Writers often use quotes to develop a piece of writing they’re working on, be it an article, poem, essay, or novel. Whether you’re a writer or not, learning quotes and sayings from other cultures can benefit you in more ways than one. If you’re learning the Filipino language, for instance, studying Tagalog quotes and sayings will give you a better grasp of both the language of the Filipino people and their culture.

Filipinos are a very expressive people, and they express their thoughts and emotions through art, particularly in music or literature. They also use quotes or proverbs to share wisdom, express a sentiment, give a lecture, or even try to win an argument.

There are several ways that Filipinos convey a message through these sayings. One way is through a tradition called balagtasan, which is a debate in the form of poetry. Perhaps the most common way, though, is through storytelling. In rural areas, once upon a time, Filipino kids would gather around their lolo (“grandfather”) or lola (“grandmother”) and wait for them to tell stories filled with proverbs, called salawikain.

Today, proverbs are still a part of daily conversations for Filipino people. In this article, we’ll present you with Filipino quotes about life, love, friendship, family, and more. To ensure you get a good mix, we’ve included both native Filipino quotes and the Filipino translation of quotes from other languages.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

1. Quotes About Success
2. Quotes About Life
3. Quotes About Time
4. Quotes About Love
5. Quotes About Family
6. Quotes About Friendship
7. Quotes About Food
8. Quotes About Health
9. Quotes About Language Learning
10. Bonus: Famous Quotes From Tagalog Movies
11. Learn More Than Just Tagalog Quotes With FilipinoPod101!

1. Quotes About Success

Do you have big plans for the future or an upcoming project you’re concerned about? Let’s kick off our list with some popular Filipino quotes about work and success that are sure to inspire you.

1. Ang pagiging dukha ay hindi hadlang sa tagumpay. 

“Poverty is not a hindrance to success.”

The Filipino people are not a stranger to poverty. Many rich and famous Filipinos today who started from the bottom, such as the Pinoy boxing pride Manny Pacquiao, understand that the true hindrance to success is not poverty, but the unwillingness to think big and get out of a state of helplessness.

2. Kapag may itinanim, may aanihin. 

“If you sow something, you will harvest something.”

This may be similar to the saying “What you sow is what you reap,” or “You get what you deserve,” but it best represents the idea that if you plant while the weather is nice, you’ll have something to eat when the storm comes and you can’t leave the house. 

It reminds me of the parable of the ant and the grasshopper, where the carefree grasshopper mocked the ant for gathering food in the summer. In the end, when the rainy season came, the grasshopper had nothing to eat, while the ant was safe underground with the abundant resources it had collected months prior.

3. Hindi tayo makakasulong kung pahihintulutan nating hilahin tayo pabalik ng nakaraan. 

“We cannot move forward if we allow the past to pull us back.” 

These were the words of President Rodrigo Duterte during the 2016 State of the Nation Address. His message is simple: If we want to succeed and progress, we must stop looking back, pointing fingers, and blaming others. Rather, we must move on and strive to reach the goal ahead of us.

→ Speaking of success, here are some tips on how you can succeed in your goal of thinking like a Filipino.

Kapag may itinanim, may aanihin. (“If you sow something, you will harvest something.”)

2. Quotes About Life

Life is a mystery that people the world over have been trying to piece together since the beginning of time. Here are some quotes in Filipino concerning life and all that lies therein.

4. Ang negatibong tao ay nakakakita ng problema sa bawat pagkakataon. Ang positibong tao ay nakakakita ng pagkakataon sa bawat problema. 

“The pessimist finds difficulty in every situation. The optimist finds an opportunity in every difficulty.” 

This is a popular quote often attributed to a number of great names, including Winston Churchill. It highlights the importance of positivity. 

The Filipino people, in particular, are very resilient. Even in times of disaster, you’ll see them smiling and even making light of their situation. There are some who see this as a defense mechanism, but one reason Filipinos remain strong as a people is their craftiness and creativity, as well as their habit of looking at the brighter side of things.

5. Hindi mahalaga kung gaano katagal ka nabuhay. Ang mahalaga ay kung paano ka nabuhay. 

“It doesn’t matter how long you’ve lived. What matters is how you’ve lived your life.”

This saying has the same meaning as the famous quote, “It’s not the years in your life that count, but the life in your years.” It also reminds me of the final words of Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) in the film The Last Samurai. When the emperor asked Algren to tell him how Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe) died, he replied: “I will tell you how he lived.”

6. Wala nang mas masahol pa kaysa sa pagbalik sa normalidad. 

“Nothing could be worse than a return to normality.”

This is a line from Arundhati Roy’s latest essay entitled, The Pandemic is a Portal. I included this on our list because it’s an excellent reminder that the circumstances we’re facing right now are offering us a chance to evaluate ourselves, and that we should come out of it as different people.

→ Are you curious about daily life in the Philippines? Check out our vocabulary list of Tagalog words related to everyday activities.

3. Quotes About Time

Time is what binds us to our own mortality. Here are some Filipino time quotes, native and translated, to give you some cultural perspective on how Filipinos view this phenomenon. 

7. Ang pinakamagandang regalong iyong maibibigay sa taong mahalaga sa iyo ay oras. 

“The best gift you can give someone you care for is your time.”

Not all people value time, and some value material things more. However, if there’s one way you can show someone that you truly care for and value them, it’s by giving them quality time.

8. Aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo? 

“What is grass good for if the horse is already dead?”

This is a very popular Filipino saying that pertains to relief or help that arrived too late. It’s equivalent to the expression, “Closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.” It refers to an attempt at preventing something only after the damage has been done.

9. Ang oras ay ginto. 

“Time is gold.” 

A timeless classic, I must say. Every culture probably has this proverb in some form or another, and that only shows how valuable and precious time is—it must not be taken for granted. Ironically, Filipinos have a reputation for always being tardy, thus the expression “Filipino Time.” But did you know that this is not an accurate representation of the Filipino people? Just go to the Philippines or visit countries where Filipinos thrive, and you’ll see that most Filipinos actually value their time and that of others.

→ You can learn how to talk about time in Filipino on our website.

4. Quotes About Love

Are you madly in love with someone? Or maybe you’re a hopeless romantic? Either way, we think you’ll enjoy these Filipino quotes about love!

10. Pagsasama nang tapat, pagsasama nang maluwat. 

“Faithfulness breeds longevity.” 

Literally: “Being together in faithfulness, being together for eternity.”

Integrity is the most important thing in a relationship. Integrity breeds trust, and trust, in turn, breeds longevity.

11. Ang pag-ibig, pigilan man, ay makakahanap ng paraan. 

“Love, though hindered, will find a way.”

Filipinos are very passionate people. Not even death itself could scare a Filipino man who’s in love. 

There’s a similar Tagalog saying that goes, “Pag-ibig, ‘pag pumasok sa puso nino man, hahamakin ang lahat masunod ka lamang.” This one was written by the Filipino great Francisco Balagtas y de la Cruz, a prominent poet during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines. The line basically says that a man in love will endure anything just to do love’s bidding.

12. Ang pag-ibig ang dapat manahan sa puso ng bawat nilalang. 

“Love should dwell in the heart of every creature.”

This speaks more of ‘agape,’ or unconditional, love and has nothing to do with romantic love. It means what it says—that every person should have love in their hearts if there is to be real peace in the world.

5. Quotes About Family

Family is a cornerstone of any society, so it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of Filipino family quotes that discuss the nature of familial relationships. 

13. Pahalagahan mo ang pamilyang meron ka, dahil hindi sa lahat ng panahon ay nariyan sila. 

“Cherish the family you have, because they are not always there.”

We often despise the family we were born into, especially if we grew up with much difficulty in life. This saying is a reminder that when worse comes to worst, it’s our family who will always be there for us.

14. Ang pagmamahal ng isang pamilya ay pwede mong matagpuan kahit sa hindi mo kadugo. 

“Family is not always about blood.”

We value our blood relatives because they’re the ones who have been with us since the day we came into this world. However, there are times when other people treat us better, which is what this message is conveying.

15. Ituring mo ang iyong pamilya bilang kaibigan, at ituring mo naman ang iyong mga kaibigan bilang pamilya.

“Treat your family as friends, and treat your friends as family.” 

Your family members are the first real friends you make in this life. In the same manner, your real friends are like your family. They love you unconditionally and treat you with respect.

Ituring mo ang iyong mga kaibigan bilang pamilya. (“Treat your friends as family.”)

→ Don’t forget to view our list of the must-know Filipino terms for family members!

6. Quotes About Friendship

Friends are one of life’s greatest joys and necessities. Check out these Filipino friendship quotes and see if you can relate! 

16. Wag kang humanap ng kaibigang makakaintindi sa’yo. Hanapin mo ang kaibigang hindi ka maiintindihan pero hindi ka iiwan. 

“Don’t look for a friend who will understand you; look for one who might not understand you but will not leave you, nonetheless.”

There are two important themes this quote touches on: loyalty and acceptance. A true friend will remain loyal to you even after learning of your weaknesses. Don’t just look for any friend; look for friends who will accept you for who you are and remain loyal to you until the end.

17. Sa panahon ng kagipitan nakikilala ang tunay na kaibigan. 

“Hard times reveal true friends.”

This quote doesn’t need a lot of explaining. It’s when you’re at rock bottom that you really discover who your genuine friends are.

18. Ang taksil na kaibigan ay higit na masama kaysa kaaway. 

“A treacherous friend is worse than an enemy.” 

There’s nothing worse than having someone you thought was a friend betray you. This quote is saying that sometimes, it’s better to have someone saying to your face that they hate you than to have someone sweet-talking you when you’re around and then stabbing you the moment you turn your back.

→ If you’re looking for additional Tagalog quotes about friendship, we have several more on our website!

7. Quotes About Food

Can you get any deeper into a culture than knowing how it thinks about food? Here are some Filipino food quotes to get you thinking (and hungry!). 

19. Kung magbibigay man at mahirap sa loob, ang pinapakain ay hindi mabubusog. 

“Feeding someone reluctantly will only leave the other person with an empty stomach.” 

This is similar to Solomon’s proverb that goes, “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.” Indeed, if you’re going to give, do it not out of compulsion, but out of your own willingness. A small amount given out of love will fill not only the stomach, but also the heart.

20. Makulay ang buhay sa gulay. 

“Life is colorful with vegetables.”

The Philippines is an agricultural country, with most citizens living in rural areas and supporting themselves through farming. This saying is a testament to how crucial farming is to Filipinos, as well as how important vegetables are as a daily staple for every Filipino family.

21. Hayaan mong maging gamot ang iyong pagkain, at maging pagkain ang iyong gamot. 

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” 

This quote is from the Greek physician Hippocrates, known as the Father of Medicine. It’s said that he used these words in reference to certain herbs and spices, particularly garlic, which he prescribed to his patients to prolong their life.

Hayaan mong maging gamot ang iyong pagkain. (“Let food be thy medicine.”)

8. Quotes About Health

Health should be a person’s first priority, because only in good health can one accomplish more important goals. Here are a few quotes in Filipino on the topic.

22. Ang kalusugan ay kayamanan.

“Health is wealth.” 

This is a common saying that every culture probably has. It’s very catchy in both English and Tagalog because of the rhyming of the two main words. Indeed, the only way we can have the power to produce wealth is if our health is intact.

23. Ang kalusugan ay parang pera. Madalas ay hindi natin alam ang halaga nito hanggang sa ito ay mawala sa atin. 

“Health is like money. Oftentimes, we have no idea of its true value until it’s gone.”

This is somewhat similar to the previous quote. Health, like wealth, is often taken for granted. When we have plenty, we don’t seem to worry about what the future may bring; oftentimes, this leads us into letting our guard down when it comes to our health. The lesson: Don’t take your health for granted. Work hard, but don’t forget to rest and recharge.

24. Isang malusog na pangangatawan, mahinanon na pag-iisip, tahanan na puno ng pag-ibig—hindi nabibili ang mga bagay na ito—bagkus, ang mga ito ay pinaghihirapan. 

“A fit body, a calm mind, a house full of love—these things cannot be bought—they must be earned.” 

This quote reminds us that there are things in life that cannot be bought with money. Health, family, and relationships—these things are priceless. They’re not cheap, though. If you want to have a healthy mind and body, as well as healthy relationships, you need to be intentional. This means taking charge of what you eat, what you feed your mind, and how you spend time with the people you care about the most.

