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Filipino style guide

  • Normative, deviation fails a string: Patnubay sa Pagsasalin; UP Diksiyonaryong Filipino; Basic Tagalog; Diksyunaryo Filipino-English; English-Filipino Dictionary; Modern Tagalog; New Vicassan's English-Filipino Dictionary.

Voice and register

  • Write clear, friendly, concise Filipino.
  • Use everyday conversational language. No formal, technical, commercial register.
  • Choose words that keep the source intent, even if not the standard translation.
  • Never translate literally. Give what the customer needs to finish the task.
  • Address the user with informal ka, iyo. Never formal kayo or inyo.
  • Use technical terms for technical audiences, common words for consumers.

Biased language

  • Keep language gender-neutral. No gender stereotypes.
  • Balance roles given to men and women: active versus passive, leading versus secondary, technical versus nontechnical professions.
  • Base scenarios, pictures, metaphors, comparisons on attributes common to all genders.
  • Name no gender for a person whose gender is unknown or irrelevant, for example the user or a site administrator. Make the subject plural instead.
  • No slash or brackets to combine genders.
  • No ethnic or racial slurs. Use the name the group uses for itself. Research current sources when in doubt.

Word choice

  • Use approved terminology for key terms, technical terms, product names.
  • Prefer short, simple, everyday words.
  • app -> aplikasyon
  • hard disk -> hard disk
  • contact -> makipag-ugnayan, makipag-alam, kontakin; use kontakin for informal effect
  • info -> impormasyon
  • mouse -> mouse
  • data -> Datos
  • memory -> Memorya
  • hard drive -> hard drive
  • CD drive -> CD drive
  • keyboard -> teklado
  • PC -> PC
  • computer -> kompyuter
  • you -> ka, iyo

Words and phrases to avoid

  • Avoid an unnecessarily formal tone.
  • to provide help: upang magbigay ng tulong -> upang makatulong / upang tumulong
  • experiencing problems: nakararanas ng mga problema -> nagkakaproblema
  • But: Nguni't, Subali't, Datapuwa't -> Pero
  • to issue: upang magpalabas -> upang mag-isyu
  • to give/provide guidance: Magbigay/magkaloob ng gabay -> upang gumabay
  • Make a recommendation: Gumawa ng rekomendasyon -> Irekomenda / Magrekomenda
  • You aren't allowed to send messages: Hindi ka pinahihintulutang magpadala ng mga mensahe -> Hindi ka puwedeng magpadala ng mga mensahe
  • Search results may take a long time to appear: Maaaring gumugol ng mahabang oras bago lumabas ang mga resulta ng paghahanap -> Baka matagalan ang paglabas ng mga resulta ng paghahanap
  • you can listen to this message by using a telephone: maaari mong pakinggan ang mensaheng ito sa pamamagitan ng paggamit ng telepono -> mapapakinggan mo ang mensaheng ito gamit ang telepono

