The answer is straightforward: to enable my husband to communicate with my grandmother (Lola). While my parents conversed with him in English, it was his interactions with Lola that prompted his interest in learning Ilokano. Moreover, we want our son and sister to appreciate their Filipino roots through language acquisition.

A decade ago, online resources for Ilokano/Ilocano language learning were scarce, making it a challenging task. Consequently, my husband and I established this blog to share and disseminate resources that have proven useful in our own Ilokano language acquisition. Our youngest sister has embraced our lessons and is learning the language through our blog, while we continue to educate our son on the language. Given our family's frequent travel between Texas and the Philippines, it's imperative for all of us to maintain proficiency in Ilokano if we wish to converse with our beloved Lola.

The Philippine education system's recent shift towards utilizing the regional native language in teaching and learning has led to more resources becoming accessible online and in bookstores. As a result, our social media platform has gained an influx of student followers searching for resources.

Languages serve as a crucial medium of communication, allowing individuals to engage in effective and enjoyable conversations with each other.

Pick a language that tickles your fancy and dive in headfirst! We're currently crushing on Ilokano and have got you covered with all the resources you need over on our blog.

Inton maminsan manen. ( Till Next time Again)

Siak ni Gigi

This article was selected for inclusion in the Buwan ng Wika campaign of the Educational resource publisher Twinkl

Let's Eat Part 1: Food Culture

2017-05-18T16:00:00.001-05:00

Food is an integral part of understanding a culture. The next few lessons are dedicated to eating. We will focus mainly on mealtimes, names, ordering food and other common phrases you should expect to hear in relation to eating.

First, we will start off with a translation exercise. See if you can follow the conversation.

Jacobo: Nangankan?
Mark: Saan pay.
Jacobo: Umayka ditoy, mangan ka pay.

Mark: Ania ti sidain?
Jacobo: Pinakbet, innapoy, ken sisig.
Mark: Kayat ko ti sisig.

Mark: Naimas. Sino ti nagluto?
Jacobo: Kasinsin ko nga ni Demy.
Mark: Naimas ti sidain.

Mark: Nabusugakon.

So how much of that did you understand? Well, check yourself.

Jacobo: Nangankan? Did you eat yet?
Mark: Saan pay. Not yet.
Jacobo: Umayka ditoy, mangan ka pay. Come here and eat.

Mark: Ania ti sidain? What is the side dish?
Jacobo: Pinakbet, innapoy, ken sisig. Pinakbet, Rice, and Sisig
Mark: Kayat ko ti sisig. I want Sisig.

Mark: Naimas. Sino ti nagluto? Yummy. Who cooked?
Jacobo: Kasinsin ko nga ni Demy. My cousin Demy
Mark: Naimas ti sidain.The side dish is yummy

Mark: Nabusugakon.I'm full.

Nangankayon? ( Nah-ngahn-kah-yon?)
Nangankan? (Nah-ngahn-kahn?)

Simply put "Have you eaten?" or as we like to say in Texas, "Have y'all eaten?".

Filipino culture dictates that it is rude to not offer someone food, so it is customary to ask this question when you have visitors. So if you are the visitor, to avoid an embarrassing situation where food is not prepared ahead of time, it is best to answer that you have already eaten.

Wen, nanganakkon (wen, nah-ngah-nahk-con)
Yes, I have eaten.

Wen, nangankamin (wen, nah-ngahn-kah-mean)
Yes, we have eaten.

If it is a sincere question, you will mostly like be asked again, in which case it is okay to accept. In which you can respond with the following:

Saan pay (sah-un pie) - Not Yet
or
Merienda lang (Mer-ree-yen-duh lung) - Snacks only

And always follow with the proper title:

Apo (elderly)
Uncle/Auntie (if they are old enough to be your auntie/uncle, you call them that)
Manang/manong (someone older)
Ading (someone younger)
Madam/Sir (Politicians, Teachers, businessman)
Lolo/Lola

And of course, when you are done, don't forget to be thankful.

Agyamanak (ugh-yah-man-knock) - singular

Agyaman kami (ugh-yah-man-kah-mee) - plural

So next time you have to visit someone or meet up with someone, remember this simple visiting etiquette. So next week we will discuss mealtime conversations.

Inton maminsan manen,
Siak ni Gigi

For Tagalog/Filipino readers seeking to utilize our lessons, read the words in your native tongue and do not follow the suggested pronunciation.

Top 10 Must-Try Ilokano Food

2017-05-11T16:00:00.000-05:00

Our next lesson post topic is food. So let's talk about Ilokano food culture for a bit. Filipino's are fond of gatherings around food and if you are going to be around for the parties, you'll need to know what you are eating, right? So here are our top 10 Ilokano dishes.

Top 10 Ilokano dishes

1. Bagnet - The King of all lechons. Bagnet is a slap of Pork belly literally deep fried in its own fat, over and over to crispy perfected meaty chicharron. Then it is cut into manageable bite size pieces before taking its final dip into the boiler oil bath. They are served with spicy vinegar. It is artery clogging awesome!

Photo Courtesy of blissfulguro.com during her Vigan Food Trip.

2. Pinakbet - Veggie Delight of the North. It is a combination of vegetables cooked in bagoong (fish sauce). Bagnet is a perfect addition to this dish but some prefer to put shrimp. I used to wonder why my mom always has bittermelon, eggplant, okra, kabocha squash, and long beans in her garden. I just thought it was the basic Asian garden selection. Later on, I realized those are all the veggies to cook pinakbet! Now I get it!

Photo Courtesy of Kusina Master Recipes

3. Poki-Poki/ Poqui-Poqui - Grilled Eggplant Salad. Much like Tortang Talong except it has eggs and onions. Eggplants are grilled until the skin puff out then the toasty skin is removed. Then the mashed eggplants are pan-fried with scrambled eggs, onions and diced tomatoes. Eat dipped in soy sauce or fish sauce.

Photo Courtesy of blissfulguro.com during her Vigan Food Trip.

4. Dinardaraan - Chocolate Meat Pudding. Oh yum! that sounds good, it has chocolate and meat you say? Well, this delicious meat dish is basically sauteed pork meat cooked pork blood with vinegar added to it. The consistency and color after cooking look like chocolate, hence the name. For the most part, this dish is actually pretty good and no shouldn't have any surprise flavors.