→ Have you checked out our vocabulary list of the top 10 foods that will make you live longer?

9. Quotes About Language Learning

What better way to motivate you in your language studies than by introducing you to some Filipino quotes about language learning?

25. Ang mga limitasyon ng aking wika ay nangangahulugan ng limitasyon ng aking mundo.

“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.”

We grow up speaking one language. The more we explore the world, either through traveling or by reading, the more language we learn. If we only know one language, it’s either because we didn’t travel enough or we didn’t read enough.

26. Habang pinapanatili ng isang tao ang wika nito, pinapanatili nito ang mga marka ng kalayaan. 

“While a people preserves its language, it preserves the marks of liberty.” 

Oddly enough, these words were spoken by Jose Rizal. Despite being able to speak over twenty languages, he understood the importance of saving and preserving one’s mother tongue. Rizal wasn’t discouraging the use of foreign languages, as is evidenced by his being a polyglot. What he was saying is that while you learn the languages of other nations, you have to see to it that you don’t forget your own.

27. Siya na hindi nakakaalam ng mga wikang banyaga ay walang nalalaman tungkol sa kanyang sarili. 

“He who knows no foreign languages knows nothing of his own.” 

This quote by writer and statesman Johann Wolfgang von Goethe simply emphasizes the importance of learning a language other than your own. When you limit yourself to one language, you also limit yourself and your potential. On the contrary, learning more than one language opens a whole new world of opportunities for you.

10. Bonus: Famous Quotes From Tagalog Movies

To close, let’s look at a few popular Filipino movie quotes!

28. Walang himala! Ang himala ay nasa puso ng tao! – Nora Aunor, Himala (1982)

“There is no miracle! The miracle is in the heart of man!”

When it comes to quotes from Tagalog films, nothing could be more famous than this line by the “Superstar” of Philippine cinema, Nora Aunor. The line is from the film Himala, where Aunor played a young girl who could perform miracles. At the end of the film, she confesses that there are no miracles and that supernatural things are only man’s inventions.

29. Isang bala ka lang! – Fernando Poe Jr., Isang Bala Ka Lang (1983)

“You’d only take one bullet!” / “It would only take one bullet to take your life.”

This line is from the film of the same name. In the film, the late actor Fernando Poe, Jr., played the character of an honest cop who didn’t mind going head-to-head with dirty politicians. At one point in the movie, he points his finger at the face of a corrupt congressman and says to him: “Stop pretending that you’re a nice guy. You’d only take one bullet!”

30. “Trabaho lang ito, walang personalan.” – Rudy Fernandez, Markang Bungo, The Bobby Ortega Story (1991)

“It’s all just business. Don’t take it personally.”

The late Rudy Fernandez was considered one of the top action stars in Philippine cinema in the eighties and nineties. In his film Markang Bungo (Skull Mark), he played the character of Bobby Ortega, the chief of police of Baguio City from 1985 to 1987. Ortega was renowned for his crime-busting career, which significantly brought down the crime rate in Baguio City by 95%. He respected no one regardless of their status and would hunt down anyone who was going against the law. He argued that he was only doing his job as a cop. Thus the line, “It’s all business. Don’t take it personally.”

31. “Mahal mo ba ako dahil kailangan mo ako, o kailangan mo ako kaya mahal mo ako?” – Claudine Barretto, Milan (2004)

“Do you love me because you need me, or do you need me because you love me?”

This line certainly sent some romantic excitement down the spines of many Filipinos when the film first came out some sixteen years ago. The film starred two of the best actors of Philippine cinema, Piolo Pascual and Claudine Barretto. Pascual played the character of Lino, a young man who followed his missing wife in Milan. There, Lino met another Filipina named Jenny (played by Barretto). Their friendship evolved into a love affair, which was later put to the test. If there’s one scene in the movie that viewers will never forget, it’s definitely the one where Jenny asked Lino whether he loved her because he needed her, or if he needed her because he loved her.

32. “Oo na ako na. Ako na. Ako na ang mag-isa!” – Jennylyn Mercado, English Only, Please (2014)

“Alright, I admit it. It’s me. I’m the one who’s single!”

English Only, Please is a romcom starring Derek Ramsey and Jennylyn Mercado, who won the Best Actor and Best Actress awards for the film, respectively, during the 40th Metro Manila Film Festival. Mercado played the role of an English tutor named Tere who was hired by Julian Parker (Ramsey’s character) to translate a letter he was writing for his ex-girlfriend into Tagalog. In the middle of the film, Mercado’s character was in line for the jeepney when the dispatcher shouted that there was only room for one more person. He said that anyone in the line who was single should take the opportunity, to which Tere replied, “Oo na ako na. Ako na. Ako na ang mag-isa!” (“All right, I admit it. It’s me. I’m the one who’s single!”). It’s witty lines like this that made the film memorable, and of course, won it several awards.

“Oo na ako na. Ako na. Ako na ang mag-isa!”

→ Did you know that watching Tagalog films is one of the best ways to learn Filipino? 

11. Learn More Than Just Tagalog Quotes With FilipinoPod101!

Phew! That was a long list of Tagalog quotes! But we know that you want more! And that’s the very reason that FilipinoPod101 is here. 

FilipinoPod101 can offer you much more than the Tagalog quotes about life we covered. At FilipinoPod101.com, you can dig deeper into the Tagalog language and learn more about Tagalog grammar, pronunciation, sentence patterns, and more.

We also offer a one-of-a-kind approach to learning Tagalog. Aside from free learning resources, you can also enjoy up-to-date blog articles, learn basic and advanced Tagalog vocabulary, and have a mobile app that lets you take your lessons with you. By becoming a member, you can have full access to exclusive lessons from our Lesson Library and learn through a lesson pathway designed to suit your needs. Add to that the MyTeacher feature that lets you interact with a personal teacher, who will guide you through your program and assess your progress.

So, what did you think of our list of Tagalog quotes? Let us know by leaving a comment below!

The Philippines is a multicultural country and is highly influenced by Western culture. This means that it’s not uncommon to hear people speaking their own language mixed with other dialects and foreign languages, particularly English. In fact, in some organizations, employees are encouraged to use English as the primary means of communication. Nevertheless, that shouldn’t stop you from learning Filipino business phrases.

Most job interviews in the Philippines are done in English, but Tagalog (mixed with a little bit of English, of course) is still the main language used in the workplace, particularly within the National Capital Region. If you wish to find employment in the Philippines as a foreigner, there are a few things that will be required of you by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), although speaking fluent Tagalog isn’t one of them.

You might need to use a lot of Tagalog, however, in regular conversations with colleagues, or even with clients and supervisors. For that very reason, it’s quite important for any non-Tagalog speakers wanting to find employment in the Philippines to learn and master basic Tagalog business phrases. Let’s get right to it, then!

Table of Contents

1. Nailing a Job Interview
2. Interacting with Coworkers
3. Sounding Smart in a Meeting
4. Handling Business Phone Calls and Emails
5. Going on a Business Trip
6. Enter the Filipino Corporate World More Confidently with FilipinoPod101

1. Nailing a Job Interview

You will seldom encounter companies in the Philippines that use Tagalog as the primary language when conducting interviews. This is especially true since the Philippines is home to nearly a thousand registered BPO companies, more than half of which are call centers. But that shouldn’t keep you from learning how to speak and understand Tagalog, because even if that’s the case, many interviewers don’t conduct interviews purely in English, either. 

But how would you know whether you should speak English or Tagalog? The key is to observe the interviewer from the very beginning. If the interviewer interjects a Tagalog word, then that’s a sign that it’s okay to use Taglish, a code-switching between Tagalog and English.

Using the Magic Word “Po”

If you’ve been studying the Filipino language and culture for some time now, you probably know already how important the expression Po (or Ho) is as a sign of courtesy. It’s especially crucial to use this expression when you’re in a corporate setting, particularly when you’re being interviewed for a job position.

Greetings and Self-Introductions

First, let’s cover how to start things off with your interviewer using proper Filipino business etiquette.

A- Saying Hello

• Hello po. (“Hello.”) 

This is the standard greeting in Filipino. Take note that there’s no direct translation for the word “hello” in Tagalog, so the English word is often used either on its own or with the expression po.

• Magandang umaga / hapon / gabi. (“Good morning / afternoon / evening.”)
• Ikinagagalak ko po kayong makilala. (“I am glad to meet you.”)
• Kumusta po kayo? (“How are you?”)

It’s customary in the Philippines to ask a person how they’re doing when meeting them for the first time. To learn more about how and when to use this greeting, be sure to check out our entry on How to Say Hello in Tagalog.

B- Saying Goodbye

• Paalam. (“Goodbye.”)
• Mauna na po ako. (“I will leave now.”) 

In some cultures, saying goodbye after a meeting is enough. In the Philippines, though, “goodbye” is usually followed by a polite statement that’s used to ask permission to leave.

Talking About Professional Experience

Depending on the company and the position you’re applying for, your interviewer may or may not ask you a lot of questions. Whichever the case is, you always need to be ready to give an answer.

C- Common Questions

• Ano ang nag udyok sa’yo na mag-apply dito? (“What prompted you to apply here?”)
• Paano ka tumugon sa stress? (“How do you respond to stress?”)
• May mga nais ka bang itanong? (“Do you have any questions to ask?”)
• Anong kurso ang tinapos mo? (“What course did you finish?” or “What degree do you have?”)

D- Possible Answers

• Nagustuhan ko po ang misyon at pangitain ng inyong kumpanya. (“I fell in love with your company’s mission and vision.”)
• Kalmado po akong klase ng tao. Kung kinakailangan, hindi ako takot humingi ng tulong. (“I am a calm person. But I don’t hesitate to ask for help when necessary.”)
• Wala na po akong nais itanong. Salamat po. (“I don’t have additional questions. Thank you.”)
• Nakapagtapos po ako ng kursong Psychology. (“I have a degree in Psychology.”)

Talking About Strengths

• Hindi po ako basta-basta sumusuko sa mga hamon. (“I don’t easily give up on challenges.”)
• Mabilis po akong matuto. (“I can learn quickly.”)
• Hindi po ako mahirap turuan. (“I am not hard to teach.”)
• Magaling po akong makisama. (“I am a team player.”)

Politely Asking the Interviewer to Repeat a Question

• Mawalang galang po. Maaari po bang ulitin ang tanong? (“I’m sorry, but can you please repeat the question?”)

Thanking the Interviewer

• Maraming salamat po sa binigay ninyong pagkakataon. (“Thank you for this wonderful opportunity.”)

If the interviewer says they’re going to call you soon, you can respond with:

• Maraming salamat po. Hihintayin ko ang tawag ninyo. (“Thank you. I will be looking forward to your call.”)

Ang galing mo namang managalog. Pamilyar ka ba sa FilipinoPod101?
(“You’re fluent in Tagalog. Are you familiar with FilipinoPod101?”)

→ Don’t forget to check out our entry on Words and Phrases for HR and the Recruitment Process!

2. Interacting with Coworkers

There are several Filipino business terms used to refer to the workplace:

• Kumpanya (“Company”)
• Opisina (“Office”)
• Trabaho (“Work”)

Of course, the specific words a person uses most often will depend on which working sector they belong to. 

For instance, the head of an engineering project might say:

• Maraming proyekto ang kumpanya ngayon. (“The company has been receiving a lot of projects lately.”)

On the other hand, an office worker might say:

• Medyo magulo kanina sa opisina. (“It was a bit toxic at the office earlier.”)

And someone who works on a contract basis might say:

• Binigyan kami ng maraming trabaho kanina. (“We were given a lot of work to do today.”)

Self-Introduction

Whichever working sector you may enter, it’s always important to know how to introduce yourself in Filipino.

• Ako nga pala si [name]. (“I’m [name], by the way.”)
• Ikaw, anong pangalan mo? (“What about you? What’s your name?”)
• Ikinagagalak kitang makilala. (“I’m so glad to meet you.”)

Asking for Help

Aside from being hospitable, Filipinos are helpful, too. Just use any of the following phrases if you need help in the workplace:

• Pwede mo ba akong tulungan? (“Can you help me, please?”)
• Alam mo ba kung ano ang ibig sabihin nito? (“Do you know what this means?”)
• Magpapaturo sana ako sa paggamit ng bagong printer. (“I was wondering if you could teach me how to use the new printer.”)