Sample voice text

  • Address the user to take action:
  • The password isn't correct, so please try again. Passwords are case-sensitive. -> Mali ang password, kaya pakisubukang muli. Case-sensitive ang mga password.
  • This product key didn't work. Please check it and try again. -> Hindi gumana ang product key na ito. Pakitingnan ito at subukang muli.
  • All ready to go -> Handa na ang lahat.
  • Would you like to continue? -> Gusto mo bang magpatuloy?
  • Give your PC a name—any name you want. If you want to change the background color, turn high contrast off in PC settings. -> Pangalanan ang PC mo–kahit anong gusto mo. Kung gusto mong palitan ang kulay ng background, i-off ang high contrast sa mga setting ng PC.
  • Explanatory text and providing support:
  • The updates are installed, but Windows 8 Setup needs to restart for them to work. After it restarts, we'll keep going from where we left off. -> Naka-install na ang mga update, pero kailangang mag-restart ng Setup ng Windows 8 para gumana ang mga ito. Pagka-restart nito, ipagpapatuloy namin ang iniwan namin.
  • If you restart now, you and any other people using this PC could lose unsaved work. -> Kung magre-restart ka ngayon, ikaw at ang ibang mga taong gumagamit dito sa PC ay maaaring mawalan ng hindi naka-save na gawain.
  • This document will be automatically moved to the right library and folder after you correct invalid or missing properties. -> Awtomatikong ililipat ang dokumentong ito sa tamang library at folder pagkatapos mong iwasto ang mga hindi tama o nawawalang katangian.
  • Something bad happened! -> May nangyaring masama!
  • Unable to locate downloaded files to create your bootable USB flash drive. -> Hindi mahanap ang mga na-download na file para gumawa ng bootable na USB flash drive mo.
  • Promoting a feature:
  • Picture password is a new way to help you protect your touchscreen PC. You choose the picture—and the gestures you use with it—to create a password that's uniquely yours. -> Ang larawang password ay isang bagong paraan para matulungan kang protektahan ang touchscreen PC mo. Ikaw ang pipili ng larawan — at ng mga galaw na gagamitin mo kasama nito — para makagawa ng password na iyong-iyo talaga.
  • Let apps give you personalized content based on your PC's location, name, account picture, and other domain info. -> Hayaan ang mga app na magbigay sa iyo ng personalized na nilalaman batay sa lokasyon, pangalan at larawan sa account ng PC mo at iba pang impormasyon ng domain.
  • Providing how-to guidelines:
  • To go back and save your work, click Cancel and finish what you need to. -> Para bumalik at i-save ang ginagawa mo, -i-click ang Kanselahin at tapusin ang kailangan mong matapos.
  • To confirm your current picture password, just watch the replay and trace the example gestures shown on your picture. -> Para kumpirmahin ang kasalukuyan mong larawang password, panoorin lang ang replay at gayahin ang mga halimbawang galaw na ipinapakita sa larawan mo.
  • It's time to enter the product key. It should be on the box that the Windows DVD came in or in an email that shows you bought Windows. When you connect to the Internet, we'll activate Windows for you. -> Oras na para ilagay ang product key. Nakalagay dapat ito sa kahon ng Windows DVD o sa isang email na nagsasabing bumili ka ng Windows. Kapag kumonekta ka sa Internet, isasaaktibo namin ang Windows para sa iyo.

Abbreviations

  • No standard UI abbreviations in Filipino. Avoid contracted -'t and -'y; use long at and ay.
  • Abbreviate in the UI only for lack of space, mainly buttons and option names.
  • for example (halimbawa) -> hal.
  • Number (bilang, numero) -> blg., num.
  • a.m. (ng umaga) -> n.u.
  • p.m. (ng hapon, ng gabi) -> n.h., n.g.
  • etc. (at iba pa) -> atbp.
  • signed (nilagdaan) -> lgd.
  • year (taon) -> tn.
  • month (buwan) -> bwn.
  • mm -> bb; dd -> aa; yyyy -> tttt
  • document (dokumento) -> dok.
  • page (pahina) -> ph.
  • No non-breaking space (CTRL+SHIFT+SPACE) between number and measurement.
  • Do not abbreviate words users might not recognize. Spell out instead.

Acronyms

  • Never add a generic term after an acronym when a letter already stands for it.
  • Wrong: RPC call, HTML language, TCP/IP-Protocol, PIN Number
  • Wrong: RPC na tawag, HTML na lengguahe, TCP/IP na Protokol, PIN na numero
  • In help and documentation spell out on first use: Filipino translation, US term, acronym.
  • Mga Bagay sa Pag-access ng Data (Data Access Objects, DAO)
  • Mga Bagay ng Data na ActiveX (ActiveX Data Objects, ADO)
  • In the UI spell out on first mention in wizards only. Otherwise judge by space and audience knowledge. Keep acronym use consistent within a product.
  • Never build a new acronym from the Filipino translation. Keep the English acronym.
  • Application Initialization DLL -> Pagpapasimula ng Application DLL, not Pagpapasimula ng Application PNA
  • Do not localize or spell out: ANSI, ISO, ISDN, DOS, DSL, CD, DVD.

Adjectives

  • Three degrees: neutral, comparative, superlative.
  • Neutral: Malaki, mabagal, mabilis
  • Neutral as noun modifier: Malaking file, mabagal na koneksyon, mabilis na download
  • Neutral as predicate: Malaki ang file, mabagal na koneksyon sa internet, mabilis na download ng file
  • Equal comparison: Magkasing laki ang file, Kasing laki ang file, Singlaki ang file
  • Unequal comparison: Mas malaki ang file ng video kaysa sa file ng dokumento
  • Superlative: Ang laki-laki ng file, Ang bagal-bagal ng koneksyon, Ang bilis-bilis ng download, Pagkalaki-laki ng file, Pagkabagal-bagal ng koneksyon, Pagkabilis-bilis ng download, Ubod ng laki ang file, Saksakan ng bagal ang koneksyon, Ganap na mabilis ang download
  • A possessive adjective answers whose.

