Learn Basic Tagalog: A Guide for Employers of a Filipino Domestic Helper

(Updated on 12 February 2026)

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Most Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong are known to speak good English. However, their mother language is Tagalog. Learning Tagalog verbs is an essential part of communication for both Filipino maids and their employer. Do you wish to learn some basic Tagalog to build a better relationship with your helper? Let’s take some time to read this article.

Things About Tagalog

Tagalog is an Austronesian language primarily spoken in the Philippines. It is the first language of the Tagalog people and serves as the basis for the standardized national language of the Philippines known as Filipino. Filipino is essentially based on Tagalog, with some influences from other Philippine languages and Spanish.

Filipino domestic helpers, commonly referred to as “Filipino maids” or “Domestic workers,” often come from different regions of the Philippines, and their native languages may vary. However, due to the prevalence of Tagalog as the national language, many Filipino domestic helpers are proficient in Tagalog and speak Tagalog with their family in their daily life.

Tagalog is the language used for everyday communication in the Philippines. It is the medium of instruction in schools and is widely used in media, government, and business sectors. Even when you travel to the Philippine’s capital city Manila, it is common to hear Filipinos talk in Tagalog.

When living with your Filipino maid in the house, learning basic Tagalog vocabulary or phrases will help establish a connection and facilitate better understanding. It will also show your effort to bridge the language gap between English and Tagalog and create a more comfortable environment for both parties.

9 Easy Tagalog Word Or Phrases

To save your time and money to sign up for a language lesson, HelperChoice has retrieved 9 easy but the best Tagalog word and phrases that you can learn to communicate with your domestic helper:

Kumusta? (Hello/How are you?)
Salamat. (Thank you.)
Oo. (Yes.)
Hindi. (No.)
Paumanhin. (Sorry/Excuse me.)
Magandang umaga. (Good morning.)
Magandang tanghali. (Good noon.)
Magandang hapon. (Good afternoon.)
Magandang gabi. (Good evening/night.)

These Tagalog word and phrases will help you initiate basic conversations with your maid. Remember to use “po” at the end of each sentence to show respect, especially when talking to the elderly or in a formal setting (if applicable).

10 Easy Compliment Phrases In Tagalog

Domestic helpers find working contracts in Hong Kong to earn money and support their families back home in the Philippines. When it comes to special occasions, for example, your helper’s birthday or Christmas, you may wish to say something nice or give her a compliment for her hard work. If it takes you too much time to study and master Tagalog verbs and vocabulary to create some beautiful and meaningful phrases, here is an alternative – 10 best compliment phrases in Tagalog, which you can write to your domestic helper to express your satisfaction with their work performance:

Ang galing mo magluto. (You’re great at cooking.)
Ang linis ng bahay natin. (Our house is so clean.)
Napakagaling mong mag-ayos ng mga gamit. (You’re very good at organizing things.)
Maganda ang pagkakaluto mo ng ulam. (You cook dishes beautifully.)
Mabilis kang matuto. (You learn quickly.)
Ang ganda ng inayos mong damit. (You did a great job organizing the clothes.)
Magaling kang mag-alaga ng mga bata. (You’re excellent at taking care of children.)
Napakabait at maalaga mo. (You’re very kind and caring.)
Mahusay kang maglinis ng mga kagamitan. (You clean the utensils well.)
Napakaganda ng paglilinis mo sa bahay. (You clean the house so well.)

Remember to say or write these compliments with sincerity and appreciation to make your domestic helper feel valued and appreciated.

Why Filipino Workers Are Better At English Than Indonesian Maids?

Filipino maids are often proficient in English for several reasons:

Education: The Philippines has a strong emphasis on English education in school. English is taught as a compulsory subject in schools, starting from primary school. This can provide the domestic helpers with a solid foundation in English language skills.
Bilingualism: Many Filipino people grow up in the family where both Tagalog and English are spoken. This exposure to English from a young age helps develop their language skills and fluency in English.
Cultural Influence: The Philippines was under American colonial rule for nearly five decades, from 1898 to 1946. During this period, English became an official language and left a significant impact on Filipino culture and local people in the country. English continued to be used extensively in various aspects of society, including school, media, and government, especially the TV dramas and Hollywood movies in the United States.
Overseas Employment Opportunities: Filipino domestic helpers often work overseas, including in a foreign English-speaking country. To be competitive in the job market and provide the best service to the employers and their family, they invest time to study and improve their English proficiency in exchange for a long-term full-time employment contract, money for their family and a visa.