Making Apologies

Filipinos are quite sensitive and easily sulk or hold a grudge when offended. However, most Filipinos also value relationships and wouldn’t think twice about burying the hatchet if the other party made an effort to resolve the conflict. Here’s how you make apologies in a workplace setting.

• Humihingi ako ng paumanhin. (“I’m sorry.”)
• Pasensya ka na at hindi kita natulungan kanina. (“I’m sorry if I wasn’t able to assist you earlier.”)
• Pasensya po, sir. Makakaasa kayong hindi na mauulit. (“My apologies, sir. You can rest assured it won’t happen again.”)

After-Work Socialization

Filipinos are among the most hardworking people in the world. They wouldn’t mind putting in extra hours just to make sure they meet a deadline. But that doesn’t mean they don’t know how to have a good time. If you’re working with Filipinos, expect to be invited for some after-work socialization, especially if it’s a Friday.

• Tara, mag-break muna tayo. (“C’mon. Let’s take a break for a while.”)
• Gala tayo, guys! (“Hey guys, let’s go someplace!”)
• Kumusta na pala yung bagong project niyo? (“So, how’s that new project you’re working on?”)
• Congrats pala sa promotion mo! (“Congratulations on your promotion!”)
• Magpahinga ka naman paminsan-minsan. (“Don’t forget to relax from time to time.”)

3. Sounding Smart in a Meeting

While Filipinos are emotionally expressive, most of them avoid verbal confrontation—even to the point that they would hesitate to call out a wrongdoing. It’s a good thing that times are changing. Perhaps as a result of Western influence, more and more Filipinos nowadays are getting rid of this culture (called hiya, which could mean “shame” or “embarrassment”).

Most Filipino companies are actually already practicing healthy communication within the workplace, particularly during meetings. Employees are encouraged to speak their minds. They are also encouraged not to gossip and talk behind people’s backs, but rather to learn how to confront in a healthy manner. 

In this section, we’ll provide you with some useful business Filipino for meetings and presentations.

Making Suggestions

• Pwede bang mag-suggest? (“May I offer a suggestion?”)
• Suggestion lang, pero pwede nating gamitin ang social media para sa campaign na ito. (“It’s just a suggestion, but we could definitely use social media for this campaign.”)
• Baka pwede nating subukan ito? (“Perhaps we could try this?”)

Agreeing or Disagreeing with Someone and Making Negotiations

• Sang-ayon ako sa sinabi ni Dave. (“I agree with what Dave just said.”)
• Gusto ko iyang ideya mo, Brenda. (“I like your idea, Brenda.”)
• Maganda yang idea mo, pero… (“That’s a good idea, but..”)
• O baka naman pwedeng ito na lang ang gawin natin? (“Or perhaps we should try this one instead?”)

Giving Presentations

• Salamat sa pagdalo ninyo sa aking presentasyon. (“Thank you for coming to my presentation.”)
• Sabik na sabik na akong ibahagi sa inyo ang mga bago kong natuklasan. (“I’m excited to share with you guys the new insights I have acquired.”)
• May mga katanungan ba? (“Any questions?”)

Reporting to Supervisors

• Ipinatatawag niyo daw po ako, ma’am? (“You were calling for me, ma’am?”)
• May kailangan po ba kayong ipagawa, sir? (“Is there anything you’d like me to do for you, sir?”)

Mukhang maganda iyang ideya mo, Brenda!
(“That seems to be a good idea, Brenda!”)

→ Take your vocabulary to the next level with our list of words and phrases to use in the workplace.

4. Handling Business Phone Calls and Emails

For most companies in the Philippines, it’s common practice for frontdesk personnel to answer phone calls and emails in English. But let’s just say there are still those who use Tagalog when doing so. 

Answering a Call at Work

• Magandang araw. Paano ko po kayo matutulungan? (“Good day. How may I help you?”)
• Sandali lang po, sir. Ipapatawag ko po siya. (“Please wait a moment, sir. I’ll have him paged.”)
• Ipapaabot ko po ang mensahe niyo sa kaniya. (“I will convey your message to her.”)

Taking Messages

• Wala po si Sir Adrian ngayon. Pero pwede po kayong mag-iwan ng mensahe at ipapaalam ko kaagad sa kaniya kapag nakabalik na siya. (“Mr. Adrian is not here today. But you can leave a message for him and I’ll let him know once he gets back.”)
• Wala po si Sir Adrian ngayon, pero pwede niyo pong iwan ang numero niyo para matawagan niya kayo pag nakabalik na siya. (“Mr. Adrian is not around at the moment, but you can leave your number so he can call you back when he returns.”)
• Paumanhin po. Pwede niyo po bang ulitin? (“I’m sorry, but could you say that again?”)

Ending a Phone Conversation

• Makakaasa po kayong makakarating sa kaniya ang mensahe niyo. (“You can rest assured that your message will reach her.”)
• Salamat sa pagtawag. Paalam. (“Thank you for calling. Bye.”)

→ You can learn more about basic phone manners in our lesson.

Greeting Someone in an Email

• Magandang araw, Mrs. Smith. (“Good day, Mrs. Smith.”)
• Sana ay nasa mabuti kayong kalagayan. (“Hoping that all is well with you.”)

Wrapping Up an Email

• Mangyaring ipaalam niyo lamang kaagad sa amin kung mayroon kayong mga katanungan. Maraming salamat. (“Please let us know if you have further questions. Thank you.”)
• Mangyaring ipaalam niyo lamang kaagad sa amin kung interesado kayo sa proyektong ito at ng sa ganoon ay mapag-usapan pa natin nang husto ang mga detalye. Salamat. (Please let us know if you are interested in the said project and we can set an appointment to discuss the details further. Thank you.”)

Baka sakaling hindi niyo natanggap ang e-mail namin.
(“In case you weren’t able to receive our email.”)

5. Going on a Business Trip

And finally, here are common Tagalog phrases to use when going on an individual or company business trip.

Booking a Hotel and Tickets

• Nais kong bumili ng ticket para sa dalawang tao. (“I’m booking a flight for two people.”)
• Ang petsa ng alis ay ika-sampu ng Mayo. (“The departure date is the tenth of May.”)
• Magkano ang halaga ng business suite? (“What’s the rate for the business suite?”)
• Maaari ko bang makita ang pinakamalaking kwarto? (“May I see the largest room available?”)

Meeting Partners or Clients at the Airport

• Magandang araw, Mr. Lee. Ako po si Ryan Gomez ng ABC Company. Ako po ang susundo sa inyo. (“Good day, Mr. Lee. I’m Ryan Gomez of ABC Company. I’m here to pick you up.”)
• Magandang araw. Ako po si Ryan Gomez, ang ahente na ipinadala ni Mr. Alex para dumalo sa pagpupulong. (“Good day. I’m Ryan Gomez, and I’m the agent that Mr. Alex sent for the conference.”)

Checking In or Out of a Hotel

• May reservation ako na nakapangalan kay Dr. Danny Austria. (“I have a reservation under the name of Dr. Danny Austria.”)
• Maaari bang mag early check-in? (“Is an early check-in possible?”)
• Paki-proseso ang aming pag check-out. Salamat. (“Please process our check-out now. Thank you.”)

Thanking Partners or Clients for Their Hospitality

• Maraming salamat sa pag-aalaga sa amin. (“Thank you for taking care of us.”)

6. Enter the Filipino Corporate World More Confidently with FilipinoPod101

Being a part of the Filipino corporate world, whether as an employee or a proprietor, can be intimidating if Tagalog is not your first language. Of course, you can always speak in English since it’s the second language in the Philippines, but still, it would be an advantage for you to be able to understand and speak basic Tagalog.

What we’ve done so far is introduce you to some basic and advanced Tagalog business phrases, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. If you want to deepen your knowledge and comprehension—not only of Tagalog business phrases, but of the Filipino language in general—the best step for you to take is to sign up on FilipinoPod101.com.

FilipinoPod101 is a leading online resource when it comes to learning Tagalog, providing an integrative learning experience that’s not offered in traditional classrooms. Here, you’ll find lessons designed to improve your vocabulary, comprehension, pronunciation, and overall fluency. And if you want to go even deeper, you can always subscribe to a Premium PLUS account to use our MyTeacher feature and gain exclusive access to every audio and video lesson, as well as printable PDF lesson notes, your own lesson checklist, and a personal assessment from highly experienced Filipino specialists.

So, what are your thoughts about our guide on Filipino business phrases? Did we leave out any important phrases you would like to know? Let us know in the comments section!

Walang iwanan. There’s probably no other Filipino value that will make you love the Philippines and its people more than the one represented by this expression. It basically means that no one is left behind. 

And that’s what Filipinos are all about. Pinoys stick together as a people, which is why you’ll find a Filipino community in nearly every corner of the world. Perhaps this makes saying goodbye in Tagalog that much more significant. 

Despite the fact that Filipinos always stick together, they’re also the ones who say goodbye to each other the most. Every year, more than a million Pinoys leave the country to live and work in a foreign land—and every day, families say goodbye to each other. But as the saying goes, “No goodbyes; only see you later.”

But how exactly do Filipinos say goodbye to each other? In this article, you’ll discover the top fifteen ways to say goodbye in Filipino. Start with a bonus, and download the Must-Know Beginner Vocabulary PDF for FREE! (Logged-In Member Only)

Table of Contents

1. Common Ways to Say Goodbye in Tagalog
2. Specific Ways to Say Goodbye
3. Untranslatable Goodbye Phrases in Filipino
4. The FilipinoPod101 Advantage

1. Common Ways to Say Goodbye in Tagalog

Filipinos are known for their hospitality, so the value they place on politeness should come as no surprise. When we speak of being polite and courteous, that includes knowing when and how to greet others, as well as how to ask permission when it’s time to go. Below are some of the most common ways to say goodbye in the Filipino language.

1. Paalam. / “Goodbye.”

“Goodbye” in Tagalog is paalam. This is a formal way to bid someone farewell in Filipino, so you won’t often hear it in conversations. Instead, you’re more likely to hear it in movies and read it in Filipino literature. You’ll also hear it in songs, such as in the classic OPM song Paalam Na by Rachel Alejandro. The chorus of the song goes:

• Paalam na aking mahal, kay hirap sabihin. / “Goodbye, my love; such difficult words to say.”

2. Hanggang sa muli. / “Until next time.”

Hanggang sa muli is the Tagalog expression for “Until next time,” with hanggang being “until” and sa muli being “again.” Like paalam, this is a formal Filipino goodbye. 

Keep in mind that “next time” is actually sa susunod in Tagalog, so it’s also correct to say: Hanggang sa susunod. 

This phrase is often used as a follow-up to paalam, which is why it’s not uncommon to hear or read: 

• Paalam. Hanggang sa muli. / “Goodbye. Until next time.”

Interestingly, this is something you also see in English grammar.

3. Hanggang sa muling pagkikita. / “Until we see each other again.”

Like the previous two examples, this phrase is rarely used in conversational Tagalog, and is more common in songs and literature. Hanggang sa muling pagkikita means “Until we see each other again,” and it’s just another way of saying: Hanggang sa muli nating pagkikita. / “Until our next meeting.” 

4. Babay! / “Buh-bye!”

Babay is the equivalent of the English words “buh-bye” or “bye bye.” In contrast to the first three words, this one is used only when you’re comfortable with or close to the person you’re saying goodbye to. That said, you don’t say this to your boss or to one of your clients. In fact, in the Philippines, this word is mainly used by little kids or parents saying goodbye to their children before leaving for work. 

5. Bye!

Yes, many Filipinos actually use the English word “bye” instead of the Tagalog equivalent. English is a second language to most Filipinos, so it’s not surprising that most people in the Philippines use a lot of English words in their conversations. In fact, you’ll rarely hear a Filipino person nowadays conversing in pure Tagalog. 

In the Philippines, there’s a subculture referred to as “conyo.” This refers to Tagalog-speaking people who, when speaking in English, insert one or two Tagalog words into their sentences, all the while speaking with a heavy American accent.

One example is “It’s so traffic naman today,” which, when translated, means: “The traffic is unusually heavy today.”

In regular Tagalog conversations, though, it’s not unusual to hear someone saying: 

• Bye, mauna na ako. / “Bye, I’m leaving now.”

“It’s so traffic naman today.”

→ Have you checked out our entry on basic Filipino greetings?

2. Specific Ways to Say Goodbye

Now, let’s discover how Filipino people say goodbye in more specific contexts.

