A Bluffer's Guide to Tagalog

On arrival in Dubai I expected a large multi-national expat work force. What did surprise me was that the majority of the "service" industry workers are Filipinos. Other than Taxi drivers who are typically from Pakistan or India - shop workers, waiters, cleaners and others are Filipinos.

So to have some fun and interaction when going about my day to day business in Dubai - I thought I would list just a few words that usually produce a smile from Tagalog speakers.
Wikipedia has some more examples and a nice explanation around the history of the language.

How are you?: kumustá (koo-mus-TAH)
Thank you: salamat (sah-LAH-mat)
Yes: oo (OH-oh)
No: hindî (hin-DEH)
Delicious: saráp (sa-RAP) - a particular favourite
Hurry!: Dalí! (dah-LEE), Bilís! (bih-LEES)
Beautiful: Maganda (ma-gan-DAH)
Very Beautiful: Magandang-Maganda (mah-gan-DANG, ma-gan-DAH)

Without fail they are always surprised that an English chap has a grasp of even a few words and it is typically reciprocated by an extra friendly response or service.

A Bluffer's Guide to Arabic

In the office in Dubai unsurprisingly there are a large number of Arabic speakers - they were all keen that I picked up a few "essential" words and phrases that I should know. This was great as I like to know at least the hello, goodbye, thank you and please in any country I am in. I did spend a year learning Arabic when I was small but that was long forgotten. So in essence here is the little cheat sheet that my colleagues agreed would get me going:

Shoukran - thank you

As-Salāmu `Alaykum - peace be upon you - quite a formal greeting but very common in Dubai

wa `Alaykum As-Salām - and on you be peace - the response

Shou? - What?

Yalla - hurry up/come on

Khalas - finished!

Habibi - my darling - but used when you might want something from someone

ya'nni - a filler word - "that means" - I originally wondered if this was the name of someone! I was hearing things like "ya'nni...my cousin"

You can also combine these to:

Yalla Habibi - hurry my love!

Shoo Habibi - what's up darling? (which I saw used to a crying baby - very cute)

This is never going to get me an A-Level in Arabic but people certainly appreciate the effort - even though it is small- and has me helped immeasurably in my day to to day life in Dubai.

I think I need to compile a similar list for Tagalog...