Articles

  • Definite article ang. Indefinite isang (one, a/an), ilang/mga (some), alinman (any).
  • Use determiners consistently across error messages even when the source varies.
  • File already exists / The file already exists / This file already exists -> Mayroon nang file
  • Not enough memory to complete this operation. -> Walang sapat na memory para kumpletuhin ang operasyon. No demonstrative unless context needs it.
  • Windows Vista cannot start your system. If the problem persists, contact your network administrator. -> Hindi mapagana ng Windows Vista ang system. Kung magpapatuloy ang problema, kontakin ang tagapangasiwa ng network. Drop your unless ownership matters.
  • Noun markers, non-personal singular: non-subject ng, sa; subject ang
  • Non-personal plural: non-subject ng mga, sa mga; subject ang mga
  • Personal singular: non-subject ni, kay; subject si
  • Personal plural: non-subject nina, kina; subject sina
  • Treat product names and untranslated feature names as proper nouns, with no article.
  • Windows Mail shares your Internet Connection settings with Internet Explorer -> Ibinabahagi ng Windows Mail ang iyong mga setting sa Internet Connection sa Internet Explorer
  • Website addresses will be sent to Microsoft -> Ipapadala ang mga address ng website sa Microsoft
  • Mark translated feature names with ang, ng, or sa.
  • Hide the Task Manager when it is minimized -> Itatago ang Task Manager kapag ito ay pinaliit
  • Check for updates in your installed Media Player's language -> Tingnan ang mga update sa iyong na-install na linggwahe ng Media Player
  • Copyright -> Copyright
  • Keep feature names in English: Cut -> I-cut; Paste -> I-paste
  • Italicize borrowings in print. Always separate a borrowing from a Filipino prefix with a hyphen.
  • He cannot log-on -> Hindi siya maka-log-on
  • He cannot save the document. -> Hindi niya ma-save ang dokumento.
  • Scanning details -> Mga detalye ng pag-scan:
  • He deleted a file. -> Nag-delete siya ng file.
  • Downloading new version... -> Nagda-download ng bagong bersiyon
  • He withdrew. -> Nag-withdraw siya.
  • My photo is attached here. -> Naka-attach dito ang litrato ko.
  • He just browsed with friends. -> Naki-browse lang siya sa mga kaibigan.
  • The configuration files could not be loaded: -> Hindi mailo-load ang mga file ng kumpigurasyon:
  • Update the {0} -> I-update ang {0}
  • currently logged-on account -> account na kasalukuyang naka-log on
  • For a new loan word check motivation, analogy with an existing Filipino term, and frequency in other technical documentation. Confirm the article in approved terminology.
  • Exchange ActiveSync encountered an unexpected error -> Isang hindi inaasahang error ang natagpuan ng Exchange ActiveSync

Capitalization

  • Capitalize the first target word when the first source word is capitalized. Keep lower-case when the source is lower-case, unless Filipino rules say otherwise.
  • Never start a run-time concatenated string fragment with a capital letter.
  • is trying to connect to this computer. If you allow, you will be disconnected, but you can resume later. Do you want to allow this connection?\r\n -> ay sinusubukang kumunekta sa computer na ito. Kung hahayaan mo, madidiskunekta ka, pero muli kang makakapagpatuloy. Pahihintulutan mo ba ang koneksyon na ito?\r\n
  • Do not mimic English over-capitalization. Apply Filipino conventions.
  • Capitalize the first word of a sentence.
  • When the whole source sentence or phrase is capitalized, capitalize only the significant words. Do not capitalize markers, particles, and linkers of three letters or fewer, unless first.
  • When the translation of a capitalized source term is a hyphenated compound, capitalize the first word only.
  • Capitalize proper nouns: people, places, product names, organizations, languages.
  • Capitalize trademarks and product names.
  • Capitalize names of national, political, racial, social, civic, and athletic groups or organizations.
  • Keep abbreviations and acronyms capitalized as in the source.
  • Capitalize geographic regions, not directions.
  • Manage IP Safelists -> Pangasiwaan ang mga Safelist ng IP
  • GALSync 2010 Known Issues -> Mga Natukoy na Isyu sa GALSync 2010
  • Log off user -> I-log off ang gumagamit
  • Sample Welcome Message -> Halimbawa ng Pagbating Mensahe
  • Learn About Changing Your Voice Mail Settings -> Alamin ang Tungkol sa Pagbabago ng Iyong Mga Setting ng Voice Mail
  • Message, Mailbox, and Recipient Limits -> Mga Limitasyon sa Mensahe, Mailbox, at Tagatanggap