6. Huwag magpagabi ha? / “Don’t stay out too late, okay?”

The conservativeness of the Filipino people is evident in the way they speak. This is clear, for example, in how Filipinos often speak to their loved ones. Huwag magpagabi is often said by strict parents or elders to remind their young ones that while they’re free to spend time with their friends, they’re still expected to come home before it gets dark. 

A: ‘Nay, alis na po ako. / “Ma, I’m leaving now.”
B: Sige. Huwag magpagabi ha? / “Sure. Don’t stay out too late, okay?”

7. Uwi kaagad ha? / “Be home as soon as possible, okay?”

Under Philippine Law, a person under the age of eighteen years old is still considered a child. But in many Filipino homes, it’s still very common to hear a parent bid their twenty-five-year-old daughter: Uwi kaagad ha? It’s like the Filipino way of saying goodbye, but not really. It’s like saying goodbye to the other person, but deep in your heart, you don’t want them to leave the house at all. Uwi, by the way, is short for umuwi, or “to come home.”

A: ‘Nay, alis na po kami ng mga kaibigan ko. / “Ma, I’m leaving with my friends now.”
B: Sige. Uwi ka kaagad ha? / “Sure. Be home as soon as possible, okay?”

8. Ingat! / “Take care!”

This Filipino word for goodbye translates to “care.” When using it to say goodbye, it’s actually short for Mag-ingat ka, meaning “You take care” or simply “Take care.” It’s used all the time as a way to wish the other person well or to tell them to take care of themselves. This is especially true if the person is embarking on a long journey or traveling at night. As a reply, you could simply say Ikaw rin or “You, too.”

→ Speaking of taking care of one’s self, make sure to check out our lesson on how to give warnings and cautions.

Papayagan kitang mamasyal, basta uwi ka kaagad ha? 
(“I’ll let you go out with your friends, but promise me you’ll be home early, okay?”)

9. Mauna na ako. / “I gotta run.”

Mauna na ako is used to say that you need to leave. Most Filipinos incorrectly translate this to “I’ll go ahead,” which doesn’t have any use in the Filipino language at all. In Filipino, the phrase “go ahead” is actually sige. Mauna, on the other hand, means “to go first” or “to be the first.” In the context of saying goodbye, it means to be the first to leave or that someone is leaving already.

Mauna na ako basically means any of the following:

“I gotta run.”
“I have to run along.”
“I should be running along.”
“It’s time I ran along.”

• Guys, mauna na ako para makaiwas sa traffic. / “Guys, I should be running along, or I’m going to have to deal with heavy traffic.”

10. Diyan ka na muna. / “I gotta leave you for a while.”

Another way to say goodbye in Tagalog is: Diyan ka na muna. Most Filipinos say this when they’re in a hurry to leave. It’s like when you’re having a conversation with a friend and then you suddenly receive a text message that there’s an emergency, or you suddenly remember something that you have to do quickly.

Naku! Kailangan ko palang bumili ng gamot. Diyan ka na muna. / “Oh my! I forgot that I need to get some medicine. I gotta leave you for a while.”

Mauna na ako. Manonood pa ako ng Ang Probinsyano. 
(“I gotta run. It’s time for my favorite primetime show—Ang Probinsyano.”)

11. Iwan na muna kita diyan ha. / “I’ll leave you here for a while, okay?”

This is a more polite way of saying the previous expression. While diyan ka na muna is proper, if it’s not put into context, it could sound a bit rude. So, if you want to play it safe, you can say: Iwan na muna kita diyan.

• Ay, nag-text ang boss ko. Emergency daw. Iwan na muna kita diyan ha? / “Oh, my boss texted me. He said it’s an emergency. Is it okay if I leave you here for a while?”

Notice the difference?

12. Kitakits! / “See you around!”

This Filipino term for goodbye is slang for “See you around” or “See you later.” It’s short for Kita-kita na lang, with kita being the Tagalog word for “to see.” Kita-kita na lang tayo is like saying: 

“Let’s just see each other around.” 
“Let’s meet again sometime.”

• Sige, mauna na kami. Kitakits na lang sa susunod na reunion. / “We gotta run, guys. See you again at our next reunion.”

→ Don’t forget to check out our lesson on the essential vocabulary related to traveling!

3. Untranslatable Goodbye Phrases in Filipino

One of the most unique things about the Filipino language is that it’s rich with words and phrases that don’t have an equivalent in other languages (particularly English). The following are a few untranslatable goodbye phrases in Tagalog.

13. Sige.

The word sige can be directly translated as “sure” or “go ahead,” but in many cases, Filipinos use it as a way of saying goodbye. In such a context, it could mean “go on” when addressing another person. It could also mean “I’m leaving now.” Sige can also be used on its own when someone is acknowledging a person who’s asking permission to leave.

A: Pare, mauna na ako. / “Hey mate, I gotta run.”
B: Sige. / “Sure.”

It can also be used as an introductory word when asking permission to leave:

• Sige, guys. Mauna na ako. / “Alright, guys. I’m leaving now.”

Some people use it to get out of an awkward situation, like when you’re stuck in a conversation with someone you don’t really want to be chatting with. You can say sige and simply walk away.

Uhm…sige.

14. O siya, siya. 

This is an expression often used by the elderly. Perhaps it’s derived from Siya nawa, which basically means “Amen” or “So be it.” Sometimes, only one siya is used:

• O siya, mauna na kami. / This could mean: “I guess we should go now.”

Siya is doubled only for emphasis. In response to the above statement, one could say: 

• O siya, siya. Mag-ingat kayo ha? / “Alright then. You take care of yourselves, okay?”

15. O, paano? 

The direct translation of the word paano is “how.” In the context of saying goodbye, it doesn’t make sense to ask “How?” but Filipinos use it to say something along the lines of “What now?” It’s like saying goodbye and expecting an acknowledgment from the other person.

• O, paano? Alis na ako. / “So, what now? I should be running along.”

4. The FilipinoPod101 Advantage

By now, you should have a better idea of how to say goodbye in Filipino. However, if you want to go deeper with your studies of important Filipino greetings, your best option is to sign up on FilipinoPod101.com. With FilipinoPod101, you’ll have access to tons of lessons with real-life applications.

Add to that our various resources to help you with your vocabulary, comprehension, and pronunciation, and you have the perfect all-in-one study tool.

Need to supercharge your learning? You can take advantage of FilipinoPod101’s MyTeacher feature, a Premium PLUS feature that will help you fasttrack your way to fluency. With this option, you can enjoy one-on-one lessons with a personal teacher, as well as real-time guidance and feedback. This way, you’ll always know whether or not you’re on the right track.

O, paano? Hanggang sa muli! Until our next post! 

Don’t forget to let us know in the comments what you think about this lesson, and share with us any questions or additional insight you may have!

The Philippines has a huge Christian population (with 92.5% of Filipinos identifying as Christian, around 80% of which are Roman Catholic), so it should come as no surprise that religious festivities hold great meaning here. Of particular interest is a massive holiday commonly known as the Feast of the Black Nazarene. 

In this article, you will discover the Feast of the Black Nazarene’s origins as well as how devoted Filipinos celebrate the holiday today. 

Let’s get started!

1. What is the Feast of the Black Nazarene?

Each year on January 9, millions of mga deboto (devotees) celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene. This is a major religious holiday in the Philippines, drawing massive crowds and much speculation. 

The Black Nazarene is a life-size statue depicting a dark-skinned Jesus bearing the cross. According to the Black Nazarene story, this statue was created by an anonymous Mexican sculptor and brought to the Philippines in 1606. While no one is certain why or how the Black Nazarene statue is so dark in color, some speculate that the statue was exposed to fire during its relocation to the Philippines. Others say that the statue is likely made of Mesquite, a type of wood known for its black color. 

The Feast of the Black Nazarene in the Philippines commemorates the date that the statue was enshrined in the Black Nazarene Church (Quiapo) in 1787. Prior to this, the statue was housed in a variety of other churches, so this permanent enshrinement was a significant moment for the Filipino people. The event is referred to as the Traslación (or Transfer).

In addition to commemorating the Traslación, this holiday is also seen as a time to pay paggalang (homage) to Jesus’s suffering.

→ To learn the names of different religions in Filipino, head over to our Religion vocabulary list!

2. Feast of the Black Nazarene Traditions

Celebrations for the Feast of the Black Nazarene really begin the night before, on January 8. This is when devotees gather together in Rizal Park to see and touch the statue, which is placed on a grandstand in the park. People also bring along their own statues of the Black Nazarene. Throughout the night, Filipinos celebrate and prepare for the following day with sermons, songs, and other festive activities. 

To show their debosyon (devotion), millions of Filipinos engage in the Nazareno parade. This prusisyon (procession) begins in Rizal Park following a mass. The statue is placed on a carriage, accompanied by several men who support and protect it—these men are known as the Sons of the Nazarene, and they wear yellow or white shirts.

To show pagpapakumbaba (humility) and their resonance with Jesus’s suffering, many Filipinos take part in this procession nakapaa (barefoot). Huge crowds follow the procession for several hours—normally just short of a full day—in order to show their devotion to Jesus. Many of those marching also try to touch the statue. 

Many of the faithful believe that the statue can perform miracles of healing, with some people reporting having been cured of disease or illness after touching the statue. Those who cannot get close enough to touch the statue themselves will often throw a panyo (handkerchief) toward the Sons of the Nazarene, who then wipe the handkerchief on the statue and toss it back. This is because the miraculous healing power is thought to be transferable to the cloth. 

In addition to those walking in the procession, there are millions of people gathered along the edge of the route to see their loved ones walking and to get a glimpse of the statue. Everyone shouts the words “Viva Señor!” during the procession to show adoration for the Nazarene.

The Feast of the Black Nazarene procession ends in Quiapo, at the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene. 

3. Holiday Confusion!

Many people assume that the Feast of the Black Nazarene is the Quiapo Church’s annual feast day. However, this is not the case—the Feast of the Black Nazarene only celebrates and reenacts the Traslación.

Rather, the feast day people are thinking of takes place on June 24. This is St. John’s Day, held in commemoration of St. John’s birthday. Filipinos celebrate this day by ‘baptizing’ each other and covering themselves in mud and dried banana leaves. Their ‘baptism’ consists of throwing or drizzling water on each other in a sort of game, though this event is known to get out of hand with people damaging others’ property. 

→ Want to explore even more holidays? See our lesson on the Top 5 Most Important Dates on the Filipino Calendar!

4. Essential Vocabulary for the Feast of the Black Nazarene

Now let’s review some of the vocabulary words from this article, plus a few more! 

• Quiapo (Quiapo Church) – proper noun
• Deboto (Devotee) – noun
• Prusisyon (Procession) – noun
• Nazareno (Nazarene) – noun
• Panata (Vow) – noun
• Nakapaa (Barefoot) – adjective
• Pagpapakumbaba (Humility) – noun
• Magsisi (Repent) – verb
• Panyo (Handkerchief) – noun
• Debosyon (Devotion) – noun
• Paggalang (Homage) – noun
• Mirakulo (Miracle) – noun

If you head over to our Feast of the Black Nazarene vocabulary list, you can also hear the pronunciation of each word to practice along with. 

Final Thoughts

The Feast Day of the Black Nazarene is one of the most important dates in the Philippines, especially among faithful Catholics. In learning about this holiday, you’ve taken a step toward better understanding Filipino culture and immersing yourself in the language. We hope you enjoyed this lesson, and that you feel inspired to continue your Filipino studies! To learn about more Filipino holidays, you can check out the following blog posts on FilipinoPod101.com:

• How to Celebrate the Filipino-Chinese New Year
• Celebrating the Day of Valor in the Philippines
• Eidul Adha in the Philippines – Sacrifice and Charity
• Buwan ng Wika: Celebrating Filipino Language Month
• Araw ng Jose Rizal: Rizal Day in the Philippines

For even more useful content on the Filipino language and culture, create your free lifetime account with us today. We provide practical lessons and other learning materials for learners at every level, so you can jump right in wherever you are on your language learning journey! 

Before you go, let us know in the comments if you celebrate a similar holiday in your country. If not, would you ever want to visit the Philippines to witness the Feast of the Black Nazarene yourself? We look forward to hearing from you.

Happy learning!

