Do They Speak English in the Philippines? (2025)

Wondering “Do they speak English in the Philippines?”

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! I lived in the Philippines for a year and it is very easy to get by speaking English.

So to the question is “do they speak English in the Philippines”? The answer is that yes, they speak English in the Philippines!

English is widely spoken in the Philippines and you will be able to speak English with the majority of the population.

It is not only in big cities and tourist areas in the Philippines that people have good English, even in smaller villages you will also be able to get by speaking English.

Staff in hotels, restaurants, bars and at tourist attractions have also a good knowledge of English and are used to speaking English with foreigners.

So, here is everything you need to know about speaking English in the Philippines!

Do They Speak English in the Philippines?

Yes, people speak English in the Philippines!

The Philippines used to be a colony of the United Sates between 1898 to 1946 and since then, English has been one of the official languages of the Philippines.

I found people speak very good English in the Philippines, especially the younger generation but you will find that everyone can speak some level of English.

If you go to visit villages in the countryside of Philippines, people may not have the best knowledge of English, but they will still be able to communicate in English to some level.

Do They Speak English in Manila?

Yes, people can speak good English in Manila.

Most people in Manila can speak English, including shopkeepers, hotel, restaurant and bar staff. If you are travelling to Manila, you will not have to worry about getting by in English.

Before I travelled to Manila, I was not sure what to expect and how well people could speak English.

I must say it was a pleasant surprise. It is not just that people can speak good English in the Philippines, if you make any grammar mistakes, they will look at you funnily like you don’t know how to speak English.

If you have ever learnt a foreign language, you will know that the moment you can joke in a foreign language, you have reached a pretty good level.

Do They Speak English in the Countryside in the Philippines?

Yes, even in the countryside in the Philippines most people can speak some level of English. It might not be fluent but people will be able to speak a little bit of English.

It is only if you visit some very very remote place that people will have limited knowledge of English. If you visit touristy places, you will have no problem getting by speaking English.

If you find yourself in a situation where it is difficult to communicate in English, just stay patient and remember that body language also helps a lot in communication!

Do Older People Speak English in the Philippines?

Yes, older people can also speak some level of English in the Philippines.

Of course, there are exceptions and there are older people who cannot speak English but as a general rule, even older people can speak some level of English in the Philippines.

Do I Need to Be Able to Speak Tagalog to Travel in the Philippines?

No, you do not need to be able to speak Tagalog when visiting the Philippines.

English is widely spoken, and you will be able to get by speaking English, without speaking Tagalog.

There are over 180 languages in the Philippines and Tagalog is spoken by 25% of the population. Filipino is the official language of the Philippines which is the standardized version of Tagalog.

What Language Do They Speak in the Philippines?

The official language of the Philippines in Filipino and English.

Filipino is basically the standardised version of Tagalog. Tagalog is mostly spoken in Manila and surrounding areas.

Basic Tagalog Phrases to Know for a Trip to the Philippines

If you are coming to the Philippines to visit the most popular touristy places, you will easily get by speaking English.

However, sometimes, being able to speak a little bit of the local language can always go a long way in any country.

It is very rare for a foreigner to speak any Tagalog so if you can just say 1-2 words in Tagalog, people will be impressed.

There are also some apps in the Philippines that can help you pick up some words and phrases.

Here is a list of the 10 most useful Tagalog phrases to know while travelling in the Philippines:

English	Tagalog
Hi/Hello	Kamusta
Thank you	Salamat
Good/fine	Sige
Yes	Po/Opo
No	Hindi po
How are you?	Kamusta ka?
I am fine.	Ayos lang ako
My name is ______.	Ako si  ________.
Cheers!	Mabuhay!
How much is it?	Magkano ito?

FAQs: Do They Speak English in the Philippines?

Can I speak English in the Philippines?

Yes, you can speak English in the Philippines.

English is widely spoken in the Philippines, thus, you will have no problem getting by speaking English while traveling in the Philippines.

Is English official in the Philippines?

Filipino and English are the two official languages of the Philippines.

The Philippines used to be a colony of the United Sates between 1898 to 1946 and since then, English has been one of the official languages of the Philippines.

Where in the Philippines do they speak English?

English is widely spoken all across the Philippines.

How do you say “hello” in Filipino?

“Hello” is “kamusta” in Filipino. It comes from the Spanish “como esta”, as the Philippines were a colony of Spain between 1656-1898.

Conclusion

To the question is “do they speak English in the Philippines”? The answer is that yes, they speak English in the Philippines!

English is widely spoken in the Philippines and you will be able to speak English with the majority of the population.

It is not only in big cities and tourist areas in the Philippines that people have good English, even in smaller villages you will also be able to get by speaking English.

Staff in hotels, restaurants, bars and at tourist attractions have good knowledge of English and are used to speaking English with foreigners.