Compounds

  • Keep compounds clear. Avoid overly long or complex compounds.
  • Use word-forming affixes to shorten long translations. Fullest affix list is in Gaboy.
  • -an, -han: place of, to/from whom, utility: lalagyan (container), padadalhan (whom to send to), bibigyan (whom to give to)
  • de-: quality or possession, en -d, -ed, -ic: de-kuryente (electric), de-kahon (boxed), de-lata (canned)
  • di-: negative adjective or adverb, en un-, dis-, non-: di-konektado (disconnected), di-tapos (unfinished), di-katanggap-tanggap (unacceptable)
  • pagka-: character, condition, manner, en -ity, -ship, -hood, -ness: pagkakagawa (workmanship), pagkakakabit (how it is connected), pagkakakonekta (connectivity)
  • ika-: cause or reason: ikasisira (reason of breakdown)
  • ka-: recently completed action, en has just: kapipindot (has just pressed), kalilipat (has just transferred)
  • Ipang-, ipam-, ipan-, Pang-, pam-, pan-: utility, en to be used for: ipang-edit (use to edit), ipansulat/ipanulat (use to write), ipambasa/ipangbasa (use to read)
  • naka-: adjective from verb roots, en -ed, -ing: nakahanda (prepared), nakakabit (attached), nakakonekta (connected)
  • pag-: noun affix, en -ing, -ent: pagpapahusay (improvement)
  • mag-/mang- + first syllable of root + root: profession, en -er, -ian: manlalaro (player), manunulat (writer), manggagamot (doctor)
  • Link words in adjectival phrases with na, -ng, or -g.
  • Use na after a consonant, suffix -ng after a vowel, suffix -g after n.
  • multimedia files -> mga file na multimedia
  • Visual Basic project -> proyektong Visual Basic
  • portable computer -> bitbiting computer
  • e-mail message -> mensaheng e-mail
  • Digital license -> Lisensiyang digital
  • Also compound with ng (of) and sa (in, on, at, by).
  • Internet Accounts -> Mga Account sa Internet
  • Logon script processing -> Pagproseso ng script sa pag-logon
  • Workgroup Administrator -> Tagapangasiwa ng Workgroup
  • Internet News Server Name -> Pangalan ng Server ng Balita sa Internet

Conjunctions

  • Use conjunctions for a conversational tone. Starting a sentence with one is allowed.
  • Prefer the casual form.
  • but: ngunit, subalit, datapwat -> pero
  • to: upang -> para
  • because: sapagkat -> dahil
  • according to: alinsunod sa -> ayon sa

Gender

  • Three genders: masculine, feminine, neuter. Referent words carry no gender.
  • she, he -> siya (that person). hers, his -> kanya (belonging to that person).
  • He is a boy. -> Siya ay lalaki.
  • She is a girl. -> Siya ay babae.
  • The file is hers. -> Sa kanya ang file.
  • The man is using his own account. -> Ginagamit ng lalaki ang sarili niyang account.

Genitive

  • Pronouns have nominative, two objective, and genitive cases. Leave out the apostrophe in contracted forms in writing.
  • Genitive singular: first akin, second iyo, third kaniya or kan'ya
  • Genitive plural: first amin, first-second atin, second inyo, third kanila
  • Never attach a genitive s to product names. Use the marker ng.
  • Windows's server -> Server ng Windows

Localizing colloquialism, idioms, and metaphors

  • Do not replace a source colloquialism with a Filipino one unless it is a perfect, natural fit.
  • Translate the intended meaning, not the literal colloquialism, when the meaning cannot be omitted.
  • Omit the colloquialism if the meaning survives without it.

Modifiers

  • A word can act as both adverb and adjective.
  • Adjectives modify nouns with linker na. After a vowel, glottal stop, or N, suffix it as -ng. The adjective may precede or follow the noun.
  • Adverbs follow the verb marked by nang, or precede it with optional na or -ng.
  • Mabilís ang koneksyon. (The connection is fast.)
  • Ang koneksyong mabilís. (The fast connection.)
  • Kumukunekta ang internet nang mabilís. (The internet connects fast.)
  • Mabilís kumunekta ang internet. (Internet connects fast.)
  • Superlative pinaká-: pinakamalakás. Also nakasalamín (wearing glasses).