The Philippines is rich in cultural history, which is why it attracts a lot of visitors. If you want to visit the country or even live there, it only makes sense for you to learn the Filipino language by heart. Now, the question is this: Is Tagalog hard to learn? This is a subjective question with no short answer. And while Filipino (sometimes referred to as Tagalog) is the country’s national language, it’s not the only system of communication used in the Philippines. After all, the Philippines is an archipelago, with each region having its own spoken language and dialect. 

Perhaps one of the proofs that Filipino isn’t that difficult to learn are the foreigners who have learned to speak it fluently. For example, vloggers Dwaine Woolley and Wil Dasovich—raised in Australia and the United States, respectively—are both known to be fluent Tagalog-speakers. 

And that’s not to mention the number of other foreigners who have made a living as actors and actresses here in the Philippines. Dayanara Torres, Sandara Park, Sam Milby, Ryan Bang—most, if not all, of these celebrities had to learn Filipino, and they’re now able to speak the language fluently. 

Why is that? Of course, they did their part by studying the language. But another reason is that Filipino is actually one of the easiest and most fun languages to learn, and we’re going to show you why.

Table of Contents

1. Is it Hard to Learn Filipino?
2. I Want to Learn Filipino. Where Should I Start?
3. Tips for New Filipino Learners
4. Why is FilipinoPod101 Great for Learning Filipino?
5. Hindi Mahirap Mag-Aral ng Filipino. (“It’s not that difficult to learn Filipino.”)

1. Is it Hard to Learn Filipino?

“It’s more fun learning Filipino.”

Like in any language, there are factors that can make Filipino hard to learn. That said, it’s actually one of the easiest languages to study and master. That doesn’t mean that you can become fluent overnight, but compared to other languages, Filipino is a bit more straightforward.

One thing that makes learning Filipino fun is that Pinoys can be very encouraging and won’t hesitate to tell you that learning the language isn’t that difficult at all. Most Pinoys will even go the extra mile to help you sharpen your skills.

Another thing that makes Filipino an interesting language to learn is that around twenty percent of the language is based on Spanish. In a way, that’s like hitting two birds with one stone.

In the following sections, we’ll talk about what things might make the Filipino language hard to learn, how to overcome those challenges, and which things about the language are super-easy! 

A- The Challenging Parts of Learning Filipino

Like I said, Filipino is not a difficult language to learn and master. But just like any other language, it has aspects to it that require more effort, which we’ve listed below.

1 – The pronunciation of some words can be a bit tricky.

While most Tagalog words are pronounced the same way as they’re spelled, some words can be a bit more challenging than others. Tao (“man”), aso (“dog”), pusa (“cat”)—these words don’t pose any challenge at all. But what about words like nakakapagpabagabag (“worrisome”) and kumukutikutitap (“twinkling”)? Or kagilagilalas (“marvelous”) and nagsisiusyosohan (“watching with curiosity”)? 

And then there are words beginning with or including the infamous “ng” sound (pronounced like the “ng” in the words “ringing” and “clinging”), as well as words including the diphthongs ay, aw, iw, oy, and uy. If these words don’t twist your tongue (and your brain), I don’t know what will.

It’s a good thing that there are ways to overcome these hurdles, as described in our Filipino Pronunciation Guide. With practice, you’ll eventually master all the nuances of Filipino pronunciation: which emphasis to use and when to use them, how to correctly syllabicate certain words, and so on.

If you want to try your hand at more hard Filipino words to pronounce, see our relevant vocabulary list!

2 – Some words don’t have direct translations in English.

Another challenging factor of learning Filipino is that some words simply don’t have direct translations, at least in English. 

Take the word tampo, for instance. Filipinos use this word to express that feeling you get when someone has disappointed you. But it goes beyond simply feeling bad toward the other person. It’s like holding a grudge, but to a lesser degree. It’s the act of ignoring the person you’re mad at, but at the same time expecting the other person to comfort you. It’s like…okay, I give up. Like I said, there’s no direct translation for this word. 

And I haven’t even mentioned words like kilig (somewhat similar to having butterflies in your stomach when you see your crush), or alimpungatan (that feeling you get when you’re suddenly awakened just moments before entering a deep state of sleep). 

But wait, there’s more!

3 – Verb conjugation can be baffling at times.

Just like in English, Filipino verbs are conjugated by attaching a variety of affixes to action words. Unlike in English, however, these affixes reflect not only tense, but also aspect, voice, focus or trigger, and a variety of other factors. For instance, in English grammar, verbs are categorized as either regular or irregular. In Filipino, verbs are categorized according to the verb group they belong to: mag-, ma-, um-, in-, and i-, not including irregular verbs. 

And then there’s the trigger system, which is a central feature of Filipino verbs. This system also makes use of the affixes I mentioned, plus a few more. The three main affixes, however, are -in, i-, and -an:

• -in

This is used when an action is done toward the actor. For example: bitbitin (“to carry something”). It’s also used to describe actions that produce change: biyakin (“to crack open”).

• i-

This is used when an action is done to move something away from the actor. For example: itapon (“to throw something”). 

• -an

This is used when the action done produces a change in something’s surface: punasan (“to wipe”) or hugasan (“to wash” or “to rinse”). 

Where’s the confusion, you ask? Well, let’s take a look at this example:

• Bitbitin mo ang sako. (“Carry the sack.”)
• Magbitbit ka ng sako. (“Carry a sack.”)

In the English translation, only one article needed to be changed to alter the sentence’s meaning. In Filipino, however, only the word sako (“sack”) remained unchanged.

B- The Easy Parts of Learning Filipino

Now that we’ve got the difficult aspects of learning Filipino out of the way, let’s move on and look at the top reasons why learning Filipino is easy.

1 – Gender-specific pronouns do not exist in Filipino.

This can be a confusing aspect of Tagalog to some degree, but it’s also one of the easiest parts of studying the language. In Tagalog, there’s only one word used to refer to a person: siya. There’s no “he” and “she” or “him” and “her.” There’s also no “they” or “them,” but sila is used instead. 

In the same manner, there are no separate Tagalog words for “husband” and “wife.” In Tagalog, both are translated as asawa or kabiyak, meaning “spouse.”

In Tagalog, there is only one word used to refer to another person: “siya.”

2 – Spelling is not an issue.

Perhaps one of the easiest aspects of the Filipino language is the spelling. Unlike in many languages across the globe, in Filipino, words are spelled the way they sound. You don’t need to worry about “k” sounds that are spelled as “ch,” or “tō” sounds that are actually spelled as “teau” (as in “plateau”). There are also no “th” sounds in Tagalog as in “mouth” or “thirst.” Even lengthy words are spelled with little to no complications.

3 – Phonetics are a no-brainer.

Tagalog phonology and phonetics do have more complex aspects, such as fricatives and affricates, but since words sound just as they’re spelled, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem. All you need to do is memorize how patinig (“vowels”) and katinig (“consonants”) sound, and you’re good to go. You’ll have to deal with stresses and glottal stops later on, but for the most part, Tagalog phonetics isn’t much of a hindrance when you’re studying Filipino.

4 – It’s more fun learning Filipino.

The slogan “It’s more fun in the Philippines” has been around for years now, and the country’s Department of Tourism says it’s not going to go anywhere anytime soon. And if there’s one way to describe the Filipino language learning experience, it’s through this slogan. One reason why learning Filipino is fun is that when you’re studying the language, you’re not only learning about words and sentences—you’re also learning about the culture of the country and its people.

2. I Want to Learn Filipino. Where Should I Start?

Are you ready to embark on the journey of a lifetime, but don’t know where to start? Here’s what we recommend:

1 – Start with everyday phrases.

The best way to start learning a new language is to familiarize yourself with everyday phrases or words that you would use on a daily basis. Here are a few common Filipino expressions you can begin learning today:

• Magandang umaga. (“Good morning.”)
• Kumusta ka? (“How are you?”)
• Anong oras na? (“What time is it?”)

→ Don’t forget to view our entry on how to talk about time in Filipino.

2 – Build your vocabulary.

You can’t survive learning a new language if you don’t make the effort to build your vocabulary. Spending at least fifteen minutes a day learning a new word is enough to bring about an immediate improvement in your Filipino vocabulary skills. You can start by investing in a Tagalog dictionary. Of course, you can always download an app or study our list of 2000 Core Filipino Words. It would also be an excellent idea to keep a journal of new Tagalog words you’re learning. Writing words down on paper will help reinforce them in your memory, and you’ll have something to pull out of your reservoir during conversations.

3 – Read Filipino literature.

Memorizing words from a list is a good strategy, but reading regularly from a variety of sources is a much better way to improve your vocabulary. Don’t worry about people calling you a bookworm or a nerd. Studies have confirmed over and over that reading regularly fosters language development and helps one become much more expressive. You can check out our entry on The Power of Reading that offers a fun explanation of this process.

4 – Listen to Filipino songs.

Aside from simply reading good Filipino books, listening to OPM (Original Pilipino Music) songs is another great way to help you learn Filipino. Music can be a powerful tool for learning, not only because singing is fun and relaxing, but also because song lyrics have a way of getting stuck inside a person’s head. That said, most songs, particularly OPM, are written in a poetic manner. This means that the lyrics you hear and repeat may not map directly onto day-to-day conversations. But that’s okay. In fact, songs are a great way to learn Tagalog words in their formal structure.

→ Did you know that one of the best times to learn Filipino through music is while you’re stuck in traffic?

Who says you can’t drive and study Filipino at the same time?

5 – Watch Filipino films.

Just like listening to OPM, watching Filipino films is a fun approach to improving your Tagalog. We have an entry on the top Filipino TV shows to watch to improve your language skills, where we mentioned that while watching Tagalog films and shows won’t make you a master of Tagalog overnight, it sure can bring your skills up a notch. Speaking of Filipino films, check out our entry on the Top 10 Filipino Movies: Jose Rizal. This film will not only help you improve your vocabulary, but also teach you more about the life of the national hero of the Philippines.

6 – Make lots of Tagalog friends.

Remember when I said that it’s more fun learning Filipino? Well, one of the main reasons is that Filipinos are more than willing to help you learn their language. We Filipinos are known to be very welcoming and friendly to strangers. What a lot of people don’t know, however, is that our hospitality doesn’t end with our making sure your stay is comfortable. 

We’re also very generous—not only with our material possessions, but also with our wisdom and knowledge. If you want to make learning Filipino much easier, just make more Tagalog-speaking friends. You’ll learn simply by having daily conversations with them. And if you’re lucky, the sincere ones will even give you language lessons for free!

→ Not sure what to say to a native speaker on your first encounter? Our entry on First Encounters in Filipino will definitely help you.

3. Tips for New Filipino Learners

1 – Be committed.

Learning a language starts with the desire to learn and master something new, but if you’re going to succeed, you’ll need to commit to the task. Filipino is not a very difficult language to learn, but there will always be a learning curve when you’re first starting out. Before you even begin, make sure that you first cultivate a commitment to learning. In one of his interviews, the founder of Innovative Language, Peter Galante, said that big commitments can turbocharge one’s learning. In fact, it was his decision to commit that helped him ramp up his own progress.

2 – Be patient.

I can confidently say that you’re going to go through a lot of discouraging moments while learning Filipino. Be patient with yourself and trust the process. There will be times when you feel you’re making a lot of progress, but there will also be times when you feel you’re not advancing at all. It’s during these times that your patience matters the most. If you’re losing your patience because learning Filipino is starting to feel very difficult, just remind yourself of what Theodore Roosevelt said: “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, and difficulty.”

3 – Be persevering.

All your hard work will come to nothing if you give up the moment the going gets tough. Commit to persevere. If you do, there’s no question that you’ll reach your goal. One thing you can do to make sure you don’t quit in the middle of your learning adventure is to remind yourself of why you’re learning in the first place. 

Why are you studying Tagalog? Why spend time and money learning a new language? The only reason we often give up on what we’re doing is that we’ve forgotten the “why” behind our “what.” At the same time, however, see to it that you’re not too hard on yourself. Don’t beat yourself up every time you make a mistake. Keep in mind that making mistakes is a part of the process. If you feel you need to take a break, don’t hesitate to do so. Sometimes, it’s all that your mind and body need to recharge.

4 – Think big.

Finally, believe in yourself. If you don’t believe that you’re going to succeed, you’re right. When you’re just starting your journey of learning Filipino, never underestimate yourself. Keep in mind that you have the potential to actually acquire a new language the same way you acquired your first. Believe in your potential, and nothing will stop you from becoming an expert in Filipino.

