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The Philippines has more than 175 living languages. The two official languages are Filipino and English, and Filipino, based on Tagalog, is the national language. At home, the most widely spoken languages are Tagalog (39.9% of households), Bisaya/Cebuano (22.5% combined), Hiligaynon (7.3%) and Ilocano (7.1%), according to the 2020 census. English is widely understood, so travelers can get around easily without learning a local language.
Philippine languages by the numbers
| Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| Number of languages | More than 175 living languages (Ethnologue) |
| National language | Filipino |
| Official languages | Filipino and English (1987 Constitution) |
| National sign language | Filipino Sign Language (Republic Act 11106, 2018) |
| Most spoken at home | Tagalog, in 10.5 million households (39.9%) |
| Second most spoken at home | Bisaya/Cebuano, in about 5.9 million households (22.5% combined) |
| Language agency | Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (Commission on the Filipino Language) |
| National Language Month | August (Buwan ng Wika) |
Most spoken languages in the Philippines
The 2020 Census of Population and Housing asked every household which language it generally speaks at home. These were the top ten:
| # | Language | Households | Share | Main regions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tagalog | 10,522,507 | 39.9% | Metro Manila, Central and Southern Luzon |
| 2 | Bisaya/Binisaya | 4,214,122 | 16.0% | Central Visayas and much of Mindanao |
| 3 | Hiligaynon/Ilonggo | 1,933,512 | 7.3% | Western Visayas, Negros, Soccsksargen |
| 4 | Ilocano | 1,863,409 | 7.1% | Northern Luzon |
| 5 | Cebuano | 1.72 million | 6.5% | Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Mindanao |
| 6 | Bikol | 1.03 million | 3.9% | Bicol Region |
| 7 | Waray | 698,745 | 2.6% | Samar and Leyte |
| 8 | Kapampangan | 639,687 | 2.4% | Pampanga and Tarlac |
| 9 | Maguindanao | 365,032 | 1.4% | Maguindanao, BARMM |
| 10 | Pangasinan | 334,759 | 1.3% | Pangasinan |
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority, 2020 Census of Population and Housing (26.4 million households). Other languages, including Boholano, Tausug, Maranao, Kinaray-a, Aklanon, Surigaonon and Chavacano, account for the remaining 11.2%.
Filipino vs Tagalog: what’s the difference?
People often use the two words interchangeably, but they aren’t quite the same:
- Tagalog is a regional language, the native tongue of Manila and much of Central and Southern Luzon.
- Filipino is the national language defined in the 1987 Constitution. It’s based on Tagalog but is meant to grow by borrowing from other Philippine languages, English and Spanish. In everyday use, it sounds very close to the Tagalog spoken in Metro Manila.
So a Tagalog speaker speaks Filipino, but Filipino is also learned in school by millions of Filipinos whose first language is Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or another language.
Are they languages or dialects?
In the Philippines, people often call regional languages “dialects,” but linguists consider Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, Waray and others to be separate languages, not dialects of Tagalog. A Tagalog speaker and a Cebuano speaker can’t fully understand each other without learning the other’s language. Each language does have its own dialects: Cebuano in Cebu sounds different from Cebuano in Davao, for example.
English in the Philippines
English is an official language and is used in schools, government, courts, business and most signage. Many Filipinos switch easily between English and their own language, and mixes like Taglish (Tagalog and English) and Bislish (Bisaya and English) are everyday speech. For travelers, this means you can ask for directions, order food and book tours in English almost everywhere.
Spanish influence and Chavacano
More than three centuries of Spanish rule left thousands of Spanish loanwords in Philippine languages, especially for numbers, days, food and religion. Spanish and Arabic are promoted on a voluntary and optional basis under the Constitution. In Zamboanga City, people speak Chavacano, a Spanish-based creole and the only one of its kind in Asia with a large community of speakers.
Baybayin: the ancient script
Before Spanish colonization, many Filipinos wrote in Baybayin, a pre-colonial script. It’s making a comeback today in art, tattoos, logos and on Philippine banknotes. Read more in our history of the Philippines.
Languages in schools
Filipino and English are taught throughout school. From 2012, the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education program used local languages in the early grades. In 2024, Republic Act 12027 ended mother tongue as the main medium of instruction in the early grades, returning to Filipino and English, though local languages can still be used to support learning.
Useful phrases for travelers: Tagalog and Cebuano
English works almost everywhere, but a few local words go a long way. Use Tagalog in Manila and Luzon, and Cebuano (Bisaya) in Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete, Siargao and most of Mindanao.
| English | Tagalog | Cebuano (Bisaya) |
|---|---|---|
| Hello / How are you? | Kumusta? | Kumusta? |
| Thank you | Salamat (po) | Salamat |
| Good morning | Magandang umaga | Maayong buntag |
| Yes / No | Oo / Hindi | Oo / Dili |
| How much? | Magkano? | Pila? |
| Where is…? | Saan ang…? | Asa ang…? |
| Delicious! | Masarap! | Lami! |
| I don’t understand | Hindi ko maintindihan | Wala ko kasabot |
| Let’s eat! | Kain tayo! | Kaon ta! |
| Water | Tubig | Tubig |
Tip: in Tagalog, add po to sound polite with elders and strangers, e.g. “Salamat po.”
Traveling around the islands? Stay connected for translation apps and maps, and book tours with English-speaking guides.
Languages of the Philippines: FAQ
How many languages are spoken in the Philippines?
More than 175 living languages are spoken in the Philippines, according to Ethnologue. Filipino and English are the official languages.
What is the national language of the Philippines?
The national language of the Philippines is Filipino, which is based on Tagalog. Filipino and English are the two official languages under the 1987 Constitution.
What is the most spoken language in the Philippines?
Tagalog is the most spoken language at home, used in about 10.5 million households, or 39.9% of all households, according to the 2020 census. Bisaya/Cebuano is second, at about 22.5% of households combined.
Is Filipino the same as Tagalog?
Not exactly. Tagalog is a regional language from Manila and Southern Luzon. Filipino is the national language, based on Tagalog but designed to borrow from other Philippine languages, English and Spanish. In daily use they sound very similar.
Is Cebuano the same as Bisaya?
In everyday speech, yes. Most people who say they speak Bisaya speak Cebuano, especially in Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and much of Mindanao. The census lists them separately, which makes Cebuano look smaller than it is.
Do people speak English in the Philippines?
Yes. English is an official language used in schools, government and business, and most Filipinos understand it. Travelers can get by in English almost everywhere.
Is Spanish spoken in the Philippines?
Spanish is no longer widely spoken, but Philippine languages contain thousands of Spanish loanwords. In Zamboanga City, people speak Chavacano, a Spanish-based creole.
Should I learn Tagalog or Cebuano for traveling?
Learn a few Tagalog phrases for Manila and Luzon, and Cebuano (Bisaya) phrases for Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete, Siargao and Mindanao. English works almost everywhere, so a few polite words are enough.
Cebu-born travel writer raised between Cebu and Dumaguete, now based in Zamboanga del Sur, Mindanao. Gio speaks Bisaya, Filipino and English, and writes Best Philippines Travel Guide to help visitors travel the islands with confidence.