Chavacano phrasebook

Chavacano is a Spanish-based creole spoken in the Philippines. The language is most spoken in Zamboanga City and Christian-majority towns of Basilan, but is also spoken in Cavite City and Ternate, and previously in Ermita, Cotabato City, and Davao. The languages derives most of its vocabulary from Spanish, but the word order and grammar come from the native languages such as Tagalog and Hiligaynon.

While sounding Spanish at first sight, Chavacano has a basic word order of verb-subject-object in line with the native Philippine languages. This is slowly changing however, as the conventional subject-verb-object word order as in conventional Spanish and English is being adopted by younger speakers.

Chavacano does not have grammatical gender or verb conjugations like Spanish. Nouns have natural genders as their Spanish roots, but their corresponding articles are the el (the) and un (a/an), while masculine in Spanish, is generally considered gender-neutral in Chavacano. La and una are only used in the most formal writing, but is also understood and said of as well. Plural nouns are indicated by the article plus maga (borrowed from Hiligaynon) or mana (borrowed from Tagalog mga), e.g. el maga/mana bata ("the children"); los or las plus plural form as in conventional Spanish has almost disappeared from Chavacano except in formal language. Personal names are indicated by si (e.g. Ya dalo si Maria con un regalo a Juan "Mary gave John a gift").

Chavacano does not follow the complicated conjugation system of Spanish; instead, verb tense is indicated by particles (e.g. Zamboanga Chavacano uses ya for past, ta for present, ay for future), and the infinitive form is the same as Spanish, except the final -r is omitted and the final syllable accented. The table below provides a guide for forming the basic verb tenses for each Chavacano variety.

Chavacano (in Zamboanga) also features the inclusive and exclusive "we", borrowed from the Philippine languages; nosotros, less common is most Spanish varieties, is only used in formal language, regardless if they include or exclude the person being spoken to.

With the exception of the 1st and 3rd person singular forms, Chavacano pronouns have a common/familiar and formal forms. Possessive forms only exist in the Zamboanga variety.

Chavacano in written form is only a late development, so there is no standardized spelling. Instead, Chavacano can be written using a Spanish-based, Filipino-based, or a compromise orthography between the former two. The Spanish-based spelling is often used in formal writing (e.g. journalistic writing), while the Filipino-based (using the letters of the abakada) spelling is often used in informal writing. The compromise orthography uses spellings based on etymological roots. For example, "We are eating rice" (with an inclusive "we") in Zamboanga Chavacano can be written in the following ways:

Ta comí quitá con canon. (Spanish-based approach)

Ta komí kitá kon kanon. (Filipino-based approach)

Ta comí kitá con kanon. (compromise spelling)

Regardless of how they are spelled, the sentence is pronounced as Tah koh-MEE key-TAH cohn KAH-non.

This phrasebook uses the compromise spelling, also used in Chavacano teaching materials for kindergarten and elementary students in Zamboanga City and promoted by the city government.

Chavacano varieties are generally mutually intelligible, and most sounds are the same as in most varieties of Spanish, but it is common to interchange e and i, and o and u as commonly encountered in the English spoken by native speakers of Visayan languages (Cebuano, Hiligaynon). The h, while never uttered in most Spanish varieties, is pronounced due to English language influence, and since the h sound corresponds to a g or j in spelling.

Meanwhile in the Caviteño Chabacano variant, it can be written as:

Ta come [or (cumi)] nisos morisqueta.

Vowels are pronounced the same way as in Spanish: short and crisp. At stressed syllables, vowels are lengthened as in Spanish. Accents are not normally used in written Chavacano.

a

as the "a" in "father"

e

as the "e" in "bed"

i

as the "ee" in "feet"

o

as the "o" in "roll"

u

as the "u" in "pull"

Spoken Chavacano often elides the following vowel in the next word after a syllable ending in a vowel.

b

like 'b' in "bed"

c

like 's' in "supper" (before 'e' and 'i'), otherwise like 'k' in "kid". In spoken language, when followed by a 'e' or 'i' and another vowel, it is often pronounced like 'sh' in "sheep" (e.g. ciento SHEN-toh, "to have") .

ch

like 'ch' in "check". (see also 't')

d

like 'd' in "dog". In spoken language, when followed by a 'e' or 'i' and another vowel, it is often pronounced like 'dg' in "edge" (e.g. Diós "God" is pronounced like Joss).