“Endurance is nobler than strength, and patience than beauty.” – John Ruskin

4. Why is FilipinoPod101 Great for Learning Filipino?

In addition to the four previous tips for new learners of Filipino, one of the best ways to accelerate your progress is to sign up for a FilipinoPod101 account. Here are three reasons why this language-learning system will help you speak like a native Filipino in no time.

1 – Unique Learning System

There are quite a few language-learning systems online, so why choose FilipinoPod101? Well, unlike most language-learning systems, FilipinoPod101 uses a unique method that combines techniques you won’t find in a traditional classroom. For instance, all the materials offered by FilipinoPod101—from blog articles to PDF lessons to live video tutorials—are created using a variety of writing and speaking styles. In that manner, you’ll be exposed to different elements, which is vital for developing reading comprehension, pronunciation, and even a proper accent. 

Moreover, with FilipinoPod101, you’ll be exposed to learning materials dedicated to cultural information, so that you’re not only learning about Tagalog grammar but the Filipino culture, as well.

2 – High-Quality Resources

When I say high-quality, I’m talking about lessons—written, audio-recorded, and filmed—that have been prepared by the best writers and teachers. All content offered here is fresh and up-to-date, each one designed to keep current events and pop culture in mind, so that whenever you decide to start, you can rest assured that you are given relevant lesson materials tailored to meet your needs. Most importantly, all content released by FilipinoPod101 is screened and approved by a certified Filipino teacher, so that you can be sure every time that the information you’re receiving is accurate and reliable.

3 – One-on-One Coaching

Speaking of teachers, perhaps one of the most distinct attributes of FilipinoPod101 is our MyTeacher feature. This feature allows you to sharpen your Filipino skills at a rate like no other. Imagine being able to receive non-stop feedback and corrections, as well as one-on-one interaction with a personal teacher. With this approach, you’re sure to receive the guidance necessary to grow and improve your Filipino language skills.

Sabi ko sa’yo eh. Hindi mahirap mag-aral ng Filipino. 
(“What did I tell you? It’s not that difficult to learn Filipino.”)

5. Hindi Mahirap Mag-Aral ng Filipino. (“It’s not that difficult to learn Filipino.”)

No, it’s not that difficult to learn Filipino, especially if you have FilipinoPod101 as your partner. As mentioned, FilipinoPod101 is a unique language-learning system that offers everything you need to learn Filipino all in one place. What’s unique about FilipinoPod101 is that your learning goes beyond reading, watching, or listening to lesson materials. If you need a quick answer to a question, you can always depend on our community of helpful students and teachers.

So, are you ready to learn Filipino? Do you have questions that weren’t answered in this article? Don’t hesitate to drop them in the comments section below! And if you believe you’re all set to embark on the journey of learning this one-of-a-kind language, sign up now!

As a Filipino, I would say that the Tagalog language is one of the easiest languages to learn. Filipino pronunciation, for instance, isn’t rocket science, since Filipino words are pronounced the way they’re spelled. Nevertheless, it’s not unusual for students of the language to commit common Filipino mistakes. In fact, even native speakers make grammar mistakes all the time, whether in speaking or writing. But who doesn’t? 

Committing mistakes is part of learning, and even experts of the language commit an error in Filipino from time to time. The good news is that you can avoid such errors by simply being familiar with the common Filipino grammar mistakes most students make. And that’s exactly what we’re going to discuss in this article.

There are plenty of ways you can get Tagalog grammar and speech wrong, but we’ll stick to the ten most common ones in a variety of categories: pronunciation, vocabulary, word order, word usage, and various other grammar mistakes. Of course, we’ll look at some of the ways one can avoid such errors as well. 

So, if you’re ready, let’s begin!

Table of Contents

1. Pronunciation Mistakes
2. Vocabulary Word Mistakes
3. Word Order Mistakes
4. Grammar Mistakes
5. Other Common Mistakes
6. The Biggest Mistake
7. Minimize Your Filipino Grammar Mistakes with the Help of FilipinoPod101

1. Pronunciation Mistakes

As mentioned, one of the best things about learning Filipino is that the words are often pronounced the way they’re spelled. Nevertheless, there are still a few common Filipino errors that students make when it comes to pronunciation. We’ve actually covered this subject in our article on Filipino Pronunciation, but it seems worthwhile to reiterate certain points. 

1 – Syllabication

One of the pronunciation errors that Filipino language students make is not using correct syllabication. More often than not, this is due to the student carrying over their accent and not using the correct Filipino accent, which can result in a word being pronounced with the incorrect number of syllables. For instance, the word tao or “man,” could be mispronounced as /taw/ instead of /ta.o/. In the same manner, the word manok or “chicken,” could be mispronounced as /ma.no.ka/ (three syllables) instead of /ma.nok/ (two syllables).

2 – Emphasis

Another aspect of Filipino pronunciation where students often err is emphasis. We’re not going to go into detail regarding this subject since we’ve covered it in our pronunciation article already. However, just to reiterate, Tagalog words are pronounced in one of four ways according to emphasis, or what is known in Filipino as diin. These four types of diin are: malumay, malumi, mabilis, and maragsa. 

→ Have you checked out our Ultimate Filipino Pronunciation Guide yet?

2. Vocabulary Word Mistakes

While the Filipino language is quite easy to learn, it’s not one that’s free of confusion. A vocabulary mistake that even native speakers get confused with from time to time is in the usage of ng and nang. There was no strict distinction between the two words in the past, but all that has changed, and today, both foreigners and natives alike get confused as to which one to use in a given context.

3 – Ng versus Nang

NG

The two-letter word ng is the exact translation of the preposition “of,” and that’s basically how the word is used. However, it also functions as a conjunction.

Here are some sample sentences of ng used as a preposition:

• Jed ang may-ari ng kotse. (“Jed is the owner of the car.”)
• Masyadong maikli ang kadena ng aso. (“The chain of the dog is too short.”)

Now, here are some examples of ng used as a conjunction:

• Bumili ka pala ng bagong bahay? (“So, you bought a new house?”)
• Kumakain si Kent ng mansanas. (“Kent is eating an apple.”)

Using nang instead of ng in the previous sentences is a common mistake in Filipino that learners make. 

NANG

If ng is the equivalent of the preposition “of,” nang, on the other hand, is the equivalent of the conjunction “when.” Here’s how to use it correctly:

• Naliligo ako nang biglang may kumatok sa pinto. (“I was taking a bath when someone suddenly knocked on the door.”)
• Tumakbo siya papalayo nang makita niya akong paparating. (“He ran away when he saw me coming.”)

Nang is also used to mean “to,” “for,” or “so that.”

• Matulog ka na nang hindi ka mahuli sa klase bukas. (“Go to bed now so that you won’t be late to class tomorrow.”)
• Dapat magpahinga ka rin nang hindi ka palaging nagkakasakit. (“You better rest for you not to get sick often.”)

It also answers the question “How?”

• Paano siya sumigaw? (“How did he cry out?”)
  Sumigaw siya nang malakas. (“He cried out loudly.”)

• Paano siya namatay? (“How did he die?”)
  Namatay siya nang nakangiti. (“He died smiling.”)

Not only that, but nang also functions as a connector of action words that are repeated in a sentence. In Filipino grammar, action words are repeated when the speaker wants to emphasize a certain behavior.

• Kain ka nang kain hindi ka naman tumataba. (“All you do is eat, and yet you never get fat.”)
• Tulog ka nang tulog. Tumulong ka naman dito sa bahay? (“You don’t do anything but sleep. Why don’t you help around here?”)
• Iyak nang iyak ang bata. (“The child kept on crying.”)

‘Nang’ ba? Akala ko ‘ng’? (“What do you mean nang? I thought it was ng?”)

4 – Kumusta and not Kamusta

Filipinos tend to be flexible when it comes to using kumusta and kamusta, both of which mean “How are you?” 

Kamusta is actually the one that’s most commonly used, particularly in informal conversations. However, if you’re going to use the greeting in a formal manner, such as when writing a formal letter, a report, or lyrics for a Filipino song, then the correct version to use is kumusta. And if you’re wondering why it sounds Spanish, well, that’s because it actually came from the Spanish greeting cómo esta.

3. Word Order Mistakes

Mistakes in Filipino word order are pretty common among native English-speakers in particular. Here are two things to watch out for! 

5 – “Barok” Speak

In one of our previous articles, we talked about Filipino Word Order, and we learned that Filipino is primarily a V-S-O language. We also learned that Filipino is quite flexible in terms of word order, and can actually be inverted. That said, you won’t really find a lot of word order mistakes in spoken Filipino, although there’s something that we call “barok” speaking, wherein the speaker omits linking words necessary for crafting a complete thought. 

For instance, instead of saying Ako si John (“I am John”), the speaker would say Ako John (“Me John”). 

In some cases, the linking word ay, often used in formal or literary Filipino (S-V-O), is omitted. This, too, is an error, since the absence of ay between the subject and the verb makes the sentence sound awkward. 

For instance, removing ay from Ang bata ay kumakanta (“The child is singing”) transforms it to Ang bata kumakanta (“The child singing”), which is an incomplete thought.

6 – Use of Ba

Aside from that, another common word order mistake in Filipino grammar is in the use of the untranslatable word ba. This word is often placed at the end of an interrogative sentence, although it can also appear in the middle, depending on the sentence structure.

1. Kumain ka na ba? (“Have you eaten already?”) 
   
   In this simple interrogative sentence, ba is placed at the end. A common mistake students make here is to place ba before na.
   
   Kumain ka ba na? (INCORRECT) ✘

2. Kumain ba siya? (“Did he eat?”) 
   
   Here, ba comes before the subject or the pronoun siya. In this case, it would be incorrect to place ba after siya.
   
   Kumain siya ba? (INCORRECT) ✘

3. Nasaan na ba ang susi? (“Where is the key, anyway?”) 
   
   Here, ba appears before the object. Placing it at the end of the sentence would make the sentence sound awkward.
   
   Nasaan na ang susi ba? (INCORRECT) ✘

4. Siya ba ang sinasabi mo? (“Is he the one you were talking about?”) 
   
   This time, ba appears right after the pronoun siya. To move it to a different spot would, again, make the sentence sound awkward.
   
   Siya ang sinasabi mo ba? (INCORRECT) ✘

There are cases when you can move ba to two different spots without the sentence sounding awkward, such as in the following examples:

• Ano ba ang kinain mo? (“What did you eat?”)
• Ano ang kinain mo ba? (“What did you eat?”)

In the first example, ba is placed right after ano, while in the second example, it’s found at the end. It would seem that the second example is the better-sounding one since ba is usually found at the end of a sentence, but in this case, the first example would be more preferable to use.

4. Grammar Mistakes

Now, let’s talk about two of the most common grammar mistakes Filipino-learners make! 

7 – Use of ikaw, ka, and mo

Ka and ikaw both mean “you,” although you should note that the former is used more in everyday speech. Interchanging the two words is a common error among students of Filipino. For instance, instead of saying Mabait ka (“You are kind”), some students would say:

• Mabait ikaw. (INCORRECT) ✘

Ikaw can also be used in the Filipino translation of “You are kind.” However, it should be placed at the beginning of the sentence and followed by the connector ay:

• Ikaw ay mabait. (CORRECT) ✓

Keep in mind that this is a more formal way of saying Mabait ka, and is not used in day-to-day conversations.

Here are more examples:

1. Kumain ka na habang maaga pa. (“Go and eat while it’s still early.”)

Using ikaw:

• Kumain na ikaw habang maaga pa. (INCORRECT) ✘
• Ikaw ay kumain na habang maaga pa. (CORRECT) ✓

2. Naligo ka na ba? (“Have you taken a bath already?”)

Using ikaw:

• Naligo na ba ikaw? (INCORRECT) ✘
• Ikaw ba ay naligo na? (CORRECT) ✓

Mo, on the other hand, is the equivalent of “your,” but when the verb in a sentence functions as an object-focused verb, mo is used instead of ka and now takes the “you” meaning.

You won’t encounter a lot of errors in the use of mo, but since it also means “you” just like ka and ikaw, it would help to understand when and how to use it in a sentence. Here are several examples of how to use it:

As a pronoun:

• Isulat mo ang pangalan mo dito. (“Write your name here.”)
• Nasaan na ang tatay mo? (“Where is your father?”)
• tabi mo konti ang bisikleta mo. (“Move your bicycle a little bit.”)

