Languages of the Philippines

The Philippines has many different languages. Estimates say between 130 and 195 languages are spoken there. Most belong to the Malayo-Polynesian languages family.

Two languages are very common: Tagalog and Cebuano. The 1987 constitution names Filipino, a version of Tagalog, as the national language. Filipino and English are both official languages. Filipino helps people with different languages talk to each other. It is managed by the Commission on the Filipino Language. Filipino Sign Language is the official sign language.

Other regional languages are used in local areas and schools. They are part of the larger Austronesian family.

Traditionally, the Philippines had its own writing systems, like the Kulitan and Tagbanwa. Today, Philippine languages use the Latin script. This came from the country's history with Spanish and American colonial experience. The old script called Baybayin appears on modern Philippine banknotes. In southern, Muslim areas, the Arabic script is used.

National and official languages

History

Spanish was the official language of the Philippines for a long time when Spain ruled the country. It was used by leaders and in schools. Many important documents, like the Malolos Constitution, were written in Spanish. Later, when the United States took control, English became important in schools. In 1937, Tagalog was chosen as the base for a national language because many people spoke it. This language was later named Pilipino and then Filipino. Today, Filipino and English are the official languages, and other regional languages are also recognized.

Usage

Filipino, based on Tagalog, is used in government, schools, and media. English is also very important. Many Filipinos can speak more than one language. In areas far from Manila, people might use their local language with friends and family but switch to Filipino or English in formal settings. Some smaller languages are used mainly at home, while the more common regional languages are used in daily life. Efforts are being made to keep all these languages alive.

Regional languages

According to Ethnologue, 182 native languages are spoken in the Philippines. Four of these are no longer used. Besides Arabic, English, Spanish, Chavacano, and some varieties of Chinese like Hokkien, Cantonese, and Mandarin, all other languages belong to the Malayo-Polynesian branch of the Austronesian language family.

The four Philippine languages with the most native speakers are:

• Tagalog
• Cebuano
• Ilocano
• Hiligaynon

There are also seven languages with between one and five million speakers:

• Central Bikol
• Waray
• Kapampangan
• Pangasinan
• Maguindanao
• Maranao
• Tausug

One or more of these languages is spoken by over 90% of the population.

Eskayan is a special language made up to represent the culture of Bohol. Only about 500 people use it.

Philippine languages are often called dialects by Filipinos. While there are many dialects, they are actually different languages.

The way people speak can change a lot even within the same language. For example, in the Bicol Region, different towns have their own ways of speaking.

Comparison chart

Below is a chart showing how Philippine languages are similar but not always easy to understand between each other.

There is a language spoken by the Tao people of Orchid Island in Taiwan that is not part of the Philippines' languages.

Native speakers

Here are the numbers of people who speak the top 20 languages as their native language in the Philippines.

Native languages in the Philippines

1. Tagalog (39.9%)
2. Cebuano/Bisaya/Binisaya/Boholano (22.5%)
3. Hiligaynon (7.30%)
4. Ilocano (8.00%)
5. Bikol (3.90%)
6. Waray (2.60%)
7. Kapampangan (2.40%)
8. Maguindanao (1.40%)
9. Pangasinan (1.30%)
10. Tausug/Bahasa Sug (1.00%)
11. Maranao (1.00%)
12. Others (9.60%)

By households

Here are the top ten languages by the number of households where they are spoken.

Language vitality

The Philippines has many different languages, and some of them are at risk of disappearing. In 2010, UNESCO helped classify these languages based on how safe they are.

A language is safe if everyone in the family speaks it. It is vulnerable if most children still speak it but maybe only at home. It is definitely endangered if children no longer learn it from their parents. Severely endangered languages are only spoken by older people, while critically endangered languages are spoken only by the oldest generation. An extinct language has no speakers left.

There are efforts to help protect these languages. Some ideas include creating dictionaries and video records for each language, reviving old writing styles, and teaching children their family’s language first. Right now, only some of these ideas are being used by the government.

In another study from 2014, experts found that the Philippines has 32 languages that are in danger. Two of these languages might already have no speakers left. These languages are some of the oldest in the country.

Major immigrant languages

Arabic

Arabic is used by some Filipino Muslims for religious and school purposes. Islam came to the Philippines in the 14th century. Arabic is taught for free in some Islamic schools, mainly in the south. It is used mostly in religious activities and education.

English

English became important during American rule from 1898 to 1946 and is an official language. It is used in official documents, business, government, and schools. Many Filipinos use English textbooks for subjects like science and math, though lessons are often in local languages. English is also used in some media and helps give a formal tone in ceremonies and schools.

Hokkien

Chinese Filipinos often speak Hokkien Chinese at home, especially those from Fujian province in China. Other Chinese languages like Yue, Teochew, and Hakka are also spoken by smaller groups. Many Chinese Filipinos mainly speak English, Tagalog, or other local languages, but Hokkien remains a heritage language in some families.

Japanese

Japanese people first arrived in the Philippines around the 11th century, with more coming later. Today, there are Japanese communities in Metro Manila and areas like Laguna, Baguio, and Davao Region. Japanese schools exist in places like Davao City, where many Japanese descendants live.

Korean

Korean is spoken mainly by South Korean expatriates and Filipinos with Korean ancestry. The Korean language has been added to special foreign language programs in some Philippine schools.

Malay

Malay is spoken by some Tausug, Sama-Bajau, and Yakan peoples in the southern Philippines and by Indonesians and Malaysians living there. It was once a widespread trade language across the archipelago. Today, Malay influences many Philippine languages, and Indonesian is taught in some universities.

South Asian languages

Small Indian communities have existed in the Philippines for a long time. Indians usually speak Tagalog or English, but among themselves, they may use Sindhi or Punjabi. Urdu is spoken by some Pakistanis, and languages like Tamil, Nepali, and Marathi are spoken by recent arrivals.

Spanish

Spanish arrived in the Philippines in 1565 and greatly influenced local languages. Though few people speak it today, Spanish words are common in Filipino languages. Spanish-based creole languages called Chavacano are spoken in places like Cavite and Zamboanga. Spanish was once the language of education and government but declined when English became more prominent. Today, it is an optional subject in some schools and still spoken by some Spanish families and mestizos.

Spanish creoles

Several Spanish-based creole languages exist in the Philippines, called Chavacano. These include Caviteño in Cavite, Ternateño also in Cavite, and Zamboangueño in Zamboanga City and nearby areas. Other varieties include Cotabateño in Cotabato and Davaoeño in Davao City.