Philippines Endangered Languages

Langauges

Extinct

Endangered

120+

35

Philippines

Endangered Languages

There are over 120 languages in the Philippines, 35 of which are considered endangered. Languages can become endangered for many reasons, including the influence of dominant and more economically useful languages. Because Tagalog is the national language, many Filipinos learn it—and some native or tribal languages are no longer passed on to future generations. Click the map to learn about 12 endangered languages in the Philippines.

Palawan Batak

Puerto Princessa, Southern Tagalog, Region IV

Status: Shifting (i.e., being abandoned)

Speakers: 360

Only around one percent of this language's vocabulary is unique.

Sample Words

• lebeg (rain)
• alima (hand)
• bilug (body)
• darun (hunger)
• sabaw (soup)
• lain-hiug (coconut)
• 'iseg (anger)

Sorsogon Ayta

Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon, Bicol, Region V

Status: Nearly Extinct

Speakers: 15

Some consider Sorsogon Ayta as a regional dialect of the surrounding languages, not a distinct langauge.

Sample Words

There are no recorded sample words on the internet; Isarog Agta may be too endangered and rare, limiting the breadth of ethnological work and language preservation.

Mariveleño

Bataan, Central Luzon, Region III

Status: Threatened

Speakers: 500

Also known as Magbikin or Magbukun Ayta

Sample Words

• abagat (rain)
• ayma (hand)
• nawini (body)
• lono (hungry)
• habo (soup)
• niyog (coconut)
• po-ot (angry)

Manide

Camarines Norte, Bicol, Region V

Status: Threatened

Speakers: 3800

Also known as Camarines Norte Agta. This language is more unique than other Agta languages

Sample Words

• gemés (rain)
• tayumbun (baby)
• leták (back of body)
• lumbi (hungry)
• saluka (coconut)
• daydayón (skinny)
• hambaw (lonely)

Edimala

Aurora, Central Luzon, Region III

Status: Threatened

Speakers: 100-250

Also known as Northern Alta. While related to Southern Alta, the two languages are not very mutually intelligible.

Sample Words

• udden (rain)
• lala-e (man)
• abde (body)

• daliri (finger)
• niyol (coconut)
• mabitel (hunger)
• apoi (fire)

Dupaningan Agta

Cagayan Valley, Region II

Status: Threatened

Speakers: 1400

This language is threatened by Illocano.

Sample Words

• uden (rain)
• kamat (baby)
• baggi (back of body)
• maalap (hungry)
• digu (broth/soup)
• niyog (coconut)
• maingal (angry)

Faire Atta

Santo Niño, Cagayan, Region III

Status: Threatened

Speakers: 300

Sample Words

• urán (rain)
• labunogán (baby)
• baggí (upper body)
• mabisin (hungry)
• digú (soup)
• kalod (coconut)
• mapúray (angry)

Alabat Island Agta

Alabat Island, Calabarzon, Region IV-A

Status: Moribund (almost extinct)

Speakers: Less than 10

Sample Words

• gemés (rain)
• alíma (hand)
• bitúka (belly)
• luntay (hungry)
• pagkaun (food)
• geén (fruit)
• anggút (anger)

Isarog Agta

Mt. Isarog, Camarines Sur, Bikol, Region V

Status: Moribund (almost extinct)

Speakers: 12

Also known as Inagta Partido or Katubung or Katubungi. There are no native speakers under the age of 60.

Sample Words

There are no recorded sample words on the internet; Isarog Agta may be too endangered and rare, limiting the breadth of ethnological work and language preservation.

Ratagnon

Occidental Mindoro, Southern Tagalog, Region IV

Status: Nearly Extinct

Speakers: 370

Also known as "Latagnon," "Datagnon," and "Aradigi." It's related to Cuyonon, the previous lingua franca of Palawan.

Sample Words

• tubi (water)
• alima (hand)
• balabag (house)
• ayam (dog)
• baras (sand)
• talon (wilderness)
• atlon (fear)

Mt. Iraya Agta

Camarines Sur, Bicol, Region V

Status: Threatened

Speakers: 1500*

*Because the last census was in 1979, this language may now be extinct.

Sample Words

• urán (rain)
• takyag (hand)
• lawas (body)
• kalamias (lower body)
• punaw (hungry)
• sabáw (soup)
• lukaron (coconut)
• gagit/gasá (angry)

Labin Agta

Baggao, Cagayan, Region II

Status: Threatened

Speakers: 780

Also known as Central Cagayan Agta. While close to speakers of Dupaninan Agta, speakers of these langauges cannot understand each other.

Sample Words

• udan (rain)
• kamat (hand)
• bari (body)
• mabisinak (hungry)
• anyog (coconut)
• binisag (dried fish)
• matakit (sick)