When used as “you” in a sentence:

• Pinagaan mo ang pakiramdam ko. (“You made me feel better.”)
• Tinutulungan mo ako palagi. Salamat. (“You always help me. Thank you.”)
• Binuksan mo ba ang binigay kong regalo? (“Did you open the gift I gave you?”)

→ Check out our entry on 4 Ways to Improve Your Grammar!

8 – Verb Conjugation Errors

In our entry on Filipino Verb Conjugation, we talked about how Filipino verbs are conjugated using the affixes mag-, ma-, um-, in-, and i-.

A common error for students of Filipino is interchanging the affixes when conjugating verbs.

For instance, many students use mag- instead of -um when conjugating “um” verbs. Instead of saying pumunta, students would say magpunta.

The word pumunta is both the past tense and the imperative tense of the verb “go.” It would be incorrect to use mag- in this case, since punta (“go”) is not a mag- verb but an um– verb.

Here are more examples:

1. “C’mon, let us eat!”
   
   Tara, magkain na tayo. (INCORRECT) ✘
   Tara, kumain na tayo. (CORRECT) ✓

2. “We’re moving next week.”
   
   Maglipat na kami sa susunod na Linggo. (INCORRECT) ✘
   Lilipat na kami sa susunod na Linggo. (CORRECT) ✓

3. “Why don’t you want to take a bath?”
   
   Bakit ayaw mong magligo? (INCORRECT) ✘
   Bakit ayaw mong maligo? (CORRECT) ✓

Magligo na..este, maliligo na ako. (“Time to take a bath.”)

For a more detailed review on how to conjugate Filipino verbs, you can check out our entry titled “Learn the Basics of Filipino Verb Conjugation.”

5. Other Common Mistakes

In this section, we’ll talk about common Filipino mistakes that don’t quite fit in the other categories. Let’s take a look.

9 – Ano ba talaga, kuya? (“Which one is it really, bro?”)

It’s true that Tagalog is the first language of Filipinos, particularly in Luzon, but there are details that even so-called masters of the language sometimes miss. Here are some of them:

Daw vs. Raw

The words daw and raw do not have any direct translation in English, but the best match is “it is said” or “they say.”

These words may be composed of only three characters, but they’re among the few Filipino words that cause a lot of confusion to foreign and native speakers alike. The usual question is about which version to use and when. The key lies in the word that precedes them.

You use daw if the word preceding it ends with a katinig (consonant), except in the cases of “w” and “y.”

• Kumain daw kayo kina Andrew kagabi? (“I heard you had dinner at Andrew’s last night. Is that correct?”)

On the other hand, you use raw if the word preceding it ends with a patinig (vowel) or with a mala-patinig (vowel-sounding “w” or “y”).

• Nasa Manila na raw sila. (“They said they’re in Manila already.”)
• Aliw na aliw raw sila sa show ni Jo Koy! (“They said they were so amused with Jo Koy’s show!”)

Ano raw? (“What was that?”)

Bukod vs. Maliban

Another word pair that most learners of Filipino get confused with is that of bukod and maliban. 

Bukod means “in addition to” or “besides.” 

1. “In addition to a Master’s Degree, he also has a Doctor’s Degree.”
   
   Maliban sa Master’s Degree, mayroon din siyang Doctor’s Degree. (INCORRECT) ✘
   Bukod sa Master’s Degree, mayroon din siyang Doctor’s Degree. (CORRECT) ✓

Meanwhile, maliban is the equivalent of the expression “except,” so it’s used when the object being talked about in a sentence is the only exception to something.

2. “All of Alfonso’s children have graduated from college except for Mateo.”
   
   Lahat ng anak ni Alfonso ay nagtapos na ng kolehiyo bukod kay Mateo. (INCORRECT) ✘
   Lahat ng anak ni Alfonso ay nagtapos na ng kolehiyo maliban kay Mateo. (CORRECT) ✓

Kung vs. Kapag

These are two different words, each with a direct translation in English, and yet, they’re among the Filipino words often used in place of each other. The key to avoiding this error is to become familiar with their meanings. Kung, for instance, is the Tagalog word for “if,” while kapag and its variant pag mean “when” in English.

Now, note that there is a specific situation where you can interchange them: when you’re stating a “what if” question.

For example:

1. “What if I miss the train tomorrow?”
   
   Paano kung hindi ko maabutan ang tren bukas?
   Paano kapag hindi ko maabutan ang tren bukas?

If, however, you’re stating a “cause and effect” sentence, then that’s a different story.

If you’re going to use kung, then the verb has to be in the future tense.

2. “If I miss the train tomorrow, my boss is going to kill me.”

Kung hindi ko aabutan ang tren bukas, papatayin ako ng boss ko.

If you’re going to use kapag, the verb has to be in the past tense.

Kapag hindi ko naabutan ang tren bukas, papatayin ako ng boss ko.


→ Learn how to take a train in the Philippines!

On the other hand, there are sentences that require the use of kung if you’re using “if,” and kapag if you’re using “when.”

• Uuwi lang ako kung sasama ka sa akin. (“I’m going home only if you’re coming with me.”)
• Uuwi ako kapag tinawag na ako ni nanay. (“I’m going home when mom calls me.”)

6. The Biggest Mistake

10 – Not practicing enough

Perhaps the biggest mistake you can make when learning Filipino is not spending an adequate amount of time each day practicing and brushing up on your speaking and writing skills. Language is like mathematics. If you fail to practice on a regular basis — listening to lessons, writing and rewriting, and reciting what you’ve learned—there’s very little chance that you’ll ever master it.

Making mistakes is part of learning, so as you move along in your journey of studying Filipino, always remember that it’s okay to fail. Never allow your blunders to stop you from reaching your goal. And remember, practice makes permanent!

Need more motivation? Watch the video above!

Kaya mo ‘yan. May FilipinoPod101 pa. (“You can do it. There is FilipinoPod101 still.”)

7. Minimize Your Filipino Grammar Mistakes with the Help of FilipinoPod101

Do you want to minimize your Filipino errors? Do you want to avoid common Filipino grammar mistakes that most students of Tagalog make? The secret is to sign up with FilipinoPod101, one of the best language-learning systems on the Internet today.

When you first start learning a particular language, committing grammar mistakes is inevitable. It’s all part of the process. So here at FilipinoPod101.com, we want to make sure that you finish strong. That’s why we happily provide unique tools for our students, such as the MyTeacher feature, to ensure that you make the most out of your Filipino-learning pursuit. We also provide special apps that allow you to study Tagalog whenever and wherever. You can also visit our blog page if you want to see more articles like this one.

And speaking of articles, why don’t you share with us in the comments section what you’ve learned in this post? And if you have suggestions or additional thoughts on the subject, don’t hesitate to share them with us, too!

Imagine living in a world without questions. 

Questions are an important part of life, and not just because they’re a part of the language we speak. Questions start conversations. Without questions, curiosity would be extinct. Without them, everyone would be trapped in ignorance. 

With this in mind, are you ready to start learning how to ask Tagalog questions? You’re in the right place, because that’s just what we’re going to talk about today! 

Generally, Filipinos are very inquisitive. Sometimes, though, that quality is abused. That’s why we have the terms chismoso and chismosa, which are Tagalog for “tattletale” or “gossip.”

But when used appropriately, the ability to ask the right questions can help you build rapport and establish relationships with the right people. So, without further ado, let’s explore the top ten Tagalog questions with answers that every student of the Filipino language should learn.

Table of Contents

1. What is your name?
2. Where are you from?
3. Do you speak Tagalog?
4. How long have you been studying Tagalog?
5. Have you been to ___?
6. How is ___?
7. Do you like Filipino food?
8. What are you doing?
9. What’s wrong?
10. How much is it?
11. Nais Mo Bang Matuto Nang Mas Mabilis?

1. What is your name?

When meeting someone for the first time, the first thing you’d want to ask them is their name, right? Here’s how:

• Anong pangalan mo?
  “What’s your name?”

You can also say:

• Pwede ko bang malaman ang pangalan mo?
  “May I know your name?”

Ikaw si? (“You are?”) may be acceptable, although it’s a bit informal.

Responding to the question:

If you’re the one who’s being asked, you can reply by saying either of the following:

• Ang pangalan ko ay ___.
  “My name is ___.”

• Ako nga pala si ___.
  “I’m ___, by the way.”

You can also simply state your name.

Important words and their translation:

• ano (“what”)
• pangalan (“name”)
• mo (“you”/”your”)
• ako (“I”)
• pala (“by the way”)

Following Up

After asking for a person’s name, Filipinos usually follow up by asking for that person’s age. Unlike in other cultures where it’s inappropriate to ask for someone’s age, in the Philippines, most people don’t mind being asked how “young” they are. Nevertheless, it’s still a good idea to remain sensitive and simply change the topic if the person doesn’t seem too comfortable answering the question. 

But in most cases, if you’re curious about a person’s age, you can simply ask them one of these Filipino language questions:

• Ilang taon ka na?
  “How old are you?”

• Ano ang edad mo?
  “What’s your age?”

• Pwede ko bang malaman kung ilang taon ka na?
  “May I know how old you are?” / “May I know what your age is?”

Responding to the question:

• Bente-uno pa lang ho ako.
  “I’m only twenty-one, sir/ma’am.”

• Ang edad ko po ay trenta’y uno anyos. 
  “My age is thirty-one years.”

In casual conversations, however, most people use the first format.

Important words and their translation:

•  Ilang taon ka na? (“How old are you?”)
  
  ilan (“how many”/”how much”)
  
  taon (“year”)
  
  ka (“you”)
  
  na (“already”)

• Ano ang edad mo? (“What is your age?”)
  
  ano (“what”)
  
  ang (“is”)
  
  edad (“age”)
  
  mo (“you”/”your”)

• Pwede ko bang malaman kung ilang taon ka na? (“May I know how old you are?”)
  
  pwede (“possible”)
  
  malaman (“know”)
  
  kung (“if”)
  
  taon (“year”)

2. Where are you from?

If you want to know where someone’s from, there are two basic ways to ask this question in Filipino: 

• Taga saan ka?
  “Where are you from?”

• Saan ka nakatira? 
  “Where do you live?”

And if you want to know where someone is staying, you can say:

• Saan ka tumutuloy? 
  “Where are you staying?”

Responding to the question:

If you’re the one being asked, you can reply by saying:

• Taga ___ ako. 
  “I’m from ___.”
  

To inform someone where you’re staying, you can say:

• Sa ___ ako ngayon tumutuloy.
  “I currently stay at ___.”

For example:

• Sa Muntinlupa ako ngayon tumutuloy. 
  “I currently stay at Muntinlupa.”

Important words and their translation:

• Taga saan ka? (“Where are you from?”)
  
  taga – This word denotes one’s origin or residence. The great Filipino general and national hero, Antonio Luna, once used the pseudonym Taga-Ilog, which means “one who is from the river.” Interestingly, Taga-Ilog is also where we get the term Tagalog, which describes the Tagalog people being “people from [along] the river.”
  
  saan (“where”)

• Taga ___ ako. (“I’m from ___.”)
  
  sa – This is a preposition that could mean “to,” “at,” “in,” or “on.” In this context, it’s used as “at.”
  
  ako (“me”)
  
  ngayon (“now”/”currently”)
  
  tumutuloy – from the root word tuloy, meaning to enter or stay in a house

3. Do you speak Tagalog?

There are three ways to ask a person if they speak a certain language. To ask someone if they speak Tagalog, you can say any of the following:

• Nagtatagalog ka ba? 
  “Do you speak Tagalog?”

• Marunong ka bang magtagalog? 
  “Do you know how to speak Tagalog?”

• Nakakaintindi ka ba ng Tagalog? 
  “Do you understand Tagalog?”

Responding to the question:

To respond in the affirmative, you can say:

• Oo marunong akong magtagalog. / Oo marunong akong magsalita ng Tagalog.  
  “Yes, I know how to speak Tagalog.”

• Oo, nagtatagalog ako. 
  “Yes, I do speak Tagalog.”

• Oo, nakakaintindi ako ng Tagalog. 
  “Yes, I can understand Tagalog.”

If you’re not confident with your Tagalog-speaking skills, you can say:

• Hindi masyado. 
  “Not that much.”

Or:

• Medyo pulupot pa ang dila ko. 
  “I still get tongue-tied once in a while.”

