Christmas season is fast approaching. In fact, I could already hear Christmas carols and lively Christmas songs being played in the malls. The atmosphere, too, has now started to have the ambience of Christmas.

With the holidays coming, I am sure there would be many of you who would again want to travel and spend some time for vacation in other countries, including the Philippines. For those of you who are planning to visit the Philippines, I would like to share with you some helpful words which you could use while you're here and enjoying your stay.

There are a lot of beautiful tourist spots in the Philippines. You could go to beaches, go mountain climbing, or just see beautiful sceneries that are refreshing to the eyes and minds. It would also help greatly for you to enjoy and have more fun if you know some of the basics of the Filipino language and one of its major dialects.

Here are some English words and their translation in Filipino and Cebuano.

English --------------------------- Filipino-----------------------------Cebuano

No -----------------------------------Huwag ------------------------------Ayaw

Yes ----------------------------------Oo ----------------------------------Oo

Song---------------------------------Kanta--------------------------------Kanta

Teeth--------------------------------Ngipin--------------------------------Ngipon

Eye/eyes--------------------- Mata/mga mata---------------------------Mata/mga mata

Nose----------------------------------Ilong---------------------------------Ilong

Mouth--------------------------------Bibig---------------------------------Baba

Eyebrow-----------------------------Kilay----------------------------------Kilay

Hand/hands-------------------------Kamay-------------------------------Kamot/mga kamot

Foot/Feet----------------------------Paa/mga paa-----------------------tiil/mga tiil

Shoes---------------------------------Sapatos-----------------------------Sapatos

Earrings-------------------------------Hikaw--------------------------------Ariyos

Necklace------------------------------Kwentas-----------------------------Kwentas

Love-----------------------------------Pag-ibig/pagmamahal------------Gugma

Hatred---------------------------------Galit/Pagkasuklam----------------Kasuko/kayugot

Hours----------------------------------Oras---------------------------------Oras

Happy----------------------------------Masaya-----------------------------Malipayon

Sad-------------------------------------Malungkot--------------------------Magul-anon

Smile-----------------------------------Ngiti----------------------------------Ngisi

Give------------------------------------Bigay---------------------------------Hatag

Buy-------------------------------------Bili------------------------------------Pali

Thank you----------------------------Salamat------------------------------Salamat

Thank you very much------------Maraming salamat--------------daghang salamat

Damaged-----------------------------Sira------------------------------------Guba

Ride------------------------------------Sakay--------------------------------Sakay

Vehicle---------------------------------Sasakyan---------------------------Sakyanan

Confused------------------------------Nalito---------------------------------Naglibog

Sometimes-----------------------------Minsan------------------------------Usahay

Hut---------------------------------------Kubo--------------------------------Payag

Coconut---------------------------------Niyog-------------------------------Lubi

Black-------------------------------------Itim----------------------------------Itom

White------------------------------------Puti----------------------------------Puti

Color-------------------------------------Kulay-------------------------------Kolor

Boy---------------------------------------Lalaki-------------------------------Lalaki

Girl---------------------------------------Babae------------------------------Babaye

Child-------------------------------------Bata--------------------------------Bata

Vendor----------------------------------Tindero/Tindera------------------Tindero/Tindera

Big---------------------------------------Malaki-------------------------------Dako

Small------------------------------------Maliit---------------------------------Gamay

Tall--------------------------------------Matangkad/mataas----------------Taas/Habog

Short------------------------------------Pandak------------------------------Mubo

These are only a handful of the words commonly used in the Visayas and some other regions in the Philippines. If you want to learn more, you can get hold of a dictionary. But I do hope this list of words will help you a little bit to learn some common words of Filipinos in some regions of the Philippines.

Here are some English phrases translated into Filipino and Cebuano.

1. English: black shoes

Filipino: itim na sapatos

Cebuano: itom nga sapatos

2. English: white color

Filipino: puting kulay/ kulay puti

Cebuano: puti ug kolor/kolor puti

3. English: big coconut

Filipino: malaking niyog

Cebuano: dakong lubi

4. English: happy girl

Filipino: masayang babae

Cebuano: malipayong babaye

5. English: sometimes happy sometimes sad

Filipino: minsan masaya minsan malungkot

Cebuano: usahay malipayon usahay magul-anon

1. English: Don't be sad. Be happy.

Filipino: Huwag kang malungkot. Maging masaya ka.

Cebuano: Ayaw kaguol. Magmalipayon ka.

2. English: I will buy coconut tomorrow.

Filipino: Bibili ako bukas ng niyog.

Cebuano: Palit ko ugma ug lubi.