Basic Phrases in Siargaonon

19 words and phrases, recorded by a native speaker of Siargaonon (Surigaonon), the language of Siargao Island in the Philippines. Part of Greetings & Basics.

Hearing it spoken

Written Siargaonon can only take you so far — the sounds are what give a speaker away. Two rules matter more than any other: the letter J is always hard, as in the English "jump" (never softened to a "y"), and many words that use an L in neighbouring languages use a Y here — ulo becomes uyo, balay becomes bayay. The pronunciation guide covers both in detail.

Every phrase on this page can be heard aloud, drilled with flashcards and quizzes, and scheduled for review in the free app.

The Four That Matter Most

If you learn nothing else on this page, learn these.

Palihog is please, and it turns any request into a polite one. Dili is the negation word — no, not, don't. Waya ako kasabot is I don't understand, and it is the single most useful sentence a learner can carry. Nawaya ako is I'm lost, which on an island of back roads is not a hypothetical.

Between them they let you be polite, decline, admit confusion and ask for help — which covers most of what a beginner actually needs to do.

Asking for Help

Tabang is help. Tabangi anay ako is help me, and the anay in the middle softens it into a request rather than a demand. Kinahanglan ako nan tabang is the fuller I need help.

Use the softened form by default. The bare imperative exists, but it lands harder than an English speaker expects.

Two Words for Hand It Here

Diri and Ambi both ask someone to pass you something. Ambi is the authoritative one — closer to a command; Diri is the gentler.

Diri is also one of the words for here, so hearing it does not always mean someone is asking for something. If a hand is out, it is the other sense.

Tanan and Hurot Both Mean All

They overlap in everyday speech, but they lean different ways. Tanan leans toward people — a whole group, as in sa ijo tanan, to you all. Hurot leans toward things — a supply or a task completely used up or finished.

Use tanan for everyone in the room and hurot for the rice being gone, and you will be right most of the time.

Expressions You Will Hear Before You Use

Ay na bata ini! is exasperation at a child — not translatable so much as recognisable, the sound of a parent at the end of their patience. Simba ko is knock on wood. Na buang na is this is crazy.

Inday uno is I don't know, and it will come up constantly.

Keep exploring

Is a word missing, or is something here wrong? This record is incomplete by definition — a living language is bigger than any one speaker. Tell us and it will be reviewed and added.