Photo Courtesy of Get Lost to Ilocos

5. Dinakdakan - Ilokano Version of Sisig. Another Pork Goodness! So you boil a head of a pig and harvest everything except the bones from it. That includes the nose, ears, cheeks, and don't forget the brains. Some add pork belly, torched thinly sliced pork skin to the mix. Sometimes thrown into the grill for some crispiness. And sometimes, it's simply marinated in vinegar and calamansi and seasoned with onions, garlic, and salt. Either way, it's a totally awesome dish. Not convince? Well, it's the ultimate beer food. Maybe that will entice you to try. There's also beef and goat dinakdakan.

Photo Courtesy of overseaspinoycooking.net.

6. Pinapaitan - Bitter but Famous. Pinapaitan stems from the word "Pait," which means bitter. That doesn't sound appetizing at all. Have you heard of Mexican Menudo? Yup, it's pretty much the same soup dish. The difference is in the seasoning. Pinapaitan is an Ilokano soup dish that is mostly made with cow or goat innards and seasoned in its bile extract. First time trying it, go for the beef pinapaitan before you attempt the goat one unless you like goat meat.

Photo Courtesy of Roy Varagan of MAKAN

7. Pinikpikan - Igorot Delicacy. This is a chicken soup dish that is best made with "native" chicken or a mountain/wild chicken. The native chicken has long since been domesticated but still, it just tastes different. They have a darker meat and gamier taste. The feathers of the chicken are roasted off over open fire leaving the skin a bit torched but flavorful. It's cook for a long time to tenderize the meat and seasoned with ginger and fish sauce. Some add papaya or pepper leaves to have a bit of veggie option.

Photo Courtesy of Eat Eplore Experience.

8. Igado - Just another innards dish. Igado is a popular Ilokano dish that mostly made of liver, meat strips and sometimes other organ parts. The name comes from the Spanish word "Higado," which translate to "liver." Hence the part where it has to have liver in the ingredients. It's cooked with bell pepper, peas, and carrots.

Photo Courtesy of PanlasangPinoy.com

9. Dinengdeng - Refreshing Bean Soup dish. This soup is made with variety of green veggies cook with bagoong (fish sauce) and serve with grilled or fried fish like galunggong (roundscad), tilapia or bangus (milkfish)

Photo Courtesy of Angsarap.net

10. Ilocos Empanada - Not your normal empanada. These empanadas are orange! They mix achuete/annatto powder into their batter flour for flavor and color. The filling consist of shredded papaya or beans sprout with eggs and sometimes longganisa sausage. They are deep fried and dipped in spicy vinegar. Aside from it being deep-fried, it's totally healthy.

Photo Courtesy of Traveler on Foot

So there you go. I hope I made you hungry because I'm feeling hungry now that I'm done with this post.

Mapannak pay agbirok iti lutuik. (I'm going to go look for something to cook)

Inton maminsan manen ( Until Next Time)

SIAK NI GIGI

Ilokano Weather Part 2: How to say COLD in Ilokano

2017-05-04T16:00:00.000-05:00

COLD! COLDER! COLDEST!

I think the chance for cold weather in my area is pretty much gone. Last week, our topic was all about the HOTNESS. Summer is approaching after all. And in the Philippines, it's hot most of the time. But there are occasions when you experience cold.

So for this week's lesson, we are talking about COLD weather and feeling cold in general. I'll leave this vocabulary chart up here for reference. The concept is to use different words in the sentences below.

Basic Vocabulary Chart

WEATHER TALK VOCABULARY
English	Tagalog	Ilokano/Ilocano	Pronounce like this
Hot	Mainit	Napudot, Nabara	Nah-poo-doot, nah-bah-rah
Cold	Malamig	Nalamek/Nalamiis	Nah-lam-ehk/Nah-lam-mi-is
Wet	Basa	Basa	Bah-sah
Dry	Tuyo	Ragangirang	Rah-gah-ngee-rung
Humid/humidity	Pagkabasa	Nasalimuot	Nah-sah-lee-moo-ot
Rain	Ulan	Tudo	too-do
Snow	Niebe	Niebe	Nee -e-be
Ice	Yelo	Yelo	Ye-loh
Storm	Bagyo	Bagio	Bug-yo

Tell me how COLD it is...

Lamek = COLD

Nalamek - It's cold
Nalamameken - It's already cold
Naglamek - It's very cold
Nalamlamek - It's colder (use for comparison)
Lumamek - It's going to become cold
Limamek - It became cold

Another word for Cold?

Nalamiis is another word for COLD.

Nalamiis - It's cold

Nalamiisen- It's already cold
Naglamiis- It's very cold
Nalamlamiis - It's colder (use for comparison)
Lumamiis- It's going to become cold
Limamiis - It became cold

Talking about the Weather

There is the translation following the English script and there is what English speaker would call the "backward way." Haha, well, it's actually called the reverse translation. English grammar is different from other languages.

The snow is cold ( rain = tudo, ice = yelo, food = makan)

Ti niebe ket nalamek (Tee nee-ye-beh ket nah-lahm-ehk)
Ti niebe ket nalamiis (Tee nee-ye-beh ket nah-lahm-mi-is)

The more common way to say it...

Nalamek iti niebe (Nah-lahm-ehk ee-tee nee-ye-beh)

Nalamiis iti niebe (Nah-lahm-mi-is ee-tee nee-ye-beh)
* It literally translates to ..... Cold is the snow. The verb or adjective comes before the noun.

Then there are descriptive nouns

Nalamek nga niebe (Nah-lahm-ehk tee nee-ye-beh)
Nalamiis nga niebe (Nah-lahm-mi-is tee nee-ye-beh)
*This translate to....Cold snow. When you have an adjective before a noun, you add NGA in between the words in Ilokano.

So for our lessons, we will mostly use reverse translation.

It's cold right now

Nalamek tatta (Nah-lahm-ehk tat-tah)
Nalamiis tatta (Nah-lahm-mi-is tat-tah)

It's already cold

Nalameken (Nah-lahm-eh-ken)

Nalamiisen (Nah-lahm-mi-is-sen)

It's very cold today

Naglamek tatta nga aldaw (Nug-lahm-ehk tat-tah ngah al-dao)
Naglamiis tatta nga aldaw (Nug-lahm-mi-is tat-tah ngah al-dao)

* When you want to emphasize an adjective, you use NAG instead of NA before the adjective word.

