Ivatan (Chirin nu Ibatan) is a Batanic branch of Austronesian language family spoken mainly in the Batanes Islands in the Philippines, and also in southern Taiwan.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

a

as in father

e

as in vowel

i

as in ease

o

as in orange

u

as in loose

Consonants

b

as in big

ch

as in cheese

d

as in did

f

as in for

g

as in goat

h

as in house

j

as in hope

k

as in kite

l

as in lamb

m

as in moon

n

as in net

ng

as in sing

ny

as in canyon

p

as in pit

r

as in rat

s

as in some

t

as in toy

v

as in vice

w

as in wow

Common diphthongs

aw

as in wow

iw

as in kiwi

ay

as in die

ey

as in day

oy

as in boy

Phrase lists

Basics

Common signs OPEN maywang (migh-WAHNG) CLOSED maneb (MAH-nuhb) ENTRANCE asdepan (AHSS-duh-PAHN) EXIT ahbetan (AH-buh-tahn) PUSH panuynuyen (pah-nooy-NOOY-yuhn) PULL palangen (pah-LAHNG-nguhn) TOILET hawa (hah-WAH) MEN mahakay (mah-HAH-kigh) WOMEN mavakes (mah-VAH-kuhss) FORBIDDEN vadawen (vah-DAH-wuhn)

Hello.

Kapian kapa nu dios. (kah-PYAHN kah pah noo JAWSS)

Hello. (informal)

. ( )

How are you?

Ara ka mangu? (AH-rah kah MAH-ngoo?)

Fine, thank you.

Taytu ako a mapia. Dios mamajes. (TIGH-too AH-koo ah MAH-pyah. JAWSS mah-MAH-huhss)

What is your name?

Angu ngaran mo? (ah-NGOO NGAH-rahn maw?)

My name is ______ .

U ngaran ko am ______ . (oo NGAH-rahn kaw ahm _____ .)

Nice to meet you.

Mapya ta nasinchad ku imu. (mah-PYAH tah nah-SEEN-chahd koo EE-moo)

Please.

. ( )

Thank you.

Dios mamajes. (JAWSS mah-MAH-huhss)

You're welcome.

. ( )

Yes.

Oon. ( )

No.

. ( )

Excuse me. (getting attention)

. ( )

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

. ( )

I'm sorry.

. ( )

Goodbye

.Dios mavidin (JAWSS mah-VEE-dihn)

Goodbye (informal)

. ( )

I can't speak Ivatan [well].

Makapaychirin aku ava su ?????? [ ]. (mah-kah-pigh-CHEE-rihn AH-koo AH-vah soo ?????? [ ])

Do you speak English?

Mañinglish ka? (mah-nyihng-LEESH kah?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

 ? ( ?)

Help!

 ! ( !)

Look out!

 ! ( !)

Good morning.

Kapian ka pa nu Dios sichamavukas (kah-PYAHN kah pah noo see-chah mah-VOO-kahss)

Good noon.

Kapian ka pa nu Dios maraw

Good afternoon.

Kapian ka pa nu Dios sichamakuyab. (kah-PYAHN kah pah noo mah-KOO-yahb)

Good evening.

Kapian ka pa nu Dios sichamahep. (kah-PYAHN kah pah noo see chah MAH-huhp)

Good night (to sleep)

. ( )

I don't understand.

Maintindi ku ava. (mah-een-TEEN-dee koo AH-vah)

Where is the toilet?

 ? ( ?)

Numbers

1

asa

2

dadua

3

tatdo

4

apat

5

dadima

6

anem

7

papito

8

wawaho

9

sasyam

10

asa puho

11

asa sicharua

12

dadua sicharua

13

tatdu sicharua

14

apat sicharua

15

dadima sicharua

16

anem sicharua

17

papito sicharua

18

wawaho sicharua

19

sasyam sicharua

20

dadua puho

21

dadwa a puho kan asa

22

dadwa a puho kan dadwa

23

dadwa a puho kan tatdo

30

tatdo a puho

40

apat a puho

50

dadima a puho

60

anem a puho

70

papito a puho

80

wawaho a puho

90

sasyam a puho

100

asa yatus

1000

asa livo

Colors

Black

Mavaweng

Blue

A'sul

Brown

Chocolati

Dark

Masarih

Gray

Mavu-avo

Green

Birdi

Red

Mavayah

White

Mahilak

Yellow

Mañujama

Days

Sunday

Domingo; Lumingu

Monday

Lunis

Tuesday

Martis

Wednesday

Miyirkolis; Mirkulis

Thursday

Juibis; Juybis

Friday

Biyernis; Birnis

Saturday

Sabado; Sabalu