Nouns

  • Nouns are not inflected. Case-marking particles precede them: direct, indirect, oblique.
  • Common singular: direct ang, 'yung (iyong); indirect ng, n'ung (niyong); oblique sa; locative nasa
  • Common plural: direct ang mgá, 'yung mgá (iyong mgá); indirect ng mgá, n'ung mgá (niyong mgá); oblique sa mgá; locative nasa mga
  • Personal singular: direct si; indirect ni; oblique kay; locative na kay
  • Personal plural: direct sina; indirect nina; oblique kina; locative nakina
  • Form plurals with mga immediately before the noun.
  • Files -> Mga file
  • Emails -> Mga email

Numbers

  • Keep numbers in a list consistent, even under 10.
  • He gave his younger brother 2 pairs of shoes, 4 long pants and 5 shorts. -> Binigyan niya ng 2 pares na sapatos, 4 na pantalon at 5 korto ang kanyang nakababatang kapatid.
  • She has four sisters aged 3, 5, 7 and 9. -> Mayroon siyang apat na kapatid na babae na edad 3, 5, 7 at 9.
  • Spell out all numbers that begin a sentence.
  • Forty-four policemen were killed in the clash. -> Apatnapu't apat na pulis ang napatay sa sagupaan.
  • Ninety athletes joined the competition last year, but this time there were only 70. -> Siyamnapung atleta ang lumahok sa kompetisyon noong nakaraang taon, ngunit may 70 lamang sa pagkakataong ito.
  • He submitted his project at 10 A.M. -> Alas-diyes ng umaga niya isinumite ang kanyang proyekto.
  • Always use numerals for years.
  • 2014 was a very good year for him. -> Napakaganda ng 2014 para sa kanya.
  • The program was launched in 2000. -> Inilunsad ang programa noong 2000.
  • Use proper contraction or hyphenation for compound numbers and worded fractions.
  • Thirty-two members signed the petition. -> Tatlumpu't dalawang miyembro ang lumagda sa petisyon.
  • Sixteen delegates were sent to the convention. -> Labing-anim na delegado ang ipinadala sa kombensiyon.
  • The bottle is filled with about two-thirds liquid. -> Halos dalawang-katlong likido ang laman ng bote.
  • The length of table is five and a half meters. -> Lima't kalahating metro ang haba ng mesa.
  • Use commas in figures of four or more digits.
  • 5,005 search results -> 5,005 resulta ng paghahanap; 1,055 documents -> 1,055 dokumento; $1,500,000.00 -> $1,500,000.00

Prepositions

  • Use prepositions correctly. Never omit them or reorder words under English influence.
  • Starting or ending a sentence with a preposition is acceptable.
  • One preposition, sa, covers in, on, to, from, for, through. For from, mula sa and galing sa are clearer.
  • migrate to -> Ilipat sa; Migrate from -> Ilipat mula sa
  • import to -> i-import sa; import from -> i-import mula sa
  • export to -> i-export sa; export from -> i-export mula sa
  • update to -> I-update sa; upgrade to -> i-upgrade sa
  • change to / change from -> palitan sa; palitan is change to, ipalit is replace with
  • click on -> i-click sa / mag-click sa
  • connect to -> ikonekta sa; connect from -> ikonekta mula sa
  • welcome to ... -> Welcome sa…
  • In the toolbar -> sa toolbar; on the tab -> sa tab; on the menu -> sa menu
  • on the net -> sa net; on the Internet -> sa internet; on the Web -> sa web
  • on a web site -> sa web site; on a web page -> sa pahina ng web

Pronouns

  • Use personal pronouns only for people, never for animate or inanimate nouns.
  • Markers: ANG in focus, NG not in focus, SA direction. Pronouns have the same three cases.
  • Word order is P-S-O: verb, then subject or agent, then object. ay allows reordering.
  • Put mga right after the marker before a plural noun: ang mga mensahe.
  • Before a person's name use si (ANG), ni (NG), kay (SA).
  • Pronoun cases: Ako – ko – akin (I—my—me)
  • Kami excludes the listener. Tayo includes the listener.
  • Filipino distinguishes iyan and iyon where English has two demonstratives.
  • Demonstrative ANG/NG/SA forms: ito – nito – dito; iyan – niyan – diyan; iyon – noon – doon
  • After vowel-ending words the SA form can be rito, riyan, roon.

