Pronunciation guide in Filipino phrasebook
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Abbreviation (ng and mga)
Two very common words are always abbreviated:
- ng�
- pronounced nang, genitive marker like English "of"
Republika ng Pilipinas ? Republic of the Philippines
- mga�
- pronounced mangá, plural marker like English "-s"
mga magulang ? parents
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Although Filipino words may seem long and tongue-twisting at first, pronunciation is easier than in many other languages. Long words are almost always based on smaller root words. The only foreign sound is an initial ng on a few words such as ngiti (smile). Unlike its neighboring languages (e.g. Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese) Filipino is not tonal. However, stressing the wrong syllable can often change the meaning of a word. Only very rarely does this occur in English (such as desert/dessert). Meanings in such cases can be closely related such as buhay (alive or life) or totally unrelated such as hapon (afternoon or Japan). You have also the use of the glottal stop, which makes a pause between two vowels. The glottal stop is used much in Filipino language. A space will be provided for the glottal stop.
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