It's colder today

Nalamlamek tatta nga aldaw (nah-lahm-lahm-ehk tat-tah ngah al-dao)

Nalamiis tatta nga aldaw (nah-lahm-lahm-mi-is tat-tah ngah al-dao)

Wait for the climate to get cold

Urayem nga lumamek iti tiempo (Ooh-rah-yem ngah loo-mum-ehk ee-tee tee-yem-po)
Urayem nga lumamiis iti tiempo (Ooh-rah-yem ngah loo-mum-mi-is ee-tee tee-yem-po)

The climate became cold

Limamek iti tiempo ( Lee-mum-ehk ee-tee tee-yem-po)
Limamiis iti tiempo ( Lee-mum-mi-is ee-tee tee-yem-po)

I'm cold/I'm very cold

Nalamekak/Naglamekak (Nah-lahm-ehk-ahk / Nug-lahm-ehk-ahk)
Nahlamiisak/Naglamiisak (Nah-lahm-mi-is-ahk / Nug-lahm-mi-is-ahk)

You're cold/You're very cold

Nalamek ka / Naglamek ka ((Nah-lahm-ehk-ka / Nug-lahm-ehk-ka)
Nalamiis ka/Naglamiis ka (Nah-lahm-mi-is ka / Nug-lahm-mi-is ka)

I'm feeling cold

Naglamek iti riknak - (Nug-lahm-ehk-ahk ee-tee reek-nak)
Naglamiis iti riknak - (Nug-lahm-mi-is-ahk ee-tee reek-nak)

Or you can say.....

Malamlamekak (Mah-lahm-lahm-ehk-ahk)
Malamiisanak ( Mah-poo-doo-tan-ack)

I'm going to cool off /cool down

Mapannak agpalamek - (Mah-pun-nak ugh-pah-lahm-ehk)
Mapannak agpalamiis - ( Mah-pun-nak ugh-pah-lahm-mi-is)

Nalamek and Nalamiis. If you get these two words mix up, it's okay. They literally mean the same thing. You can use them whether you're talking about the weather or how you are feeling.

COLD FOOD

The Halo-Halo is cold.
Ti Halo-halo ket nalamek/nalamiis.
*English grammar translation.

Cold is the Halo-Halo.
Nalamek/Nalamiis ti Halo-halo
*Reverse Translation.

You will hear it both ways when the sentence format is:

The (Noun) is (adjective).

When you have an adjective before a noun, you add NGA in between the words in Ilokano

Nalamek/Nalamiis nga Halo-halo (Cold Halo-Halo)
Nalamek/Nalamiis nga Danum (Cold Water)
Nalamek/Nalamiis nga serbesa (Cold Beer)

Intayon agpalamiis. Inton Maninsan Manen!

(Let's go cool off. Until Next Time Again!)

Siak ni Gigi

For Tagalog/Filipino readers seeking to utilize our lessons, read the words in your native tongue and do not follow the suggested pronunciation.

Ilokano Weather Part 1: How to say HOT in Ilokano

2017-04-27T16:00:00.000-05:00

HOT! HOT! HOT!

I don't know about you but it is HOT in this part of the woods. This West Texas heat is no joke! So for this week's lesson, we are talking about the weather, HOT weather, that is.

So, How's the weather is your area? Hope it's not as scorching hot as where I am. Outside is reaching the three-digit in Fahrenheit temperature and it's not even noon yet.

So let's start with some basic vocabulary:

WEATHER TALK VOCABULARY
English	Tagalog	Ilokano/Ilocano	Pronounce like this
Hot	Mainit	Napudot, Nabara	Nah-poo-doot, nah-bah-rah
Cold	Malamig	Nalam-ek	Nah-lam-ek
Wet	Basa	Basa	Bah-sah
Dry	Tuyo	Ragangirang	Rah-gah-ngee-rung
Humid/humidity	Pagkabasa	Nasalimuot	Nah-sah-lee-moo-ot
Rain	Ulan	Tudo	too-do
Snow	Niebe	Niebe	Nee -e-be
Ice	Yelo	Yelo	Ye-loh
Storm	Bagyo	Bagio	Bug-yo

Tell me how hot it is...

When it comes to the weather...Pudot = Heat (Noun) and Napudot = Hot (Adjective).

Napudot - It's hot
Napuduten- It's already hot
Nagpudot- It's very hot
Napudpudot - It's hotter (use for comparison)
Pummudot- It's going to become hot
Pimmudot - It became hot

It's hot right now - Napudot tatta (Nah-poo-doot tat-tah)

It's already hot - Napuduten (Nah-poo-doot-ten)

It's very hot today - Nagpudot tatta nga aldaw (Nug-poo-doot tat-tah ngah al-dao)

* When you want to emphasize an adjective, you use "NAG" instead of (NA) before the adjective word.

It's hotter today- Napudpudot tatta nga aldaw (nah-pood-poo-doot tat-tah ngah al-dao)

Wait for the climate to get hot
Urayem nga pummudot iti tiempo (Ooh-rah-yem ngah poo-moo-doot ee-tee tee-yem-po)

The climate became hot
Pimmudoten iti tiempo ( Peem-moo-doot-ten ee-tee tee-yem-po)

How do you feel?

Nabara refers more to body temperature. It's use for describing how you feel when your body is feeling the heat or the head is in your body.

Nabara - It's hot
Nabaran - It's already hot
Nagbara - It's very hot
Nabarbara - It's hotter
Bumara - It's going to get hotter
Bumarbara - It's in the process of getting hotter
Bimara - It got hotter

My head is hot - Nabara daytoy ulok (Nah-ba-ra die-toy oo-look)

My head is very hot - Nagbara daytoy ulok(Nug-bah-rah die-toy oo-look)

I'm hot/I'm very hot - Nabaraak/Nagbaraak (Nah-bah-rah-ack/ Nug-bah-rah-ack)
You're hot/You're very hot - Nabaraka/Nagbaraka(Nah-bah-rah-kah / Nug-bah-rah-kah)
*This word is use more often when you physically feel hot. For example, you are running a fever.

I'm hot/I'm feeling hot - Mapudutanak ( Mah-poo-doo-tan-ack)

* This word describes a state of being hot. For example, you are directly under the sun or you are feeling the heat from a heater.

My head is hotter now - Nabarbara daytoy ulok tatta (Nah-bar-bar-ra die-toy oo-look tat-tah)

I feel like it's getting hotter - Kasla bumarbara iti riknak (Kas-lah boo-mar-bar-ra ee-tee reek-knock)

Yes, I really feel hotter - Wen, Bimmara nga talaga iti riknak ( Wen Beem-mah-rah ngah tah-la-ga ee-tee reek-knock)

Napudot or Nabara. If you get these two words mix up, it's okay. They still mean the same thing and it's acceptable to use one or the other. Don't sweat it!