Punctuation

  • Filipino follows English punctuation rules. Also follow the 2001 Patnubay sa Ispeling ng Wikang Filipino.
  • Write numbers as numerals (120) or spelled out (isang daan at dalawampu) following the source. Never mix both in one text. Prefer numerals when complex numbers occur.
  • Always use numerals for time (1:00 PM), dates and years (Enero 1, 2013), metric measures (5m, 33km, 12kg), temperature (24ºC), inhabitants (41, 000, 000), version number (Bersyon 3.0), page numbers (Pahina 18), article numbers (Artíkulo 15).
  • Decimal separator is the period. No space; a space separates the numeral from the abbreviation.
  • 5.25 inches -> 5.25 pulgada
  • For numbers smaller than 1 follow the source: .5 -> .5
  • 1,526 -> 1.526
  • Keep the US decimal separator and in in paper sizes.
  • 5.25 cm -> 5.25 cm
  • 5 x 7.2 inches -> 5 x 7.2 pulgada
  • Letter Landscape 11 x 8.5 in -> Letter na 11 x 8.5 in na Nakapahiga
  • Comma is the thousands separator: 1,526 -> 1,526; $ 1,526.75 -> $ 1,526.75
  • Put a space after a comma: Marso 27, 2010
  • No colon if the introduction is not a complete sentence and an item in the list completes the thought.
  • No colon between a verb and its objects. No colon after such as. No colon between a preposition and its objects.
  • He was in charge of: reservation, registration and room assignments. -> Siya ang may katungkulan sa pagrereserba, pagrerehistro at pagtatakda ng mga silid.
  • Hyphen divides syllables, links compound parts, connects parts of an inverted or imperative verb.
  • Hyphenate Filipino prefixes with English words: download -> i-download / mag-download; upload -> i-upload / mag-upload; print -> i-print / mag-print; save -> i-save / mag-save; debug -> i-debug / mag-debug
  • Drop the hyphen when the English word sounds like a Filipino word: magmonitor (to monitor). Keep it when the reader would not recognize the word: to ban -> i-ban, not iban.
  • Always hyphenate prefix de-. Never use a space: electric -> de-kuryente; motorized -> de-motor; of high quality -> de-kalidad
  • Hyphenate phrasal adjectives: one-click install -> isang-klik na pag-install
  • Hyphenate figures after prefix ika- in dates, times, numbers: October 24, 2014 -> ika-24 ng Oktubre, 2014; 2:00 P.M. -> ika-2:00 N.H.; chapter 20 -> ika-20 kabanata
  • Hyphenate worded fractions: one-third -> isang-katlo; one-fourth -> isang-kapat
  • Hyphenate repeated or nearly identical word parts: isa-isa, dahan-dahan, tayo-tayo, turo-turo, sila-sila, luko-luko, pantay-pantay, taba-taba
  • Hyphenate two different words joined into a new idea: bantay-salakay, isip-bata
  • Hyphenate between prefix and root when the root begins with a vowel, not before a consonant. Prefixes: mag-, ika-, maki-, paki-, pag-, kasing-, labing-
  • Hyphenate pag and nag before vowels: nag-aalaga, pag-ilag, nag-impake, pag-aatubili
  • Hyphenate taga before a proper noun, not before a common noun: taganayon, tagabayan, tagasiyudad, taga-Davao, taga-Manila
  • En dash as minus sign, with spaces: 10 – 5 = 5
  • En dash in number ranges, no spaces: 1966–2011, 24–50
  • Em dash marks an isolated or non-essential element. In Filipino prefer a period, comma, or parentheses.
  • sa lahat ng mga kapatid na naririto — magkakasama kaming bumabati sa mga iglesya -> sa lahat ng mga kapatid na naririto (magkakasama kaming bumabati sa mga iglesya)
  • You choose the picture—and the gestures you use with it—to create a password that's uniquely yours. -> Pumili ka ng larawan—at mga pahayag na gamit mo dito—para makagawa ng password na tanging iyo lang. Parentheses also work: Pumili ka ng larawan (at mga pahayag na gamit mo dito) para makagawa ng password na tanging iyo lang.
  • Ellipsis is three periods. Follow English rules.
  • For more information please contact… -> Para sa higit na impormasyon makipag-ugnayan…
  • Copy and paste into the document -> Kopyahin at i-paste sa dokumento.
  • Quotation marks follow English rules: "Related topics" -> "Mga kaugnay na paksa"
  • No space between parentheses and the text inside: (does not contain all languages) -> (hindi naglalaman ng lahat ng wika)

Percentage

  • No space between number and %, unless the source has one: 50 % -> 50%

Subjunctive

  • The subjunctive expresses wishes and desires, in present or future tense.
  • Form it with particles sana, kaya, nawa plus the infinitive.
  • What if I remove this now? -> Tanggalin ko kaya ito ngayon?

