All The Ways Of Saying “Yes” In Tagalog And Other Filipino Dialects

You may want to go to the Philippines, and you would like to know some affirmations in the Filipino language. Knowing the basic Filipino language would give you an edge as you go to the country. Though many people understand basic English, you may also need to know basic Filipino words and say them in different ways and scenarios.

Saying yes in Filipino can be done in many ways depending on the scenario and who you speak to. You can say, “oo”, “opo”, and “oho”. Though this might be the most common way of saying yes in Tagalog, the country has many local dialects, and most of them have their ways of saying yes. 

In this article, I will share how to say yes in different kinds of Filipino DIalects. Also, I will provide example scenarios on how to use the affirmative. I have gathered details, and I have listed them down below for your reference. 

Ways of Saying Yes in All the Different Filipino Dialects

DialectHow they say “yes”
English Yes
Aklanon or AklanHu-o
Asi or BantoanonOho nganiHu’oPwidi
Binol-anon or Boholano CebuanoOO
Bolinao or Binubolinao O’O’a- certainly, really, trulyUan- to admit or to say yes to something
Bontoc or FinaligAy- Sentence participle introducing yes-no questions.E-e- Yes, an expression of agreement.Ey- yesWen- yes
Botolan IyahOo
Butuanon HuoOoO-o
Bicolano IyoIyo tabi
Albay Bikol or AlbayanonIyoIyo tabi
Central Bikol or Bikol NagaIyoIyo tabi
Rinconada Bikol IyoIyo tabi
Pandan BikolIyoIyo tabi
Capiznon Huo
Cebuano or BisayaOo
Chavacano Si, umpoco
Cuyonon E’en
Ibanag Tabbi
Ilokano WenWen, bassit laeng.
Itawis OonOn
Hiligaynon or IlonggoHuoOoO-o
Kapampangan or PampangoWa
Kabalian or KinabalianOo
Karay-a or Kinaray-aHe-edHo-ud
Maranao Owai
Masbateño OoPag-ooMag-oo
Pangasinan On
Romblomanon Hu=oOoO-o
Sambal or SambaliYaOo
Español or SpanishSiEl si
Surigaonon HuoOo
Sorsoganon Iyo
Filipino or Tagalog Oo/Opo/Oho
Tausug Huon
Waray DireDiri
Yakan Awe
yes in tagalog and other filipino dialects

Oo

The most common way of saying yes in Tagalog is “oo.” That is the direct translation of the word, yes, and that is the most casual way of saying yes. You can use this affirmative in simple talking, especially in a yes or no question, and used mainly if you answer a friend, classmate, colleague, or just your normal age. You can also use this affirmative if you are talking to someone younger than you.

Halimbawa

John: Anna, nagawa mo na ba yung proyekto natin sa klase ni Binibining Cruz?

Anna: OO namn John, kahapon ko pa natapos, ipapasa ko ngayon.

John: Patulong naman.

Example

John: Anna, are you done doing our project on Miss Cruz’s class?

Anna: Of course, I am done doing it yesterday; I will pass it now.

John: Help me, please.

Opo

Opo is the formal way of saying yes in Tagalog. This affirmation speaks of politeness and respect for someone higher than you. Opo is usually used if you talk to authorities, the elderly, parents, or older siblings. 

Halimbawa

Nanay: Anna, nakapag saing ka na ba ng hapunan?

Anna: Opo nay.

Nanay: Mabuti naman.

Example

Mother: Anna, have you already cooked for supper?

Anna: Yes, mom.

Mother: That’s good.

Oho

Oho is a casual, polite way of saying yes to a person. This affirmative word is usually answered to a person familiar and older than you. You can say it to an elderly family member, relatives, or someone close to you.

Halimbawa

Lola: Nalinis mo na ba ang hapagkainan?

Anna: Oho, lola.

Lola: Mabuti.

Example

Grandmother: Anna, have you cleaned the dining area?

Anna: Yes, Grandma.

Grandmother: Good.

Other Ways of Saying Yes

Yeah

Yeah might be an English word, but this is also one of the many ways Filipinos say yes. Saying Yeah is one of the informal ways of saying yes and typically said to a common friend, colleague, or someone of the same age. 

Halimbawa

John: Okay ka lang ba, Anna?

Anna: Yeah.

Example

John: Are you okay, Anna?

Anna: Yes.

Yup

Yup is also an English derivative that many Filipinos adopt. Many use this informal affirmation, especially by the younger ones. Yup is an informal way of saying yes when talking to peers or someone of the same age.

Halimbawa

John: Nakakain kana?

Anna: Yup

Example

John: Have you eaten already?

Anna: Yes.

Saying Yes in Other Filipino Dialects

Hiligaynon

Halimbawa

John: Nakakaon ka na?

Anna: Huo

Example

John: Have you eaten already? 

Anna: Yes.

Pangasinan

Halimbawa

John: Narasan kala?

Anna: On

Example

John: Are you hungry?

Anna: Yes.

Itawis

Halimbawa

John: Puede pe nga makifavor?

Anna: On

Example

John: May I ask you a favor?

Anna: Yes.

Chavacano

Halimbawa

John: ¿¡Anna, dónde está tu papá?! ¿No ha llegado todavía?

Anna: Si, llegará esta noche. ¿Qué quiere que le diga cuando llegue?

Example

John: Anna, where is your dad? Hasn’t he arrived yet?

Anna:Yes, he will arrive this evening. What do you want me to tell him when he comes?

Takeaways

There are so many ways on how to say yes in the Filipino language. In Tagalog, there are three ways of saying it, like “oo,” “opo,” and “oho.” Since the Philippines has so many languages, there are also some distinct ways to say yes in various Filipino dialects. If you want to go here to the Philippines, it is best to say basic affirmatives in the Filipino language. 

Regina and Joe

Hello! It's Regina and Joe here. Like many other couples, we met online and after a long-distance relationship, Joe decided to move to the Philippines, where we married and live together since 2017. In this blog, we will teach you how to enjoy the Philippines to the fullest and what to expect from Filipino culture. Who more than us can understand both the West and the East?

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