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GREETINGS AND EXPRESSIONS OF RESPECT
| Come in! | Dayon! |
| Welcome! | Dayon! |
| Excuse me. (passing across two people talking to each other, or squeezing through a crowd) | Paagi-a ko. (spoken in apologetic tone) Tabì. (alternative translation) |
| Good morning. | Maayong buntag. |
| Good high noon. | Maayong udto. |
| Good afternoon. | Maayong hapon. |
| Good evening. | Maayong gabii. |
| Good bye. | Babay. |
| Happy birthday. | Happy birthday. (English expression preserved) Maayong pagsaulog sa adlaw nga natawhan (more formal Cebuano birthday greeting -- a real challenge to the non-Cebuano!) |
| Happy anniversay. | Happy anniversary. (English expression preserved) |
| Hello. (meeting someone face to face) | Kumusta ka. |
| Hello! (calling out to someone inside the house while the greeter stands at the doorstep or at the gate) | Maayo! |
| Hello. (answering the phone) | Hello. (English word preserved) |
| How are you? | Kumusta ka? |
| I'm
glad to know you. | Nalipay ko nga nagkaila ta. |
| I'm John. | Ako si John. |
| I'm from Australia. | Taga-Australia ko. (If you are from Hongkong or from Texas, you say 'Taga-Hongkong ko.' or 'Taga-Texas ko') |
| I'm sorry. | Pasaylo-a ko. (although you can be equally understood if you say that single English word 'Sorry') |
| My name is Mary. | Ako si Mary. Ang akong ngalan mao si Mary. |
| Please ... | Palihug ... *'Please stand' = 'Palihug tindog' or 'Tindog palihug' *'Please give me a glass of water' = 'Palihug hatagi kog usa ka basong tubig' |
| Thank you. | Salamat. |
| What is your name? | Unsay imong ngalan? |
| Where are you from? | Taga-diin man ka? |
| You're welcome. (Response to "Thank you") | Wa'y sapayan. |