Speaking of sweat, outside my house is HOT AND HUMID!

Summer time in West Texas is fairly dry but today it's not. We've gotten more rain this summer so it's more humid than normal. In other parts of Texas, like Houston, the humidity level is high most of the time. I prefer the dry heat because it is easier for me to cool down. Just stay inside!

Nasalimuot - It's humid
Nasalimuoten - It's already humid
Nagsalimuot - It's very humid
Nasalsalimuot - It's more humid
Sumalimutot- It's going to be more humid
Sumalsalimuot - It's getting more humid
Simalimuot- It got more humid

It is humid - Nasalimuot (Nah-sah-lee-moo-ot)

It is very humid - Nagsalimuot (Nug-sah-lee-moo-ot)
* This is the word I grew up using.

Here are some words that are use to describe humid:

Nadam-eg ( Na-dum-egg)

Naagneb (Nah-ugh-neb)

Nalnaab (Nahl-nah-ab)

But when your tongue is burning and you're referring to food:

Gassang=Hot/Spicy

Nagasang (nah-gah-sung) - It's hot/spicy

Naggasang (nagh-gah-sung) - It's very hot/spicy

Nagasgasang (nah-gus-gah-sung) - It's hotter/spicier

Permi ti gasang na! (Per-mee tee gah-sung nah!) - It's Super hot!

So innak pay agpalammiis. Inton Maninsan Manen!

(So I'm going to go cool off. Until Next Time Again!)

And next week, we will learn how to COOL off in Ilokano.

Siak ni Gigi

NOTES: These lessons are designed with the English Speakers in mind. The pronunciation is spelled out to emphasize sounds of the English language and alphabet to help the person to say it correctly in sounds that they are familiar with.

For Tagalog/Filipino readers seeking to utilize our lessons, read the words in your native tongue and do not follow the suggested pronunciation.

Greeting in Ilokano Basics Part 2

2017-04-20T16:00:00.001-05:00

Mastering basic greetings is an essential first step in learning Ilokano or any language. A simple "hello" can go a long way in eliciting a smile from someone.

We provided a succinct lesson on pronunciation and enunciation, featuring common greeting words, within a previous post.

For a quick revision, please refer to Greetings Part 1.

Revisit:

Greetings Part 1

Now we are going to add to this: Part 2

Do you want to tell someone hello or ask how they are doing?

Kumusta/Musta - Hello/Hi/How are you?

Kasano ngay ti aldaw mo / yo? Or Kumusta ti aldaw mo / yo? - How is your day?

Kasano ngay ti riknam / yo ? or Kumusta ti riknam/ yo ? - How are you feeling?

When leaving or trying to leave a conversation

Apannakon / kamin (Up-pahn-nak-koon / Kah-meen) : I am going leaving now / We

Umunaakkon / pay (oo-moo-nah-ak koon / pie) : I'm going first then ( basically means, "I'm leaving/goodbye) in a polite way

Sige ngarud (See-geh ngah-rood): Okay then. (Short way to say you're done talking as you leave to go. It's an informal way goodbye without being rude)

Inton Maminsan manen (in-toon Mah-meen-sun mah-nen): Til next time

Ngarud/en (ngah-rood/den) - Then (added to the end of a phrase to emphasize the verb)

For Example: Apannak ngaruden (up-pun-nak nga-rood-den) - I'm going then

Baldo is on his way into town when he bumps into his neighbor Dodoy.

Dodoy: Kumusta ka?
Hi. How are you?

Baldo: Mayat met latta, kumusta ka ngay met?
I'm still good, how are you also?

Dodoy: Mayat met
Good also

Baldo: Kasano ngay ti aldaw mo?
How is your day? ( Literally translates as "How is the day of yours")

Dodoy: Ay ket naimbag ti aldaw ko tatta, sika ngay?
(Oh well good is my day right now, and you?) Oh well, my day is good right now, and you?

Baldo: Madi ti riknam tatta nga aldaw.
(Literal translation: Not good, my feeling today) I'm not feeling well today

Dodoy: Apay? Kasano ngay ti riknam?
Why? How are you feeling?

Baldo: Kasla agsakitak sa met
It's like I'm I may be sick

Dodoy: Ket apanka agpadoktor a ngarud
And go see a doctor then

Baldo: Wen apanak ngarud agpdoktor. Apannak ngaruden, umunakkon.
Yes, I'll go see the doctor. I am going then, Goodbye.

Dodoy: Wen, sige ngarud. Inton maminsan manen.
Yes, okay then. Til next time again.

Greeting someone during different times of the day.

Naimbag nga aldaw (Nah-eem-bug ngah Ahl-dao) - Good Day

Naimbag a bigat (Nah-eem-bug ah bee-gut) - Good Morning

Naimbag a malem (Nah-eem-bug ah mah-lem) - Good Afternoon

Naimbag a rabii (Nah-eem-bug ah rah-bee-ee) - Good Night/Evening

So after greeting his neighbor, Baldo went into town to see the doctor.

Baldo: Naimbag nga malim yo doktor
Good afternoon Doctor

Doktor: Naimbag nga malim mo met Baldo.
Good afternoon to you also Baldo

Baldo: Wen doktor, addaak. Umayak agpacheck-up.
Yes, Doctor, I am here. I came to get a check-up.

Doktor: Apay adda ka met, kumusta ni riknam?
Why are you here? How are you feeling?
Baldo: Madi ti riknam, kasla agtrangkaso ak sa.

I'm feeling not so good. I feel like I have the flu.

Doktor: Umayka ditoy. Agtugaw ka pay ta kitaik no inya ti sakit mo.
Come here. Just have a seat and I'll look to see what your sickness is.

Baldo found out that he was only coming down with a cold. The doctor gave him a prescription and sent him on his way.

Baldo: Ay sus! agsakitak manen!
cccccc What the heck! I'm sick again!

Lesson Vocabulary:

Sika/Mo- You/your
Siak/Ko - Me/my
Mayat- good
Rikna-feeling
sakit/agsakit - sick/feeling sick
Trangkaso - flu
Madi- not
Met- also
Manen-again
Wen-yes
Tatta - right now
Adda - there is
Umay/Umayyak - come/I'm coming
Kita/kitaik - look/I look
Tugaw/agtugaw - seat/to have a seat or sit down

Were you able to comprehend the story to a significant extent based on recognizing the words and phrases used?

