Why English to Filipino is harder than it looks
Po is small and matters enormously. Dropping it when writing to someone older or senior reads as disrespectful, and adding it between friends sounds oddly formal. English gives the translator no clue which situation it is in, so the tone you choose is doing real work.
Some English words should stay English. Filipino speakers say computer, appointment and schedule rather than reaching for coined equivalents. A translation that insists on pure Filipino sounds like a textbook rather than a message.
The verb usually comes first. Filipino sentences often start with the action, which is the reverse of English order, and the affix on the verb decides which part of the sentence is in focus. Simple English sentences survive this much better than long ones.
Kinship terms soften a message. Addressing someone as ate, kuya or tita is normal and warm, even for people you are not related to. An English message that uses just a first name can arrive flatter than intended.
Written by Hardik Vegad, Co-founder, Translatify. Last updated .
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