Palihog sang makadali lang
The Ilonggo phrase for "excuse me" is Palihog sang makadali lang.
Alternatively, if you are expressing a more spontaneous or casual apology like "Oh, sorry!", you can use Ay, pasensya na!
Meaning: sorry, as apology (noun)
Did you know?
- While pasensya na is used for apologies, it shares a root with the Spanish word 'paciencia', reflecting the heavy influence of colonial history on Ilonggo expressions of forgiveness.
- When navigating a crowded market in Iloilo, a short, sharp Tabi! might be used instead of the long formal phrase to mean 'excuse me' or 'move aside'.
- To get through a dense crowd, an Ilonggo speaker might forgo words entirely and use a gentle touch on the shoulder paired with just the word Pasensya.
Example conversation
Juan accidentally bumps into Angela in a hallway.
- JuanPalihog sang makadali lang, Angela.Excuse me, Angela.
- AngelaWala sing problema, Juan.No problem, Juan.
- JuanNaga-dali lang gid ako.I was just in a hurry.
- AngelaOkay lang, sige lang.It's okay, go ahead.