For some of you, the content may seem overwhelming. Take as much time as you need to internalize the simple phrases, and practice saying them out loud to aid retention.

We'll be posting these phrases daily on our Facebook page. Therefore, kindly ensure to subscribe and follow us on Facebook.

Inton maninsan manen! Until Next Time Again.

Happy Learning.

NOTE: These Ilokano language lessons are tailored to English speakers, and the pronunciation is spelled out accordingly to highlight the sounds of the English language and alphabet. For Tagalog/Filipino readers utilizing our lessons, kindly disregard the suggested pronunciation and read the words in your native language.

The Lord's Prayer in Ilokano

2017-04-13T16:00:00.001-05:00

At a young age, I learned the Lords Prayer in Ilokano first then I learned it in English. A common prayer that is a lot of time taken for granted , The Lord's Prayer is not only spiritual but it is a helpful tool in learning the Ilokano language. Many of you already know this prayer in English/Tagalog by heart so it'll be easier for you to translate in your head as you read the Ilokano version.

The Lord's Prayer

"Amami"

(Ilokano Version)

Amami, nga adda sadi langit,

(Um-mah-mi ngah ad-dah sah-dee lah-ngeet)

Madaydayaw kuma ti Nagan mo.

(Ma-die-die-yao koo-mah tee Na-gun moh)

Umay Kuma ti pagariam.

(Oo-my koo-ma tee pah-gaar-yum)

Maaramid kuma ti pagayatam

(Mah-ah-rah-meed koo-mah tee pah-gah-yah-tum)

Kas sadi langit kasta met ditoy daga.

(Kas sah-dee la-ngeet met dee-toi dah-gah)

Itedmo kadakam ita ti kanenmi iti inaldaw.

(Ee-ted-moh kah-dah-kum ee-tah tee kah-nen-mee ee-tee ee-nal-dao)

Ket pakawanennakami kadagiti basol mi,

(Ket pah-kah-wah-nen-nah-kum-mee kah-dah-gee-tee bah-sool mee)

A kas met panamakawanmi kadagiti naka basol kadakami.

(Ah kas met pah-nah-mah-kah-wun-mee kah-dah-gee-tee nah-kah bah-sool kah-dah-kum-mee)

Ket dinakam iyeg iti pannakasulisog,

(Ket dee-nah-kum ee-yeg ee-tee pun-nah-ka-soo-lee-soog)

No di ket isalakannakami iti dakes.

(Noh dee ket ee-sah-la-kun-nah-kum-mee ee-tee dah-kes)

Iti pagariam, iti Panakabalinmo, ken iti gloriam

(Ee-tee pah-gaar-yum, ee-tee pah-nah-kah-bah-leen-moh, ken ee-tee glor-ryam)

nga awan patinggana

(ngah ah-wun pah-teeng-gah-nah

Amen

And this is how it will translate in English, which is different from the English version of the Lord's Prayer.

Our Father who is in heaven,

May your name be honored

May your kingdom be ours

Your will be done,

Here on earth like it is in heaven

Give us now what we will eat everyday

And forgive us of our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us

Do not allow us into temptation

And deliver us from all evil

Because your is the kingdom,

The power and the Glory

that has no limit

Amen

Of course,
here is the English version most people are familiar with.

Our Father, thou art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy Name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth,

As it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive them that trespass against us.

And lead us not to temptation,

But deliver us from Evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

The power and the glory

Forever and Ever.

Amen.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Inton maninsan manen! Until Next Time Again.

Happy Learning.

NOTES: These lessons are designed with the English Speakers in mind. The pronunciation is spelled out to emphasize sounds of the English language and alphabet to help the person say it correctly in sounds that they are familiar with. For Tagalog/Filipino readers seeking to utilize our lessons, read the words in your native tongue and do not follow the suggested pronunciation.

Ilokano Greetings for the Holidays

2017-04-06T16:00:00.000-05:00

As the holiday approaches, it's time to brush up on some Ilokano phrases to impress the in-laws and friends. So here's a short cheat sheet for those who just got excited after reading the first sentence.

Holiday/Celebration Greetings

Happy Birthday - Naragsak nga Panagkasangay
(Nah-rug-sak ngah pa-nahg-kah-sang-ai)

Happy Valentines - Naimbag nga aldaw ti puspuso
(Nah-eem-bug ngah al-dao tee poos-poo-so)

Happy Thanksgiving - Naragsak/Naimbag nga Panagyaman
(Nah-rug-sak / Nah-eem-bug ngah pa-nahg-ya-mahn)

Merry Christmas - Naragsak/Naimbag nga Paskua
(Nah-rug-sak / Nah-eem-bug ngah Pas-kwa)

Happy New Year -Naragsak nga baro nga tawen
(Nah-rug-sak ngah ba-ro ngah tah-wen)

When in doubt, just say your English holiday greeting. Of course, when you encounter Ilokanos at one of the many holiday parties that you will be attending, you will need a conversation freshener, enough to get some "Ooh" and "Aah" or "Ala!" followed by giggles and laughter.

When that happens, please don't be offended. Ilokanos gets very excited when someone of other races speaks their language. The initial response is to giggle and laugh not because they are making fun but because they are impressed with your effort.

Simple phrases to remember:

Hello/How are you?- Kablaaw / Kumusta kayo? / Musta apo ( you add "apo" to a grandpa/grandma)

Nice to meet you - Naragsakkak a maamammo ka (Nah-rug-sak-kahk ah mah-um-um-moh kah)

I am fine - Nasayatak met (Nah-sa-yah-at-tak met) / Mayat met (mah-yaht met)

Thank you - Agyamanak (Ugh-yah-mahn-nahk)

I am (your name) - Siak ni_____( Syak nee......)

I am so and so's spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend/friend

Siak ti asawa/nobya/nobyo/gayyem ni (your partner's name)
( Syak tee ah-sah-wah/noob-yah/noob-yo/guy-yem nee......)

And when everything else fails to juggle your memory or you've had one too many San Miguel by then,

Saan ko maawatan (Sa-an- koh mah-ah-wah-tun) = I don't understand

Diak makaawat (Jack mah-kah-ah-what) = I am not able to understand

or as my husband like to say:

Diak ammo, saan ko maawatan, tulingak!
(Jack uhm-mo, Sa-an- koh mah-ah-wah-tun, too-ling-ak)

which means.... I don't know, I don't understand, I am deaf!)

So if you get a chance to attend a Filipino party, GO! You would not want to miss the awesome food and the company with the corny cheesy jokes. Plus you get to practice and show off what you've learned with Ilokano Learner.

