Communication Style

The usage of the word yes is one of the main reasons why people become frustrated during social interactions. Many Filipinos find it challenging to refuse because of their desire to please. Instead, they opt to accept. The word "yes" (pronounced "oo" in Tagalog) can signify a variety of things, from a basic "yes" to "I'm not sure", "possibly", "if you say so", or "sorry, I don't understand."

However, most Filipinos would use the English term while speaking to foreigners. Never consider a casual "yes" to be binding. Numerous euphemisms for the word no are another way that the ideas of hiya and amor-propio have permeated the language (hindi in Tagalog).

To avoid upsetting you, a Filipino will generally respond with "maybe" (siguro nga), "whatever" (bahala na), or "if you say so," as opposed to saying "no" (kung sinabi mo ba e). Few foreigners ever truly understand the eddies and whirls beneath the subtle nuances of language that underlie the hidden tides that regulate all social behavior in the Philippines.