f

Same as 'p' (see below)

g

like 'h' in "hello" (when followed by an "e" or "i"), otherwise like 'g' in "ago" (always hard). In the letter clusters gue and gui, the "u" is only silent so to change the sound, unless the "u" is written with the dieresis (rather uncommon in Chavacano). A final -g is often pronounced as 'k' (see below).

h

like 'h' in "help" (silent in most Spanish varieties).

j

like 'h' (see above)

k

like 'c' in "cat" (only on borrowings from Philippine languages and English)

l

like 'l' in "love"

ll

the common "ly", "yiation is 'ly', but in some regions, it's also pronounced as 'y' and 'l'. ex. 'llave' (key) can have different pronunciations, such as "LYA-be", "LA-be", and "YA-be".'m' in "mother"

n

like 'n' in "nice"

ñ, ny

like ny in "canyon"

p

like 'p' in "pig"

q

like 'k' in "ski" (with "u", always silent)

r, rr

Chavacano has two 'r' sounds as in Spanish. A Chavacano 'r' is like the 'dd' in "ladder" for American English speakers, while rr is a rolled 'r' following a throaty 'h' sound.

s

like 's' in "son". In spoken language, when followed by a 'e' or 'i' and another vowel, it is often pronounced like 'sh' in "sheep".

t

like 't' in "top". In spoken language, when followed by a 'e' or 'i' and another vowel, it is often pronounced like 'ch' in "check"(e.g. tiené cheh-NEH, "to have") .

v

Same as 'b' above.

w

like 'w' in "weight" (only in borrowings from Philippine languages and English)

x

like 'cks' in "kicks".

y

like 'y' in "yes"

z

Same as 's' above.

There is no agreed way of spelling out glottal stops (i.e. the catch in the throat heard when saying uh-oh) on borrowings from Philippine languages; they are either indicated by a circumflex on the vowel preceding it, or by a final h. For example, the common negation word pronounced HEN-de' can be spelled as jendê or jendeh. This phrasebook use the former treatment.

ai

like "a-hi" in "ah, here!": caido /ka·hí·do/ (failed, fallen): like "aye" in "ice": aire /áy·re/ (air)

ao

like the "ow" in "cow": cuidao /kwi·dáw/ (take care, farewell, good bye, watch out, be safe)

ea

like "ya" in "papaya": man porfiahan /man·pur·pyá·han/ (to argue with each other)

ei/ey

like "ay" in "hay": rey /réy/ (king)

eo

like "yo" in "yoyo": correo /kor·yo (mail)

ia

like "yah" in "yum": con sequia /kun·si·kí·ya/ (thirsty)

ie

like "ye" in "Yemen": hiede /yé·de/, /hyé·de/ (bad odor)

io

like "yo" in "yoyo": yo /i·yó/, /yó/ (me)

iu

like "yu" in "you": yugo /yú·go/ (yolk)

oi

like "oo-ee" in "ooh, wee!": oi /u·wí/ (to hear)

ua

like "wa" in "wallet": agua /á·gwa/ (water)

ue

like "weh" in "well": cuento /kwén·to/ (story)

ui

like "we": cuida /kwi·dá/ (to take care)

This article concentrates on the most common variety spoken in Zamboanga and Basilan. Forms in the Cavite varieties exist, though less likely to be stumbled upon by travelers as Tagalog is more useful there.

Accents are not normally used in written Chavacano, but are provided to distinguish words that are spelled the same but are stressed differently.

Hello.

Hola /ó·la/; Buenas. /bwé-nas/; Que tal. /ke·tál/

How are you?

Que tal tu?

Fine, thank you.

Enbuenamente man, gracias.

What is your name?

Cosa nombre de tuyo?

My name is ______ .

______ el de mio nombre.

Nice to meet you.

Alegre yo conoce contigo.

Please.

Por favor., Favor.

Thank you.

Gracias.

You're welcome.

De nada., No hay lang aquel., No hay problema

Yes.

Si.

No.

No.

Excuse me. (getting attention)

Con permiso.

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

Dispensa conmigo.

I'm sorry.

Dispensa conmigo., Paciencia ya.

Goodbye.

Cuidao.

I can't speak Chavacano [well].

Hende [gayod] yo sabe conversa Chabacano.

Do you speak English?

Ta conversa ba tu Ingles?

Is there someone here who speaks English?

Tiene ba aqui quien sabe conversa Ingles?

Help!

Ayuda!

Look out!

Cuidao!

Good morning.

Buenos dias.

Good evening.

Buenos tardes.

Good night.

Buenos noches.

I don't understand.

Hende yo ta entende.

Where is the toilet?

Donde el CR/casillas?

Leave me alone.