But first, go through all the greeting lessons we've posted. These two in particular.

Greetings Part 1

Common Phrases

Inton Maminsan Manen

Happy Learning!

NOTES: These lessons are designed with the English Speakers in mind. The pronunciation is spelled out to emphasize sounds of the English language and alphabet to help the person say it correctly in sounds that they are familiar with. For Tagalog/Filipino readers seeking to utilize our lessons, read the words in your native tongue and do not follow the suggested pronunciation.

Love Speaks Ilokano

2017-03-30T16:00:00.001-05:00

Okay so we missed the love month of February but that's okay because "LOVE" happens year-round. So we have compiled a list of vocabulary words and phrases relating to the word "LOVE".

We've received a lot of requests in the love category...... so here is our list to get you started.

Basic Words:

Love - Ayat

Like/want - Kayat

Pretty/ Beautiful - Napintas
Handsome - Nataraki / guwapo / pogi
Delicious - Naimas
Smell good - Nabanglo
Sweet - Nasamit
Smile - Isem
Sexy - sexy

Heart - Puso
Kamay - Ima

Found - Nabirukan
Feeling - Rikna
Call - tawag

Sorry - pakawan

Kasar - marriage/wedding

Titles:

Beloved - Dungo

Nobyo - boyfriend
Nobya - girlfriend

Baket - Old lady / Wife
Lakay - Old man / husband

Asawa - spouse

Abalayan / Bayaw - in law

Compliments:

You are beautiful - Nagpintas ka

You are handsome - Nagtaraki ka / naggwapo ka

Your smile is beautiful - Nagpintas ti isim mo

You are so nice to me - Nagsingpet ka ken siak

I like being with you - Kayat ka nga kadkaddua

You're so sexy - Nagsexy ka

Love Phrases:

I love you - Ayayatin ka

I like you - Kayat ka

I'm interested in you - Kursonada ka

My heart is yours - Kanyam daytoy pusok

Only you - Sika Laeng

Awan sabalin - There's no one else

Will you marry me?

Kayat mo nga asawain dak? (Do you want to be myspouse / marry me?)
Asawain dak, wen? (Be my spouse / Marry me, yes?)
Kayat ko nga pakasaran ka ( I want to marry you)
Kayat mo nga pakasaran dak? ( Do you want to marry me?)
Intan agkasar (Let's go get married)

image courtesy of clipartfox.com

Are you in the dog house?

I hate you - kabusor ka

I don't like you - Saan ka nga kayat

I didn't mean it - Saan ko ingagara

I won't do it again - Saan ko uulitinen / araramidenen.

Please don't leave me - Pangaasim saan dak a panawan.

Forgive me - Pakawanen dak

Come back to me - agsubli ka keniak

We will update this from time to time and add more to the list. If you have a phrase/s you want to learn, send us a message and we will gladly add it to the list. Good luck with Cupid or trying to get out of the dog house.

Until Next Time - Dita Kayon.

Why Ilokano?

2017-03-23T16:00:00.001-05:00

Why Ilokano?

He is upside down on the couch.

Get ready to meet the ultimate mixed-race power couple! I'm a Pinay from Ilocos who fell head-over-heels for my high school sweetheart- a tall, dashing American. Who would've guessed that my best bud would one day become my hubby? Together, we have a little bundle of joy- the most adorable Filipino-American kiddo in town! Don't you agree?

So why Ilokano?

Back in the good old days of dating, we never had a language barrier. I chatted away in English, and he was more focused on learning the naughty words than anything else. But, by our senior year, my love finally mastered his first Ilokano phrase! Though, I can't take all the credit because he picked it up from his mom's old boss, who was an Ilokano himself.

" Ayayatin ka "

which means..... I love you.

Awww, how sweet!

That is as far as he got.....

Then....

My partner fell head over heels for the Philippines - the people, the culture, and the sun-kissed beaches. If you haven't experienced a third-world paradise like this, do yourself a favor and book a ticket ASAP! You won't believe how much this trip will make you appreciate all the good things we often take for granted. And despite the tough circumstances, the Filipinos have a contagious joy for life that's hard to miss.

 Now, my hubby set a new mission for himself: to learn the Ilokano language and converse fluently with my lolas on our next trip. But, finding study materials online was like a needle in a haystack. Luckily, he had me to help with definitions and pronunciations. With a little bit of effort and a lot of passion, he became a self-taught Ilokano speaker.

So why Ilokano?

My family's roots stretch back to the Philippines, where my big family tree blossoms with Ilokanos, and our gatherings are legendary. However, most of my kin still reside there, conversing in their mother tongue. So, when my hubby set his sights on chatting with my lolas, I knew it was time to teach him our native language. After all, it's a crucial part of my heritage and brings us all closer together.

Why not Tagalog?

In addition to his Ilokano studies, he's also learning Tagalog, which he's able to practice more frequently as he interacts with the Filipino community. Resources for learning Tagalog are abundant, but there seems to be a scarcity of resources for Ilokano. As a means of providing support to others, we established the Ilokano Learner Blog. Our objective is to assist those who aspire to learn Ilokano. Furthermore, we aim to incorporate these lessons into our son's education, in the hopes that some of it will be retained.

Now you know...

As you are now aware, we have elected to prioritize the Ilokano Language. Our objective is to furnish study guides and other valuable resources to those seeking to acquire proficiency in Ilokano.

Until next time - Ditakayon.

Let's Learn how to Speak Ilokano!

2017-03-16T16:00:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone! Adda Kami Manen!

I know, I know, and we do feel really bad for not updating our page in such a long time. What happened? Well, life happened! Sometimes, life doesn't want to follow the path that we're so set on taking and we have to focus on what is important. Priorities, right? We had to play grown up for a little bit, well, we tried anyways. But now we are back!

Nailiw kayo kadakami?
Na miss niyo ba kami?
SO.....DID YOU MISS US?

Well, we missed all of you too! Lately, we've received so many requests for more lessons on our social media account and we are feeling the love. So we decided to regroup and revamp our page and start the lessons again.

But first, let's start with some refresher lessons.

If you don't already follow us on Facebook, do it now! We will post the links to some old lessons as a refresher for some of you and beginner's lessons for those who are just now starting. The links to all new lessons will be posted to our social media accounts.

Please be patient with us as we get these new lessons lined up and we suggest that you go over our old lessons. Feel free to contact us for ideas and suggestions. This will help us create lessons that will cover our readers' interest.

