Kankanaey
Spoken across the highlands of northern Luzon, this Cordilleran language keeps the stories, traditions, and identity of Kankanaey communities alive.
Kankanaey, also spelled Kankana-ey or Kankanaëy, is spoken mainly in Mountain Province and Benguet, including communities around Sagada, Bauko, Besao, Sabangan, Tadian, Bakun, Buguias, Kibungan, and Mankayan.
Different communities have differences in vocabulary, pronunciation, and intonation, and speakers may also use Ilocano, Filipino, or English.
Click here to view a map of where Kankanaey is spoken in the Philippines.
💡 Fun Fact: Everyday Kankanaey greetings do not always match English expressions like “good morning.” In some communities, a smile or a question such as “Where did you come from?” can serve as a natural greeting.
- How are you? → Kumusta ka? (koo-MOOS-tah kah)
- Thank you → Iyaman (ee-YAH-mahn)
- Yes → Wen (wehn)
- No → Adi (ah-DEE)
- Where did you come from? → Intoy napu-am? (een-TOY nah-poo-AHM)
- Good / Fine → Mayat (mah-YAHT)
- Where is ___? → Entoy nan ___? (en-TOY nahn ___)
- Where are you going? → Entoy umeyam? (en-TOY oo-MEH-yahm)
- I want to go to ___ → Laydek ay umey ed ___ (LYE-dehk eye oo-MEH ehd ___)
- Stop here → Isardeng sina (ee-sahr-DEHNG see-NAH)
- I don't understand → Adiak maawatan (ah-DEE-yahk mah-ah-WAH-tahn)
- Please help me → Badangam sak-en (bah-dah-NGAHM sahk-EHN)
- Delicious / Good → Mayat (mah-YAHT)
- Water → Danum (DAH-noom)
- Food → Makan (mah-KAHN)
- I'm hungry → Mabisin ak (mah-BEE-seen ahk)
- Let's eat → Mangan tako (MAH-ngahn tah-KOH)
- Help! → Badang! (bah-DAHNG)
- Police → Pulis. (poo-LEES)
- Doctor → Doktor (dok-TOR)
- I need help → Masapul ko nan badang (mah-SAH-pool koh nahn bah-DAHNG)
- Be careful → Men-annad ka (men-AHN-nahd kah)
- One → Esa (eh-SAH)
- Two → Dowa (DOH-wah)
- Three → Tolo (toh-LOH)
- Four → Epat (eh-PAHT)
- Five → Lima (lee-MAH)
- Six → Enem (eh-NEHM)
- Seven → Pito (pee-TOH)
- Eight → Walo (wah-LOH)
- Nine → Siyam (see-YAHM)
- Ten → Sangapolo (sah-ngah-POH-loh)