They mainly speak Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English in the Philippines, but there are also more than 170 other local languages used across the islands.

Quick Scoop: What language do they speak in the Philippines?

1. The short, practical answer

If you visit or talk to people from the Philippines, these are the languages you’ll run into most often:

  • Filipino – the national language, based on Tagalog, used in daily conversation, TV, social media, and as a lingua franca across regions.
  • English – an official language, widely used in government, business, higher education, and many signs and forms.

You can easily get by with English in cities, while Filipino/Tagalog helps a lot in casual, everyday chats.

2. Official and “big” languages

  • Official languages of the Philippines :
    • Filipino (standardized Tagalog)
* English
  • Major regional languages (huge in their own areas):
    • Tagalog
    • Cebuano (often called Bisaya)
    • Ilocano
    • Hiligaynon (Ilonggo)
    • Bicol
    • Waray
    • Kapampangan
    • Pangasinense

These regional tongues have millions of speakers and are often used at home, in local radio, and sometimes in schools.

3. A country of many languages

  • The Philippines has roughly 130–190+ languages , mostly from the Malayo‑Polynesian family.
  • Some communities also use Spanish-influenced creoles (like Chavacano) and a few Chinese varieties.
  • Filipino Sign Language (FSL) is officially recognized as the sign language used with the Filipino Deaf community.

So when someone asks “what language do they speak in the Philippines,” the simple answer is Filipino and English , but the deeper truth is: it’s one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world.

4. How people really talk (Taglish and more)

Everyday speech often mixes Tagalog/Filipino and English , a blend commonly called “Taglish.”

Example of a casual line you might hear:

“Kumain ka na? I’ll order food later if hindi pa.”

This mix is especially common among younger people, in cities, and online chats.

5. If you’re just starting to learn

If your main question is “what should I learn to talk to people there?”:

  1. Learn basic Filipino/Tagalog phrases – for greetings, thank you, sorry, yes/no.
  2. Rely on English for directions, hotels, airports, and official stuff.
  3. If you’re staying long‑term in a specific region (like Cebu or Iloilo), learning some local language (Cebuano, Hiligaynon, etc.) will really impress people.

TL;DR:
They speak Filipino and English nationwide, plus many local languages like Cebuano and Ilocano depending on the region.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.