WHAT WE DO:

Our mission is to provide:

Resources and information in learning the Ilocano Language.
Culture guidance for those who plan to visit the Philippines especially in the Northern Region where Ilokano is spoken.
Historical tidbits relating to the Ilokano language

WHAT WE WON'T DO:

We will go ahead and mention the things we won't do because we believe it will not help people in the long run.

WE ARE NOT Translators. We will provide the necessary resources for individuals to help with translation. Simply put, we will not do the hard work for you. This includes translating love notes/text, school assignments or projects.
We will not get involve in any dramas or matchmaking. Nope! Not going there!
We do not talk politics. Trust me, It's safer this way.

So with that out of the way. We hope to provide more resources and lessons this year to those who are willing to learn the Ilokano language. Remember, nothing is impossible when it comes to learning. The "I can't do it" attitude is all in your head. So stay positive and keep on learning.

Subscribed to our Blog

Get resources at our Amazon Store

Ilokano Learner Store.

Naragsak A Paskua Tayo Amin

2016-12-25T13:56:00.001-06:00

Naragsak a Paskua Tayo Amin ken Narangay a Baro a Tawin!

We just want to wish you all a wonderful holdiay! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The New Year will surely bring some new lessons. We are looking forward to it, are you?

Online Ilokano Dictionary

2012-09-06T23:24:00.001-05:00

Stumbled across The Online Ilokano Dictionary Project a few days back and though I would share it. Initial indications are that the definitions are pretty accurate and the word list is expansive. There were a few words I was unable to find, but not uncommon among Ilokano-English dictionaries.

Overall this is a good resource, and for the price (free!) you really can't go wrong with using it. Combine it with the other free learning materials we've mentioned before and you have a good starting platform for learning.

If you have trouble finding any particular resource or the definition for a word, feel free to comment or send us a message and we'll be glad to help you out!

Ditakayon.

Modern Day Flashcards

2012-06-26T23:32:00.005-05:00

One of the most time consuming parts of learning any language is memorizing vocabulary. Before we ever get to putting them in the correct order, or making an attempt at grammar, we must have a knowledge as to what the words mean. One of the best methods for this is a Spaced Repetition System (SRS).

An SRS allows you to review words in increasing intervals of time, helping transfer the words from your short term memory into your long term memory. SRS is the basis for the Pimsleur method of language learning. There are several programs available to us that take advantage of SRS. Anki, Mnemosyne, and Flashcard Exchange just to mention a few.

The one I have used to great success is Anki, but it is a personal choice for what fits your needs best. I chose Anki because it has an app I can use on my Samsung Android phone. This means I can take my flash cards with me anywhere, anytime. It also allows me to create new cards on the fly with out the need for pen and paper, whenever a new word crosses my path.

The basics of these programs is simple. Each card has two "sides" just like a regular paper flash card would. On one side you put the word to learn, on the other the definition or translation. When starting out individual words one each side work best to help you get used to using the program. As you advance in your language learning you can add whole phrases and create definitions in Ilokano instead of your native language. Writing the definitions in Ilokano spurs a much better understanding of the language and aids in your recall of the words when needed.

Using an SRS program also lets us learn vocabulary from a wide selection of sources, not just grammar books. Like I mentioned previously, you can use news and magazine sources to draw from to learn words, as well as, any you hear in conversation or music. The phrase

The key is to use the SRS daily. It may take you as little as 10 minutes, but the compounded effects over time are great. Combining the SRS with mnemonics and you have a Pacquiao style one-two punch that will help you conquer the vocabulary sooner.

Hopefully this has provided you with one more tool to help you along. Until next time.

Photo courtesy: JacobMetcalf

Tawid News Magasin

2012-05-30T23:46:00.003-05:00

I recently came across another good site for mining Ilokano words. Tawid News Magasin has been around for just over a decade, but I think their web presence is fairly recent. 90% of the site is in Ilokano and should provide a constant source of reading material. They mostly cover news centered around Vigan, Ilocos Sur.

If you are using the Barry Farber method of language learning, the various news and opinion articles will come in handy. Just pick one and start translating it, taking note of any words you do not recognize and looking them up.

Soon we'll have a post up on how to maximize learning with a resource like this. Until then keep studying.

Revamp Complete

2012-05-30T13:59:00.002-05:00

We've finished revamping both the blog and our Facebook page. Stay tuned for new lessons and updates coming later this week.

Redesign

2012-05-29T22:38:00.001-05:00

We are revamping the blog with a new design to better help those learning Ilokano. We apologize in advance to any interruption this causes.

Taste of Ilocano Culture

2012-04-03T14:28:00.000-05:00

Image courtesy of MAKAN

For most of us, checking the Facebook news is a part of our daily routine. This morning, as I skimmed through people's post and daily morning rants, I came across a picture of pinapaitan, an Ilokano delicacy, posted by Ilokano Food. I was so stoke! Since I'm about to eat some of that this weekend.

What is Pinapaitan? So you ask. Mananggan describes it best. My simple definition is "Ilokano Menudo" only better.

The article was actually from this website MAKAN. If you are interested in the Ilocano Culture, you simply must start with the food! This site is all about the taste buds of Ilokanos.

While browsing through the different articles, read the comment sections of the site and exercise what you've learned so far from the lessons we've provided. The best way to retain what little Ilokano you've learned is to utilize them. Many of the comments are short and simple. Write down the words you don't know and ask us on our Facebook Page.

Afterwards, for more historical knowledge on Ilokano Food Culture, go check out A Taste of Ilocos Norte.

Don't forget, we post a "Ilokano Phrase of the Day" in our Facebook Page.

Siak ni Gigi, Intayon Agbasa!
(I am Gigi, Let's Read/Learn!)

Paskua

2011-12-24T11:29:00.002-06:00

Naragsak a Paskua

ken

Narang-ay a Baro a Tawen

Kadakayo Amin

(Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone)

We are now on Facebook!

2011-11-21T14:24:00.001-06:00

In our attempt to interact more with our readers, you can now send us a message on Facebook.

Mangatayon! Let's Eat! Part II

2011-09-28T18:10:00.003-05:00

Now we shall go over the exercise with Tagalog-Ilokano version to help compare the difference between the two languages. This exercise is for Tagalog speakers learning to speak Ilokano.

Refresher: Mangantayon! Lets Eat! Part I

Ilokano Version: Tagalog Version:

Jacobo: Nangankan? Kumain ka na?
Mark: Saan pay. Hindi pa.
Jacobo: Umayka ditoy, mangan ka pay. Halika dito, kumain ka muna.