Symbols and non-breaking spaces

  • Follow English rules: Mr. Gamboa

Verbs

  • Loan verbs follow Filipino syntax and morphology.
  • chat -> mag-chat, nakipag-chat, nakikipag-chat
  • crawl -> mag-crawl, nag-crawl, nagko-crawl
  • debug -> mag-debug, nag-debug, nagde-debug
  • Verbs carry focus and aspect. Focus expresses the role of the subject: actor, object, beneficiary, instrument, location, cause. Aspect is Action Not Begun, Action Begun Not Completed, Action Begun Completed. Both come from affixation and reduplication of part of the root.
  • Neutral action affixes: actor Mag-, -um-, ma-, mang-; object/goal -in, -an, i-; benefactive i-, ipag-; locative -an/-han, -in/-hin, pag-...-an; instrumental Ipang-/Ipan-/Ipam-
  • Aptative affixes: actor Maka-, Makapag-; object/goal Ma-, Mai-; benefactive Mai-, Mai-...an; locative Ma…-an, Mapag…-an; instrumental maipang-/maipan-/maipam-
  • Conjugation as infinitive, not begun, begun not completed, begun completed:
  • Actor: mag-chat, magtsa-chat, nagtsa-chat, mag-chat
  • Object: i-install, ii-install, ini-install, ininstall
  • Benefactive: ipaghahanda, ipaghahanda, ipinaghahanda, ipinaghanda
  • Locative: pagpindutan, pagpipindutan, pinagpipindutan, pinagpindutan
  • Instrumental: ipangkopya, ipangkokopya, ipinangkokopya, ipinangkopya
  • Treat a loan word used as a verb as a root or noun and add Filipino features.
  • Actor focus: Mag-i-install ang technician ng software sa iyong computer.
  • Goal focus: Ii-install ko ang software sa iyong computer.
  • The marker ang marks the subject wherever it stands.
  • When you submit a new migration request, the CSV file is uploaded to the Microsoft datacenter over a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection. -> Kapag nagsumite ka ng bagong kahilingang maglipat, ia-upload ang CSV file sa datacenter ng Microsoft sa koneksyong Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).
  • A verb is always root plus affix. The affix shows relation and aspect.
  • -um- perfective: infix after the first consonant: bumasa, kumain, lumakad, tumayo. Before a vowel-initial root it goes first: umawit (sang), uminom (drank), umalis (went away)
  • -um- imperfective: infix plus duplication of the first two letters: bumabasa, kumakain, lumalakad, tumatayo. Vowel-initial roots reduplicate the first vowel: umaawit, umiinom, umaalis
  • -um- contemplative: drop the affix, keep root plus reduplication: babasa, kakain, lalakad, tatayo, await, iinom, aalis
  • mag- perfective: nag- plus root: naglaro, naglinis, nagmartsa, nag-usap
  • mag- imperfective: nag- plus reduplicated first syllable plus root: naglalaro
  • mag- contemplative: mag- plus reduplicated first syllable plus root: maglalaro
  • Use these two verb forms for commands. Put all verbs in the infinitive.
  • The password must be identical to the password that is defined in the registration service. -> Dapat na kapareho ng password na inilarawan sa serbisyo ng pagrerehistro ang password.

Accessibility

  • Accessibility options serve users with cognitive, hearing, physical, or visual disabilities.
  • Some accessible products and services may not be available in Filipino-speaking markets. Verify availability.

Applications, products, and features

  • Verify a product or feature name is translatable before translating it.
  • Version numbers always contain a period: Version 4.2 -> Bersiyong 4.2
  • Always translate version strings that contain copyright information. Use the approved translations of All rights reserved and Microsoft Corporation.