Deja conmigo solo.

Don't touch me!

No agarra conmigo!

I'll call the police.

Llama yo pulis.

Police!

Pulis!

Stop! Thief!

Para! Ladron!

I need your help.

Necesita yo ayuda de tuyo.

There's an accident.

Tiene ya'n accidente.

I'm lost.

Perdido yo.

I lost my bag.

Ya perde mi bag.

I lost my wallet.

Ya perde mi petaca

I lost my cellphone.

Ya perde mi cellphone.

I've been robbed.

Ya roba conmigo

I'm sick.

Enfermo yo., Malo yo ta senti.

I've been injured.

Herido yo.

Can I use your phone?

Puede ba yo usa de tu cellphone?

I need a doctor.

Necesita yo doctor.

Where's the nearest hospital?

Donde el de con todo cerca hospital?

Please bring me to the doctor.

Favor lleva conmigo na doctor.

Please call an ambulance.

Favor llama ambulancia.

I need first aid.

Necesita yo first aid.

Earthquake

temblor

Flood

avenida

Tornado

ipo-ipo

Typhoon

bagyo, tifon

Volcano

vulcán

1

uno (OO-noh)

2

dos (doss)

3

tres (tress)

4

cuatro (KWAT-roh)

5

cinco (SING-koh)

6

seis (seh-EES)

7

siete (see-EH-teh)

8

ocho (OH-cho)

9

nueve (nooh-EH-beh)

10

diez (dee-ESS)

11

once (ON-seh)

12

doce (DOH-seh)

13

trece (TREH-seh)

14

catorce (kah-TOHR-seh)

15

quince (KEEN-ce)

16

dieciseis (dee-eh-see-seh-IS)

17

diecisiete (dee-eh-see-see-EH-teh)

18

dieciocho (dee-eh-see-OH-cho)

19

diecinueve (dee-eh-see-noo-EH-beh)

20

veinte (beh-EEN-teh)

21

veintiuno (beh-een-tee-OO-noh)

22

veintidós ( )

23

veintitres ( )

30

treinta ( )

40

cuarenta ( )

50

cinquenta ( )

60

seisenta ( )

70

sietenta ( )

80

ochenta ( )

90

noventa ( )

100

un ciento ( )

200

dos ciento ( )

300

tres ciento ( )

1,000

uno mil ( )

2,000

dos mil ( )

1,000,000

un milión ( )

1,000,000,000

un bilión ( )

1,000,000,000,000

un trilión ( )

half

medio (meh-DEE-oh)

less

menos (MEH-nohs)

more

mas (mass)

Due to American English influence, Chavacano uses the short scale for larger numbers unlike in mainstream Spanish. So, a billion in Chavacano means a "thousand million", not a "million million" as in the Spanish-speaking world.

now

ahora

later

luego

before

antes

morning

aga, a la mañana

afternoon

tarde

evening/night

noche

one o'clock AM

a la una de madrugada

two o'clock AM

a las dos de madrugada

noon

mediodia

one o'clock PM

a la una de tarde

two o'clock PM

a las dos de tarde

midnight

madrugada

What time is it?

Qué hora ya?

_____ minute(s)

______ minuto

_____ hour(s)

______ hora (______ HOH-rah)

_____ day(s)

______ día (______ DEE-ah)

_____ week(s)

______ semana (______ seh-MAH-nah)

_____ month(s)

______ mes[es] (______ mes[sehss] )

_____ year(s)

______ año[s] (ah-NYOH)

today

ahora ( )

yesterday

ayer ( )

tomorrow

manaña ( )

this week

este semana ( )

last week

semana pesao ( )

next week

semana que viene ( )

Sunday

Domingo ( )

Monday

Lunes ( )

Tuesday

Martes ( )

Wednesday

Miercoles ( )

Thursday

Jueves ( )

Friday

Viernes ( )

Saturday

Sabado ( )

January

Enero ( )

February

Febrero ( )

March

Marzo ( )

April

Abril ( )

May

Mayo ( )

June

Junio ( )

July

Julio ( )

August

Agosto ( )

September

Septiembre ( )

October

Octubre ( )

November

Noviembre ( )

December

Deciembre ( )

The 12-hour clock is generally used, as with the rest of the Philippines. Times are written as in English, but spoken as in Spanish, so 1:23 AM is said as a la una y veintitres de madrugada.