Mark: Ania ti sidain? Ano ang ulam?
Jacobo: Pinakbet ken sisig. Pinakbet at sisig.
Mark: Kayat ko ti sisig. Gusto mo ang sisig.

Mark: Naimas! Sino ti nagluto? Sarap! Sino ang nagluto?
Jacobo: Kasinsin ko nga ni Demy. Pinsan ko na si Demy.
Mark: Nagimas ti sidain. Ang sarap ng ulam.

Mark: Nabusogakon. Busog na ako.

You'll notice the similarities in a couple of the words and that is because Tagalog and Ilokano do share some common words such as "luto" or "busog" and of course the names of dishes such as "Pinakbet" and "sisig".

Mangatayon! Kain na Tayo!

And we are back!

2011-09-08T14:36:00.001-05:00

Okay, Okay, I know it took as awhile to get going again but, here we are, WE ARE BACK! We are please to see that there are many people who are actually interested in learning the Ilokano Language.

So, let's recap what we've covered with our basics.

1. Greetings and Labels
2. Number Basics
3. Street Basics
4. Simple Prefixes
5. Common Phrases

So what's next?

To start us up gain, here's a little something base on the basics that we've given our so far.

When riding a bus in the Philippines, you have a driver and a conductor. The conductor will assign seating and also give you your ticket fare, they will have hole punches into you ticket to indicate the amount you will be paying base on your destination. Here's a little Ilokano Joke for you. Try to keep up.

NOTE: Highlight the space under the lines and the English translation will appear.
Daytoy ket naaramid diay unig ti bus:

This happened inside the bus:

Konductor: Daytoy ni ti tiket mo madam.
Conductor: This is your ticket ma'am.
Madam: Manong, mano iti bayadak nga pasahek?
Ma'am: (Older brother), how much do I pay for my fare?
Konductor: Madam, kitaem ken basaem dayta tiket mo
Conductor: Ma'am, look and read your ticket.
Madam: Kasano ngay nga basaek daytoy ket inabut-abutam mettin.

Ma'am: How am I suppose to read this, you punch a lot of holes into it.

NGEK! ( It's like saying OMG! or LMAO but in a more dramatic way)

Now, many of you probably didn't get that joke but it's a start. Many Ilokano jokes are full of sarcasm and also many are deemed offensively perverted to westerners but all in good fun. We will stick with the cleaner jokes, of course.

Thank you to all our viewers and those who are actually looking forward to the new lessons coming up.

Agyaman kami la unay. (We thank you very much)

Baby Talk...Sao ti Ubbing

2010-05-07T12:43:00.005-05:00

This lesson is inspired by my baby boy who is learning to understand words and my sister, who is born and raised in America but wants to learn Ilokano.

So here's a quick lesson on baby talk phrases.
Read More

1. Get up - "Agtakdir ka" (ag-tuk-dir) or simply "Takdir"
2. Sit down - "Agtugaw ka" (ag-too-gao) or simply "Tugaw"
3. Open your mouth - "Lukatam ti ngiwat mo"(loo-ka-tam ti ngee-wat mo) or "Nga nga"
4. Come on, Eat - "Maykan mangan"(my-kun man-ngan) or "Manganen"
5. Go to Sleep - "Maturogkan"(Ma-too-roog-kun)
6. Oh No no - "Ay, Saan!" (I sa-an!)
7. Walk - "Magna" (Mug-na)
8. Come to me - "Maykan ditoy ken siak"(My-kun dee-toy ken shak) or simply "Maykan"
9. You take a bath - "Agdiguskan" (Ag-dee-goos-kun) (More like I'm gonna bath you now)
10. Good - "Mayat" (Ma-yaaat) say itand dragging the "yat" at the end

These are just simple words that a parent uses daily to their young ones as the child learns to recognize words. According to my speech pathologist friend, to teach young children two language at a young age, one parent must speak one language and have the other parent speak the other language. So far, my son seems to respond to both Ilokano and English. Crossing my fingers that it does work.

As for the teenagers.... when you hear..

1. "Mapanka Agdigusen, nagangot ka!"........."Go take a bath, you stink!"
(Response: "Saannak met nga naangot."........."I don't stink.")

2. "Linisam dayta kwartom, nagrugit!"........"Clean your room, it's dirty!"
(Response: "Nalinis met."......."It's clean.")

3. "Inya dayta inbabadom?"........"What are you wearing?"
(Response: "Uso daytoy tatta."......."This is the trends right now."

4. "Apanmo damagin ken papam."........"Go ask your dad."
(Response: "Kuna na nga sika iti damaggek."....."He said to ask you."

5. "Ay saan nga bamalin!"......."Heck no! Not possible (or not allowed)!
(Response: "Apay ngay?"....."BUT WHY?"

Well, at least that is how it goes in my family.

Stay updated we are back to post more lessons after our long absence

How Much?

2008-08-09T13:34:00.006-05:00

We have covered the basics in numbers and counting. When roaming the streets of the Philippines, you will find street vendors, kantinas (small convenience stores), and you will also bump into a few vendors who carry their products with them as they walk along like this guy:

This photo is upload from kalandrakas photostream

In any case, you'll need to learn how to purchase something...for example: a snack from the kantina, or a bananaque from a street vendor.

Sagmamano ti...... bananaque, Manang? How much is..... the bananaque, Sister?

or

Ania iti presyo na daytoy/dayta? What is the price of this/that?

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Of course we've covered "titles" in our previous lessons so use the appropriate title to the vendor..

Manang = Older Female
Manong = Older Male
Ading = Younger Male or Female

These three titles are the most common that you will be using on the street.

When you are riding a bus or a jeepney or tricycle, you would say:
Mano ti plete?.....How much is the fare?
translate to "Magkano ang bayad?" inTagalog

Kanyam dayta baryan.....Keep the change

translate to....Sa iyo na yan barya in tagalog.

In this lesson, we've covered the "How-to in How Much"
On the street...
1. Sagmamano ti.....? How much is the.......?
2. Ania iti presyo na daytoy/dayta? What is the price of this/that?

In a vehicle....
3. Mano ti plete? How much is the fare?
4. Kanyam dayta baryan. Keep the change (the change is yours)

And don't forget how to say, "Para! Para!".....which means Stop! Stop!...only do so if you are in a jeepney and if the driver does not know where you are actually wanting to get off. Otherwise, they will keep going on their way.

This will get you by for now....