Error messages

  • Make error messages natural and empathetic, not robotic.
  • Oops, that can't be blank... -> Oops, hindi puwedeng blangko iyan...
  • Not enough memory to process this command. -> Kulang ang memory para iproseso ang command na ito.
  • Use consistent terminology and style. Do not just copy the US wording.
  • Use these standard phrases. Other wording is allowed if it works better in context.
  • Cannot … / Could not … -> Hindi maka…: Could not connect -> Hindi makakunekta
  • Failed to … / Failure of … -> Nabigong…: Failed to connect -> Nabigong kumunekta
  • Cannot find … / Could not find … / Unable to find … / Unable to locate … -> Hindi makita … or Hindi mahanap…: Unable to find the file -> Hindi makita ang file, Hindi mahanap ang file
  • Not enough memory / Insufficient memory / There is not enough memory / There is not enough memory available -> Hindi sapat ang memory: Not enough memory to save the file -> Hindi sapat ang memory upang i-save ang file
  • ... is not available / ... is unavailable -> … ay hindi magagamit: The file is not available -> Ang file ay hindi magagamit
  • Find out what replaces a placeholder so the sentence stays grammatical.
  • %d, %ld, %u, %lu mean <number>; %c means <letter>; %s means <string>
  • "Checking Web %1!d! of %2!d!" means Checking Web <number> of <number>.
  • "INI file "%1!-.200s!" section" means INI file "<string>" section.

Keys

  • Key names appear in normal text, not small caps.
  • Key names unchanged in Filipino: Alt, Backspace, Break, Caps Lock, Delete, Down Arrow, End, Enter, Esc, Home, Insert, Left Arrow, Num Lock, Page Down, Page Up, Pause, Right Arrow, Scroll Lock, Shift, Spacebar, Tab, Up Arrow, Windows key, Print Screen, Menu key
  • Ctrl -> Control

Keyboard shortcuts

  • Slim characters I, l, t, r, f as shortcuts: yes.
  • Characters with downstrokes g, j, y, p, q as shortcuts: yes.
  • Extended characters as shortcuts: no. The 28 letters of the Filipino alphabet are enough.
  • An additional letter in brackets after the item name: no.
  • A number in brackets after the item name: no.
  • A punctuation sign in brackets after the item name: no.
  • Duplicate shortcuts when no other character is available: yes.
  • No shortcut when no characters remain, minor options only: yes.
  • Only single stroke characters can be used.
  • Preferred, not case-sensitive: a, b, c, d, e, f, i, k, l, m, n, o, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, z
  • Preferred, case-sensitive: G, J, P, Y
  • Allowed, case-sensitive: g, j, p, y
  • Allowed, not case-sensitive: q
  • Numeric, not case-sensitive: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
  • access key: a letter or number the user types to reach a UI control with a text label, assigned to top-level controls. Example F in Alt+F; in UI localization H&ome. Most access keys use Alt.
  • key tip: the letter or number shown in the ribbon when Alt is pressed. In UI localization it is the last character after the ` character: Home`H
  • shortcut key: a key the user types to perform a common action without the UI. Not available for every command. Example Ctrl+N, Ctrl+V. Most use Ctrl. Ctrl+letter combinations and F1 through F12 are the best choices.

English pronunciation

  • Pronounce unlocalized English terms and product names the English way.
  • SecurID -> [sı'kjuər aı di:]
  • .NET -> [dot net]
  • Skype -> [skaip]
  • Pronounce acronyms as words, adapted to local pronunciation.
  • RADIUS -> [rey-dee-uh s]; RAS -> [ras]; ISA -> [eye-sa]; LAN -> [lan]; WAN -> [wan]; WAP -> [wap]; MAPI -> [ma-pee]; POP -> [pop]; URL -> [yew-are-el]
  • Pronounce other abbreviations letter by letter.
  • ICMP -> [eye-see-em-pee]; IP -> [eye-pee]; TCP/IP -> [tee-see-pee-eye-pee]; XML -> [eks-em-el]; HTML -> [ach-tee-em-el]; OWA -> [oh-wah]; SQL -> [ess-cue-el]; XP -> [eks-pee]
  • Leave out http://. Read the rest of the URL in full.
  • Pronounce www as double-u double-u double-u.
  • Omit the dot or read it out as dot, as in English. Filipinos always read it out.
  • http://www.microsoft.com/ -> [double-u double-u double-u-dot-mai-kro-soft-dot-kom]
  • Most punctuation marks are implied by the voice: ? ! : ; ,
  • Pronounce the en dash – as a comma, a short pause.
  • Pronounce special characters / \ ˘ < > + - with the approved Filipino translations.

Tone

  • Match the tone to the audience: informal, playful, inspiring for most products and games; formal, informative, factual for technical texts.
  • Keep the tone direct, not very respectful or very formal, especially in directions and commands.
  • please is not obligatory in commands. The prefix paki means request.
  • Please save your files before closing this window. -> Paki-save ang iyong mga file bago magsara ng window na ito., not Mag-save ng iyong mga file bago magsara ng window na ito. and not Mag-save ka ng iyong mga file bago magsara ng window na ito.