However, some languages are spoken by a significantly larger population than others, leading to a perception of them as "major dialects." Here are 8 of the most widely spoken languages in the Philippines, often referred to as dialects:
1. Tagalog: This is the basis for Filipino, the official language of the Philippines. It's spoken by around 28 million people, primarily in Luzon.
2. Cebuano: Spoken by about 20 million people, mostly in the Visayas region, it's one of the most widely spoken languages in the Philippines.
3. Ilocano: The language of Ilocos Region in Luzon, with about 8 million speakers.
4. Hiligaynon (Ilonggo): Spoken in the Western Visayas, with around 7.5 million speakers.
5. Bikol: Found in the Bicol Region of Luzon, with around 4 million speakers.
6. Waray-Waray: Spoken in the Eastern Visayas, with around 4 million speakers.
7. Kapampangan: The language of Pampanga province in Luzon, with about 2.5 million speakers.
8. Pangasinan: Spoken in Pangasinan province, Luzon, with around 2 million speakers.
It's important to remember that these are just some of the many languages spoken in the Philippines. Each language has its own rich history and cultural significance.