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English for Gulf workers — for Tagalog speakers
Last updated 15 October 2026
Matuto ng Ingles para sa trabaho at araw-araw na buhay.
These are the English sentences people use most in their first months working in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. Each one has the meaning in Tagalog and a simple way to say the English, written in Latin script so you can read it straight away.
English is the shared language of many Gulf workplaces, shops, banks and clinics, so a few clear sentences make daily life easier. Learn five sentences a day: read the meaning, say the English out loud using the pronunciation column, then cover the English and try to say it from memory.
At work
| English | Tagalog | Say it (Latin) |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning, sir. | Magandang umaga po, sir. | gud MOR-ning, ser |
| What time does my shift start? | Anong oras po magsisimula ang shift ko? | wat taym dahz may shift start? |
| I have finished the work. | Tapos ko na po ang trabaho. | ay hav FI-nisht da wurk |
| Please show me how to do this. | Pakituro po kung paano ito gawin. | pliz show mi haw tu du dis |
| I need safety gloves. | Kailangan ko po ng safety gloves. | ay nid SEYF-ti glavz |
Housing
| English | Tagalog | Say it (Latin) |
|---|---|---|
| The air conditioner is not working. | Sira po ang aircon. | di ER kon-DI-shu-ner iz nat WUR-king |
| There is no water. | Walang tubig po. | der iz no WO-ter |
| When is the rent due? | Kailan po ang bayad sa upa? | wen iz da rent dyu? |
| I need a key for my room. | Kailangan ko po ng susi ng kuwarto ko. | ay nid a ki for may rum |
| Please fix it today. | Pakiayos po ngayong araw. | pliz fiks it tu-DEY |
At the bank
| English | Tagalog | Say it (Latin) |
|---|---|---|
| I want to open an account. | Gusto ko pong magbukas ng account. | ay want tu O-pen an a-KAWNT |
| I want to send money home. | Gusto ko pong magpadala ng pera sa amin. | ay want tu send MA-ni hom |
| What is the fee? | Magkano po ang singil? | wat iz da fi? |
| My card is blocked. | Na-block po ang card ko. | may kard iz blakt |
| Please give me a receipt. | Pakibigay po ang resibo. | pliz giv mi a ri-SIT |
At the clinic
| English | Tagalog | Say it (Latin) |
|---|---|---|
| I need a doctor. | Kailangan ko po ng doktor. | ay nid a DAK-ter |
| I have a fever. | May lagnat po ako. | ay hav a FI-ver |
| My back hurts. | Masakit po ang likod ko. | may bak hurts |
| I have a health insurance card. | May health insurance card po ako. | ay hav a helth in-SHU-rans kard |
| Where is the pharmacy? | Saan po ang botika? | wer iz da FAR-ma-si? |
Getting around
| English | Tagalog | Say it (Latin) |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the bus stop? | Saan po ang sakayan ng bus? | wer iz da bas stap? |
| How much is the ticket? | Magkano po ang tiket? | haw mach iz da TI-ket? |
| Please take me to this address. | Pakihatid po ako sa address na ito. | pliz teyk mi tu dis A-dres |
| Stop here, please. | Para po dito. | stap hir, pliz |
| Does this bus go to the city centre? | Papunta po ba sa sentro ng lungsod ang bus na ito? | dahz dis bas go tu da SI-ti SEN-ter? |
Salary
| English | Tagalog | Say it (Latin) |
|---|---|---|
| When is payday? | Kailan po ang sahod? | wen iz PEY-dey? |
| My salary is late. | Huli po ang sahod ko. | may SA-la-ri iz leyt |
| How many hours of overtime? | Ilang oras po ang overtime? | haw ME-ni AW-erz av O-ver-taym? |
| Please give me my payslip. | Pakibigay po ang payslip ko. | pliz giv mi may PEY-slip |
| I want to talk to HR. | Gusto ko pong makausap ang HR. | ay want tu tok tu eych-AR |
At the visa office
| English | Tagalog | Say it (Latin) |
|---|---|---|
| I want to renew my visa. | Gusto ko pong i-renew ang visa ko. | ay want tu ri-NYU may VI-sa |
| Here is my passport. | Ito po ang pasaporte ko. | hir iz may PAS-port |
| Where do I sign? | Saan po ako pipirma? | wer du ay sayn? |
| When will my ID card be ready? | Kailan po magiging handa ang ID card ko? | wen wil may ay-DI kard bi RE-di? |
| I need a copy of my contract. | Kailangan ko po ng kopya ng kontrata ko. | ay nid a KA-pi av may KAN-trakt |
Tips for speaking English at work
Start polite, keep it short
In Gulf workplaces, short and polite English works best. Start with “Good morning” or “Excuse me”, say what you need in one sentence, and finish with “Thank you”. “Please” makes any request softer. You do not need perfect grammar: “AC not working, please fix” is understood, but the full sentences below sound more confident and get faster help.
Ask them to repeat
If you do not understand, it is normal to ask. Say “Sorry, can you repeat, please?” or “Please speak slowly.” Asking is better than guessing, especially about money, documents and safety instructions.
Numbers, dates and money
Practise saying your phone number, your room number and amounts of money out loud. When you hear a date or an amount, repeat it back: “The 25th? 1,500 dirhams?” This avoids mistakes with rent, salary and appointments.
Documents
Always keep copies or photos of your passport, visa, ID card, contract and payslips. At an office, show the document and use the phrases below. If something is unclear, ask for it in writing: “Can you write it down, please?”
Health and safety
At a clinic, say where it hurts and since when: “My back hurts since yesterday.” At work, ask for safety equipment if you do not have it, and ask to be shown how to use a new machine before you start.
Other languages
English for Hindi speakers · English for Urdu speakers · English for Bengali speakers · English for Arabic speakers
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Questions or corrections: contact LanguagePath or languagepathorg@gmail.com.