Dates are written usually in day-month-year format. Like most Philippine languages, due to English language influence, names of days and months are capitalized.

black

negro, escuro

white

blanco

gray

cenizao

red

colorao

blue

azul

yellow

amarillo

green

verde

orange

cajel

rosy orange

arosao, salmon

violet

violeta, ube

purple/mauve

lila

brown

marron, cafe, chocolate

chestnut brown

castaño

pink

rosas, rosa, salmon

saffron orange

azafran

negruso

blackish

Car

auto, coche

Taxi

taxi

Jeepney

jeep

Bus

bus

Truck

truck

Bicycle

bicicleta

Motorcycle

motorciclo

Tricycle

tricycle

Boat

barco, baroto, bote, lancha

Ferry/ship

barco

Airplane

aeroplano

How much is a ticket to _____?

De cuanto el ticket na _______?

One ticket for _____, please.

Favor yo un ticket na ______.

Where does this bus go?

Para donde este bus viaja?

Does this bus stop in _____?

Para ba este bus na ____?

When does the bus for _____ leave?

Cuando man el bus para na ____ sale?

When will this bus arrive in _____?

Cuando man el bus abuya na ____? ( )

How do I get to _____ ?

Quelaya yo anda na ____?

...the bus station?

...na estacion de bus?

...the airport?

...airport?

...downtown?

na pueblo? ( )

...the _____ hotel?

...na hotel?

Where are there a lot of...

Donde tiene mucho

...hotels?

hotel?

...restaurants?

restauran?

...bars?

bar?

street

calle

avenue

avenue

corner

canto

Turn left.

bira izquierda

Turn right.

bira derecha

left

izquierda

right

derecha

straight ahead

derecho

towards the a _____

para na _____

past the _____

lampas na _____

before the _____

Watch for the _____.

Vicia con el ____.

intersection

( )

north

norte ( )

south

sur ( )

east

este ( )

west

oeste ( )

uphill

subida

downhill

abajada

Stop! (to get off the jeepney)

Aqui lang!

One/two/three to _______, please.

Uno/Dos/Tres na _______.

How much is the fare to ______?

De cuanto el pasaje na _______?

Driver, where's my change?

Manong/Manang, donde mi cambio?

Driver, you have excess change.

Manong/Manang, sobra el cambio.

There are not much any taxis in Zamboanga City, and there are none either on Basilan.

Taxi!

Taxi! ( )

Take me to _____, please.

Lleva conmigo na ______, por favor. ( )

How much does it cost to get to _____?

De cuanto el pasaje para na ______? ( )

Take me there, please.

Favor lleva conmigo alla.

Do you have any rooms available?

Tiene ustedes vacante cuarto?

How much is a room for one person/two people?

De cuanto el un cuarti para na un/dos personam?

Does the room come with...

Tiene ba...el cuarto?

...an air-conditioner?

...aircon?

...bedsheets?

...bedsheet?

...a bathroom?

...un baño?

...Internet access?

...internet?

...pillows?

...almojada?

...a telephone?

...telefono?

...a TV?

...TV?

May I see the room first?

Puede ba anay yo mira el cuarto?

Do you have anything quieter?

Tiene ba tu cosa mas silencio?

...bigger?

...mas grande?

...cleaner?

...mas limpio?

...cheaper?

...mas barato?

OK, I'll take it.

Ok, ese ya.

I will stay for ____ days

Esta yo por ____ dia.

Can you suggest another hotel?

Puede ba tu man suggest otro hotel?

Do you have a safe?

Tiene ba tu caja de hierro/safe?

Is breakfast/dinner included?

Junto ba el almorzal/cena?

What time is breakfast/supper?

Que hora el cena?

Please clean my room.

Favor limpia mi cuarto.

Can you wake me at _____?

Puede ba tu hace desperta conmgo a las ____?

I want to check out.

Quiere yo man check out.

Who's knocking on the door?

Quien ta'n tuktuk con el puerta?

The toilet is not working.

Hende ta anda el casillas.

Do you accept (currency?)

Ta acepta ba ustedes (currency)?

dollar

dollar

euro

euro

Do you accept credit cards?

Ta acepta ba ustedes credit cards?

Can you change money for me?

Puede tu cambia sen para conmigo?

Where can I get money changed?

Donde yo puede cambia mi sen?

What is the exchange rate for ______?

Cosa el exchange rate para na ____?

Where is the ATM?

Donde el ATM?

A table for one person/two people, please.

Un mesa para un/dos persona, por favor.

Can I look at the menu

Puede ba yo mira el menu?

Can I look in the kitchen?

Puede ba yo mira el cocina?

Is there a house specialty?

Tiene ustedes specialty?

Is there a local specialty?

Tiene ba local specialty?