It’s important to note that while many Filipino domestic helpers in Hong Kong have a good command of English, the level of proficiency may vary among individuals. Some may be more fluent and confident in English, while others may have basic conversational skills with limited vocabulary.

Filipino Helpers’ Body Language

Apart from the spoken language, have you observed the body gesture of your Filipino maid? Filipino maids are known for their dedication and hard work, which is often reflected in their actions and verbs. Sometimes, Filipino maids are too shy to talk or too scared of saying no to the employer, here are some common body language cues that you may observe in your maid:

Respectful gestures: Filipino culture places a strong emphasis on respect in the entire country. You may notice that Filipino domestic helpers often use polite gestures such as nodding, smiling, and maintaining eye contact when they reply to your request in order to show respect and attentiveness in their job.
Modesty and humility: Modesty and humility are valued traits among Filipino people. Filipino migrant domestic helpers may display body language that reflects these qualities, such as avoiding direct confrontation, speaking softly, and keeping a low profile.
Non-verbal expressions of agreement: Filipino maids may nod their heads or give subtle verbal cues like “Oo” (yes) to indicate agreement or understanding. They may also use hand gestures, such as a slight raise of the eyebrows, to express comprehension as a reply to your instruction.
Warm and caring gestures: Filipino people value warmth and compassion. Filipino domestic helpers may demonstrate these qualities through their body language, such as offering a gentle touch on the arm or shoulder, patting a child’s head affectionately, or maintaining a warm and welcoming smile. It is common to observe these small things when Filipino helper pick your child from school.

It’s important to note that these body language cues can vary based on individual personalities and regional differences within the Philippines. It’s always best to talk and communicate openly and respectfully with Filipino maids to understand their specific preferences and needs.

Looking For A Filipino Helper?

HelperChoice is an online platform for domestic helper matching service. It is also the first online ethical maid agency licensed by the Hong Kong Labour Department. Unlike other traditional maid agencies in Hong Kong, HelperChoice online platform can provide you full but affordable online direct hire experience without limited helper profiles arranged by the agency. The entire helper hiring process is flexible and convenient at your own pace.

Employers can sign up for an account for free on HelperChoice online platform and publish a job ad. To find a Filipino domestic helper, employers may filter helper profiles by their nationality in the database. If you wish to find a Filipino helper who is about to finish a contract in Hong Kong, you may select “Finished / About To Finish” in Contract Status. However, if you prefer an overseas Filipino maid, you may opt for “Overseas” or select “Philippine” in Helper Location, which indicates the country they are currently living in. You may also find foreign domestic helpers based on their years of work experience, child care or elderly care or pet care experience, cooking skills, current contract term, the availability to start the employment, the language they speak (Tagalog / English / Chinese / Bahasa) and so on. To learn more about how to find a domestic helper on HelperChoice platform, you may visit this page.

Hiring A Filipino Helper?

After you find a Filipino maid (from HelperChoice platform or from other direct hire sources), you may contact HelperChoice customer service to help you process the visa for your helper. If you hire a Filipino helper, who is already in Hong Kong and finished or about to finish her employment contract, you may select “Local Basic” or “Local Plus” visa packages. It will normally take around 6 weeks to proceed. If you hire an overseas Filipino helper, you may choose “Overseas Basic” or “Overseas Plus”, which will take around 3 months to complete the visa processing. If your helper is the first-time, she will have to complete a TESDA training course before coming to Hong Kong. Most of our visa processing services include 2 years mandatory helper insurance for Filipino maids’ healthcare and medical expenses, all the necessary visa document and consulate fee and dedicated customer support service.

If you already have a Filipino house maid at home, please note that it is required to renew their work permit and visa every 2 years. We advise you to process the contract and visa renewal at least 2 months before the visa expiry date. For more details about our visa processing services for Filipino helpers, please click here.