Politeness: 'po' and Speaking Respectfully

01

'po' — the Respect Particle

Po carries no meaning of its own. It simply marks that you are speaking respectfully to the person you are addressing.

• Magandang umaga po.

  Good morning. (respectfully)

• Salamat po.

  Thank you. (respectfully)

• Opo.

  Yes. (respectfully)

• Hindi po.

  No. (respectfully)

02

Where It Goes

Po is an enclitic like any other, so it follows the first word — not the end of the sentence, which is where English speakers instinctively want to put it.

• Guro po ba kayo?

  Are you a teacher, sir/ma'am?

• Gusto ko pong magpasalamat sa inyo.

  I would like to thank you.

• Magandang umaga po sa inyo.

  Good morning to you all.

Note pong in the second example: po takes the linker when a linker is needed.

03

'ho' — the Softer Version

Ho is a milder alternative. It shows courtesy without the full formality of po — useful with someone slightly older, or a shopkeeper you know.

• Salamat ho.

  Thanks. (politely but casually)

04

Use 'kayo' and 'ninyo' for One Person

Politeness also shows in the pronouns. Address a single respected person with the plural forms, exactly as French uses vous.

• ka → kayo
• mo → ninyo / niyo
• iyo → inyo

• Kumusta po kayo?

  How are you? (to an elder)

• Ano ang ginagawa niyo ngayon?

  What are you doing now?

• Salamat sa inyong tulong.

  Thank you for your help.

05

Who Gets 'po'

• Anyone noticeably older than you — always
• Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles
• Teachers, bosses, officials, doctors
• Strangers, customers, service staff you don't know
• Not needed among friends and peers of the same age

When in doubt, use it. Over-politeness might sound slightly formal; under-politeness sounds disrespectful, and the second mistake is much costlier.

06

Respectful Address Words

Filipinos rarely use bare names for people older than themselves. These titles are used constantly, even with strangers.

• po/ho — the particle itself
• Kuya — older brother, or any slightly older man
• Ate — older sister, or any slightly older woman
• Tita / Tito — aunt / uncle, also for family friends
• Lola / Lolo — grandmother / grandfather, also for the elderly

• Kuya, magkano po ito?

  Excuse me, how much is this?