I'm a vegetarian.

Vegetarian yo.

I don't eat pork.

Hende yo ta come puerco.

I don't eat beef.

Hende yo ta come vaca.

I only eat Halal food.

Ta come lang yo comida halal.

It's so salty.

Bien salao man.

It's so sweet.

Bien dulce man.

It's so sour.

Bien agrio man.

It's so spicy.

Bien pica/kahang man.

breakfast

almuerzo

lunch

medio dia

afternoon snack

merienda

dinner

cena

I want _____.

Quiere yo ______.

I want a dish containing _____.

Quiere yo potaje tiene ___.

chicken

manok, pollo

beef

vaca

fish

pescao

ham

jamon

pork

puerco

wild boar

puerco de monte, puercoy monte

sausage

longanisa

cheese

queso

eggs

huevos

salad

ensalada

vegetables

gulay, verdura

fruit

frutas

bread

pan

toasted bread

pan tostao

rice

kanun, morisquieta (cooked), arroz (uncooked)

A glass of _____, please.

Un vaso de ______, favor.

A mug of _____, please.

Un cuartilla de ______, favor.

A bottle of _____, please. Un botella de ______, favor.

coffee

cafe

tea

cha

water

agua

beer

tomada, cerveza

wine

vino

May I have some _____?

____, favor.

salt

sal

black pepper

pimienta

soy sauce

toyo, tawyu

butter

mantequilla

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

Servidor/dora!

I'm finished.

Acabado yo.

It was delicious.

Sabroso man aquel.

Please wash the dishes.

Favor lava plato.

Do you serve alcohol?

Tiene tomada?

Is there table service?

Tiene ustedes table service?

A beer/two beers, please.

Un/dos tomada, favor.

A glass of wine, please.

Un botella de vino, favor.

A pint, please.

Un media litro, favor.

A bottle, please.

Un botella, favor.

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

______ y ______, por favor

whiskey

whiskey

vodka

vodka

rum

rum

water

agua

club soda

tonic water

tonic

orange juice

Coke (soda)

soft drinks

Do you have any bar snacks?

Tiene chichiria?

One more, please.

Uno pa, favor.

Another round, please.

When is closing time?

Cuando ustedes ay cerra?

{{Infobox|Places to shop|

Market (in general)

tiangue

Mall

mall

Do you have this in my size?

Tiene ba tu ansina na mi grandor?

How much is this?

De cuento este?

That's too expensive.

Bien caro man ese.

Would you take _____?

Quiere ba tu ___?

expensive

caro

cheap

barato

I can't afford it.

Falta mi pago.

I don't want it.

No quiere yo con ese.

You're cheating me.

Tiene vos otro.

I'm not interested.

Hende yo interesao.

Do you ship (overseas)?

Ta'n ship ba tu overseas?

I need...

Necesita yo con... (if it's a person); Necesita yo (con el)... (it it's an object)

...toothpaste.

...toothpaste

...toothbrush.

...cepillo

...tampons.

...napkin.

...soap.

...jabon.

...shampoo.

...shampoo.

...cold medicine.

medicina para el tos/costipao

...stomach medicine.

...medicina para na dolor de estomago ...

...a razor.

...navajo.

...an umbrella.

...paraguas/payong.

...postage stamps.

...sello.

...batteries.

...bateria.

...paper.

...papel.

...a pen.

...bolpen.

...a pencil.

...un lápiz.

...English-language books.

...libro na Ingles.

...English-language magazines.

...magazin na Ingles.

...an English-language newspaper.

..diario na Ingles.

...an English-English dictionary.

...diccionario na Ingles.

Like the most of the Philippines, most road signs are in English.

I want to rent a car.

Quiere yo alquila auto.

Can I get insurance?

Puede ba yo mampa-insurance?

No parking

No hay parqueada

gas station

gasolinera, estacion de gasolina

petrol

gasolina

My car stalled.

No puede move mi auto.

I need a mechanic.

Necesita yo mecanico.

I haven't done anything wrong.

No hay man yo cosa ya hace malo

It was a misunderstanding.

No hay lang man entendihan. Mal entendimiento lang aquel.

Where are you taking me?

Donde tu lleva conmigo?

Am I under arrest?

Arresta ba conmigo?

I am an _ citizen.

De (lugar) yo.

I want to talk to the _ embassy/consulate.

Quiere yo man cuento na embajada de _.

I want to talk to a lawyer.

Quiere yo man cuento na abogao/abogada.

Can I just pay a fine now?

Puede ya lang ba yo paga mi multa?