Chavacano

Chavacano is primarily spoken in Zamboanga City, with smaller communities in Basilan and parts of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay. It is a Spanish-based creole language that developed in the Zamboanga Peninsula in Mindanao.

Click here to view a map where Chavacano is spoken in the Philippines. 

💡 Fun Fact: Chavacano is one of the oldest creole languages in the world — and the only one in Asia still spoken by many families today! 🌎

Hello → Ola (oh-LAH)

How are you? → Cómo estás? (KOH-moh es-TAHS)

I’m fine, thank you → Bien, gracias. (byen GRAH-syahs)

Thank you → Gracias. (GRAH-syahs)

You’re welcome → De nada. (deh NAH-dah)

Goodbye → Adios. (ah-DYOS)

Good morning → Buenos días. (BWEH-nos DEE-yahs)

Good afternoon → Buenas tardes. (BWEH-nas TAR-dess)

Good evening → Buenas noches. (BWEH-nas NOH-ches)

Please → Por favor. (por fah-VOHR)

Sorry → Perdón. (pehr-DOHN)

Yes / No → Sí / No. (see / noh)

What is your name? → Cómo se llama tú? (KOH-moh seh YAH-mah too)

My name is... → Mi nombre es... (mee NOM-breh es)

I love you → Ta ama yo contigo. (tah AH-mah yoh kon-TEE-goh)

How much? → ¿Cuánto cuesta este? (KWAN-toh KWEHS-tah ES-teh)

Where is ___? → ¿Dónde está ___? (DON-deh es-TAH ___)

I want to go to ___ → Quiero ir na ___ (KYEH-ro eer nah ___)

Stop here → Para aquí. (PAH-rah ah-KEE)

I don’t understand → No entiendo. (noh en-TYEN-doh)

The place is beautiful → Qué bonito el lugar. (keh boh-NEE-toh el loo-GAR)

Can I pay now? → ¿Puedo pagar ahora? (PWEH-doh pah-GAR ah-OH-rah)

Delicious → Sabroso. (sah-BROH-soh)

Water → Agua. (AH-gwah)

Bill, please → La cuenta, por favor. (lah KWEHN-tah por fah-VOHR)

I’m hungry → Tiene hambre yo. (TYEH-neh AHM-breh yoh)

Let’s eat! → Vamos a comer! (BAH-mohs ah koh-MEHR)

That tastes good! → Ta sabroso ese! (tah sah-BROH-soh EH-seh)

Help! → ¡Ayuda! (ah-YOO-dah)

Police → Polis. (po-LEES)

I’m lost → Ta perdi yo. (tah PEHR-dee yoh)

I need a doctor → Necesita yo doctor. (neh-seh-SEE-tah yoh dok-TOR)

Please call my family → Llama con mi familia, por favor. (YAH-mah kon mee fah-MEE-lyah por fah-VOHR)

Be careful! → ¡Cuidao! (kwee-DOW)

One – Uno (OO-no)

Two – Dos (DOHS)

Three – Tres (TREHS)

Four – Cuatro (KWA-troh)

Five – Cinco (SEEN-koh)

Six – Seis (SAYS)

Seven – Siete (SYE-teh)

Eight – Ocho (OH-cho)

Nine – Nueve (NWEH-beh)

Ten – Diez (DYESS)