Google Translate now includes Hiligaynon, Kapampangan and more

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“I love you” can be expressed in various languages in the Philippines. From “Gihigugma tika” in Cebuano, “Padaba ta ka” in Bicolano, “Mahal kita” in Tagalog, to “Palangga ko ikaw” in Hiligaynon, the country’s linguistic diversity shines through everyday expressions of love.

With over 170 languages spoken across its archipelago, the country has a unique linguistic heritage. In the Filipino diaspora, one can hear a variety of languages such as Cebuano, Tagalog, Ilocano, Kapampangan and Chavacano wherever you are in the world.

Sometimes, many Filipinos often turn to tools like Google Translate for help in understanding or expressing themselves in different Filipino languages.

Until recently, Google Translate expanded to include even more of the country’s regional languages.

“We’ve heard your ask for more languages and we are thrilled to announce we’re adding 110 new languages to Translate,” they shared.

Google has added 110 new languages to its translation service, powered by the revolutionary PaLM 2 large language model, bringing the total number of supported languages to 133.

“Now, we’re using AI to expand the variety of languages we support,” they added. “Thanks to our PaLM 2 large language model, we’re rolling out 110 new languages to Google Translate, our largest expansion ever.”

This update includes more regional languages from Luzon and the Visayas, such as Bikol, Hiligaynon, Kapampangan, Pangasinan and Waray.

“This expansion marks a significant step towards the 1,000 Languages Initiative, aiming to support the world’s most spoken languages. With a quarter of the new additions coming from Africa, Google Translate now offers the largest selection of African languages to date,” stated Google Philippines.

This development is a stride in enhancing communication and preserving linguistic diversity, allowing more Filipinos to connect with their heritage and each other in their native tongues.

To test if it truly works, visit translate.google.com or download the Google Translate app from the App Store and Google Play and translate “I love you” in more ways than one.