Compliments

1. Nindot ang imong sinina

   Nin-dot ang i-mong si-ni-na

   Your clothes are beautiful

   Usage

   Complimenting someone's clothing

   Grammar Note

   "Imong" is the genitive form of "ikaw" (you). "Sinina" is the Cebuano word for clothes/dress.

2. Maayo kaayo ang imong Cebuano

   Ma-a-yo ka-a-yo ang i-mong Ceb-ua-no

   Your Cebuano is very good

   Usage

   Complimenting someone's Cebuano skills

   Grammar Note

   "Maayo kaayo" with repetition for emphasis. Cebuano is the second most spoken language in the Philippines.

3. Hilabihang talento nimo

   Hi-la-bi-hang ta-len-to ni-mo

   You are extremely talented

   Usage

   Complimenting someone's talent or ability

   Grammar Note

   "Hilabihan" means extreme/excessive, used as a strong intensifier. "Talento" is borrowed from Spanish.

4. Dasig kaayo ka

   Da-sig ka-a-yo ka

   You are very fast / efficient

   Usage

   Praising someone's speed or efficiency

   Grammar Note

   "Dasig" is a Cebuano word for speed/quickness. Equivalent to Tagalog "mabilis".

5. Buotan kaayo ka

   Bu-o-tan ka-a-yo ka

   You are very kind

   Usage

   Praising someone's kindness

   Grammar Note

   "Buotan" is the adjective for kind/good-natured: root "buot" (will, disposition) plus the quality suffix "-an".

6. Hanas kaayo ka sa imong trabaho

   Ha-nas ka-a-yo ka sa i-mong tra-ba-ho

   You are very skilled at your work

   Usage

   Praising someone's professional skills

   Grammar Note

   "Hanas" means skilled/proficient in Cebuano. "Trabaho" from Spanish "trabajo". Effective when complimenting Filipino artisans or service workers.

7. Nindot kaayo ang imong balay

   Nin-dot ka-a-yo ang i-mong ba-lay

   Your home is very beautiful

   Usage

   Complimenting someone's home when visiting

   Grammar Note

   "Balay" is the Cebuano native word for house, cognate with Tagalog "bahay". Filipino hospitality culture makes home compliments very meaningful.

8. Buotan kaayo ang imong pamilya

   Bu-o-tan ka-a-yo ang i-mong pa-mil-ya

   Your family is very good / wonderful

   Usage

   Warmly complimenting someone's family

   Grammar Note

   "Buotan" means good-natured/virtuous. "Pamilya" from Spanish "familia". In Filipino culture, complimenting someone's family is greatly appreciated.

9. Lami kaayo ang pagkaon ninyo

   La-mi ka-a-yo ang pag-ka-on nin-yo

   Your food is very delicious

   Usage

   Complimenting home cooking or restaurant food

   Grammar Note

   "Ninyo" is the second-person plural genitive (your, plural). Contrast with "nimo" (your, singular). "Pagkaon" is a noun derived from "kaon" (eat).

10. Maayo kaayo ang imong pagdawat

    Ma-a-yo ka-a-yo ang i-mong pag-da-wat

    Your hospitality is wonderful

    Usage

    Complimenting Filipino hospitality

    Grammar Note

    "Pagdawat" is a noun from "dawat" (receive/welcome). It praises the way you were received and welcomed.

Browse all TravelPhrases languages