Introductions in Ilocano

In line with our goal to help you learn Ilocano, we are introducing a more organized how-tos.

Let's learn Ilocano phrases! 

So for today, we are going to learn how to say what's your name in Ilocano and the correct response which is my name is in Ilocano and other Ilocano phrases related to it. 

We are going to start with a greeting because that's how we start conversations.

Kumusta! [coo-moos-tah] - Hi, How are you, How's it going in Ilocano

Possible answer for the above Ilocano phrase are:

• Mayat met. [mah-yuht-met] I am good/pleasant/okay in Ilocano.
• Okay lang. [okay-lang] I am okay in Ilocano.
• Masakitak. [mah-sah-ki-tuck] I am sick in Ilocano.
• Adda problemak. [add-duh-pRob-leh-mac] I have a problem in Ilocano

You can say Sika? after those Ilocano phrases.
sika [see-cah] - means you in Ilocano.

On to the main topic of this lesson.

First we need to know how to say what's your name in Ilocano.

Long Version:
Ana (annia) ti nagan mo? [ah-nah-tea-nah-gun-moo]
           ^[ann-knee-yah]
Shortened Version:
Anat (anniat) nagan mo? [ah-nut-nah-gun-moo]
           ^[ann-knee-yat]

To be more polite, you can add these words after the word mo:

• kabsat [cub-sat] - brother/sister
• adding [ah-ding] - used when talking with someone younger
• manong [mah-noong] - used when talking with an older male
• manang [mah-nang] - used when talking with an older female
• tata [tah-tah] - grandpa
• nana [nah-nah] - grandma

Possible responses to the question:
Ti nagan ko ket Pedro. [Tea-nah-gun-co-ket-ped-raw]
^My name is Pedro (Peter).

Siak ni Pedro. [see-yuck-knee-ped-raw]
^I am Pedro (Peter).

To be more polite, you can add these words after the word mo:

• kabsat [cub-sat] - brother/sister
• adding [ah-ding] - used when talking with someone younger
• manong [mah-noong] - used when talking with an older male
• manang [mah-nang] - used when talking with an older female
• tata [tah-tah] - grandpa
• nana [nah-nah] - grandma

Naturally, you will ask their name too so here are the possible Ilocano phrases we can use:

Sika? [see-cah] - You?
Dakayo? [duh-cah-yoo] You?