Important words and their translation:

• Oo marunong akong magtagalog. / Oo marunong akong magsalita ng Tagalog. (“Yes, I know how to speak Tagalog.”)
  
  oo (“yes”)
  
  marunong (“has the knowledge”)
  
  ako (“me”/”I”)
  
  magsalita – from the root word salita, which means “speak” or “talk”
  
  nakakaintindi – from the root word intindi, which means “understand”
  
  magtagalog – In some cases, the prefix mag– is added to a noun to make it a verb. Magtagalog could mean “do Tagalog” or “use Tagalog” in English.

• Medyo pulupot pa ang dila ko. (“I still get tongue-tied once in a while.”)
  
  medyo (“partly”/”a little bit”)
  
  pulupot (“twisted”/”coiled”)

4. How long have you been studying Tagalog?

Knowing how long someone has been studying a certain language can help you gauge that person’s knowledge of the language, as well as help you formulate your sentences in a way that’s appropriate to that person’s language skills.

• Gaano ka na katagal nag-aaral ng Tagalog? 
  “How long have you been studying Tagalog?”

Responding to the question:

• Mag-iisang taon na akong nag-aaral ng Tagalog. 
  “I’ve been studying Tagalog for almost a year now.”

• Mga ilang buwan pa lang akong nag-aaral ng Tagalog. 
  “I’ve only been studying Tagalog for a few months.”

• Kakasimula ko pa lang mag-aral ng Tagalog; mga isang linggo pa lang. 
  “I just started studying Tagalog; about a week or so.”

Important words and their translation:

• Gaano ka na katagal nag-aaral ng Tagalog? (“How long have you been studying Tagalog?”)
  
  gaano – The word gaano is a Tagalog word used when asking about the extent or degree of how something is done.
  
  katagal – from the root word tagal, which refers to duration
  
  nag-aaral (“studying”)

• Mag-iisang taon na akong nag-aaral ng Tagalog. (“I’ve been studying Tagalog for almost a year now.”)
  
  mag-iisang taon – This expression means “almost a year now.” In this case, the prefix mag– is added to denote that the action is still about to be completed. To say “almost two years now,” the number is changed from isa to dalawa (mag-dadalawang taon na), and so on, depending on the length of time involved.
  
  taon (“year”)
  
  nag-aaral – from the root word aral, meaning “to study”
  
  ilan – The word ilan is Tagalog for “count,” although in this context, it means “few.”
  
  kakasimula – This is from the root word simula, meaning “start.” The prefix kaka– in a context like this is often added to an action word to imply that it hasn’t been long since the action was started.
  
  mga isang linggo – The word mga is often used for estimation. For instance, if you’re not sure of the length of an object, you say, mga ganito kahaba or “about this long.”
  
  linggo – This is the Tagalog word for “Sunday,” which is the same word used for “week.”
  
  lang– the shortened form of lamang, which means “only” or “just”

5. Have you been to ___?

Being able to travel to a foreign country broadens your perspective and allows you to discover yourself while learning other people’s cultures at the same time. To ask someone if they’ve been to another country, like Italy, you can say:

• Nakapunta ka na ba sa Italya? 
  “Have you been to Italy?”

Responding to the question:

If you’re the one being asked, you can respond in a variety of ways.

To respond in the affirmative, you can say:

• Oo, nakapunta na ako sa Italya. 
  “Yes, I’ve been to Italy before.”

You can also use Oo, nakarating na ako ng Italya, which basically means the same thing.

To respond in the negative, you can say:

• Hindi pa ako nakapunta sa Italya. 
  “No, I haven’t been to Italy yet.”

You can follow that up with a question of your own: 

• Eh ikaw, nakapunta ka na ba ng Italya? 
  “How about you, have you been to Italy?”

Important words and their translation:

• Nakapunta ka na ba sa Italya? (“Have you been to Italy?”)
  
  nakapunta – This is the past tense of the verb punta, which means “to go to.”

• Oo, nakarating na ako ng Italya. (“Yes, I’ve been to Italy before.”)
  
  nakarating – This is the past tense of the verb dating, meaning “arrive.” In this context, the word means that the person speaking has been to Italy.

→ Speaking of verbs, don’t forget to check out our entry on the 25 most commonly used verbs.

6. How is ___?

There’s not a single way to use “How is ___?” in Filipino since it could mean one of two things. Basically, though, the word to use here is kumusta.

Asking about someone

• Kumusta na ang kuya mo? 
  “How is your big brother?”

Responding to the question:

To answer this kind of question, you can say:

• Ayos naman po siya. Salamat sa pagtatanong. 
  “He’s fine. Thanks for asking.”

Asking about a person’s experience

• Kumusta ang pamamalagi mo dito sa Pilipinas? 
  “So, how is your stay here in the Philippines so far?”

• Kumusta ang salu-salo niyo kagabi? 
  “How was your party last night?”

Responding to the question:

To answer such questions, you can say:

• Maayos naman. 
  “It’s fine.”

• Masaya! 
  “It was fun!”

Important words and their translation:

• Kumusta na ang kuya mo? (“How is your big brother?”)
  
  kumusta – from the Spanish como estas, meaning “How are you?”
  
  kuya (“brother”)

• Kumusta naman ang pamamalagi mo dito sa Pilipinas? (“So, how is your stay here in the Philippines so far?”)
  
  pamamalagi (“stay”/”permanence”)
  
  dito (“here”)

• Kumusta ang salu-salo niyo kagabi? (“How was your party last night?”)
  
  salu-salo (“party”/”get-together”)
  
  kagabi (“last night”)

Kumusta na ang kuya mo? (“How is your big brother?”)

7. Do you like Filipino food?

Food is an important aspect of the Filipino culture. In fact, it’s an important part of any culture. There’s just something about food that breaks cultural barriers. In Filipino culture, questions and answers about food can help break the ice in any conversation and guide the discussion. 

If you want to ask someone whether they like the food of a particular culture, like the Philippines, for instance, you can say:

• Gusto mo ba ang mga pagkain dito sa Pilipinas? 
  “Do you like the food here in the Philippines?”

• Gusto mo ba ng pagkaing Pilipino? 
  “Do you like Filipino food?”

If you’re asking about a person’s experience with food that they’ve tried in another country, you can say: 

• Nagustuhan mo ba ang pagkain doon sa Japan? 
  “Did you like the food there in Japan?”

Responding to the question:

If you’re the one being asked this question, respond by saying:

• Oo. Masasarap ang mga pagkain dito sa Pilipinas. 
  “Yes. The food here in the Philippines is all delectable.”

If you don’t like the food, you can be honest and polite at the same time by saying: 

• Pasensya ka na, pero sa totoo lang, hindi ako masyadong nasasarapan sa mga pagkain dito. 
  “I apologize, but to be honest, I don’t really find the food here that desirable.”

Important words and their translation:

• Gusto mo ba ang mga pagkain dito sa Pilipinas? (“Do you like the food here in the Philippines?”)
  
  gusto (“like”)
  
  pagkain (“food”)

• Oo. Masasarap ang mga pagkain dito sa Pilipinas. (“Yes. The food here in the Philippines is all delectable.”)
  
  masasarap – This is from the root word masarap, which means “delicious.” Notice how the second syllable of the root word is repeated. This is done if the adjective refers to plural subjects.

• Pasensya ka na, pero sa totoo lang, hindi ako masyadong nasasarapan sa mga pagkain dito. (“I apologize, but to be honest, I don’t really find the food here that desirable.”)
  
  pasensya – This is from the word “patience.” The word is an expression used when asking for an apology.
  
  pero (“but”)
  
  sa totoo lang (“in reality”/”the truth of the matter”)
  
  hindi (“no”/”not”)
  
  ako (“I”/”me”)
  
  masyado (“too much”)
  
  nasasarapan – This is from the word sarap, which means “palatable.” In this context, the word refers to the person’s experience of finding food delicious.

→ Don’t forget to check out our entry titled “Top 25 Filipino Questions: Do you like Filipino food?“

8. What are you doing?

We all love to know what our friends are up to at the moment, and what better way to find out than by asking?

To ask someone what they’re up to, you can say:

• Anong ginagawa mo ngayon? 
  “What are you doing right now?”

• Anong ginagawa mo diyan? 
  “What are you doing there?”

To ask someone what they were doing at an earlier time, you can say:

• Anong ginagawa mo dun sa labas kanina? 
  “What were you doing there outside?”

Responding to the question:

When asked this by a friend, you can respond in several ways, depending on what you’re currently up to. For instance, if you’re just at home watching your favorite films on Netflix, you can say: 

• Nasa bahay lang ako nanonood ng mga pelikula sa Netflix. 
  “I’m just here at home watching Netflix films.”

If you’re busy in school or at the office, you can say: 

• Nasa klase ako. 
  “I’m in class.”

Or:

• May meeting kami ngayon dito sa opisina. 
  “We’re currently having a meeting here in the office.”

Now, if your buddies are asking what you’re doing at the moment, it’s because they miss you and want to hang out with you. If you’ve got nothing to do and want to spend time with them, too, you can say something like:

• Nasa bahay lang ako. Kape tayo? 
  “I’m just here at home. Want to grab some coffee?”

You can also say:

• Wala akong pasok. Gusto mo bang manood ng sine? 
  “I have no work/school today. Do you want to see a movie?”

Important words and their translation:

• Anong ginagawa mo diyan? (“What are you doing right now?”)
  
  anong– combination of ano ang, which means “what”
  
  ginagawa – This is from the root word gawa, meaning “do” or “action.” In this case, the present tense of the word is used: ginagawa, or “doing.”
  
  diyan (“there”)

• Anong ginagawa mo dun sa labas kanina? (“What were you doing there outside?”)
  
  dun – shortened form of doon, meaning “there”
  
  labas (“outside”)
  
  kanina (“earlier”)

• Nasa bahay lang ako nanonood ng mga pelikula sa Netflix. (“I’m just here at home watching Netflix films.”)
  
  nasa – a preposition referring to one’s location (“in,” “on,” “at”)
  
  bahay (“house”)
  
  nanonood – present tense of nood, which means “to watch”
  
  pelikula (“film”/”movie”)

• Nasa klase ako. (“I’m in class.”)
  
  klase (“class”)

• May meeting kami ngayon dito sa opisina. (“We’re currently having a meeting here in the office.”)
  
  may – shortened form of mayroon, which means “there is” or “have”
  
  kami (“us”/”we”)
  
  opisina (“office”)

• Nasa bahay lang ako. Kape tayo? (“I’m just here at home. Want to grab some coffee?”)
  
  kape (“coffee”)
  
  tayo (“us”)

• Wala akong pasok. Gusto mo bang manood ng sine? (“I have no work/school today. Do you want to see a movie?”)
  
  wala (“none”)
  
  pasok – The meaning of pasok is “enter,” so in this context, it means attending class or work. When one says wala akong pasok, what they mean is that they don’t have school or work, either because it’s a holiday or they’re on leave.
  
  gusto (“like”/”want”)
  
  manood – from the root word nood, meaning “to watch”
  
  sine – the big screen or the movie house

Nasa bahay lang ako nanonood ng mga pelikula sa Netflix. 
(“I’m just here at home watching Netflix films.”)

9. What’s wrong?

There are times when you need to ask someone how they feel, especially when there seems to be something wrong. If you want to confirm if a friend or colleague is in a tough situation, you can say:

• Anong problema? 
  “What’s wrong?” (Literally: “What’s the problem?”)

• May problema ba? 
  “Is there a problem?”

Alternatively, you can ask:

• May problema ka yata? 
  “You seem to have a problem?” / “Something doesn’t seem right with you.”

Responding to the question:

If you’re the one being asked and you don’t want to talk about the problem, you can say:

• Ayos lang ako. Salamat. 
  “I’m fine. Thank you.”

• Wala ito. Salamat sa pag-aalala. 
  “This is nothing. Thanks for your concern.”

On the other hand, you can say:

• Oo, may problema ako. 
  “Yes, I have a problem.”

And then you can begin sharing your problems or concerns with the other person.

Important words and their translation:

• May problema ka yata? (“You seem to have a problem?”)
  
  problema (“problem”)
  
  yata – This is a word that expresses uncertainty and is equivalent to “I think,” “it seems,” and “perhaps.” In this context, “it seems” is the nearest translation.

• Ayos lang ako. Salamat. (“I’m fine. Thank you.”)
  
  ayos – This is an expression that implies orderliness. In this context, it means that everything is fine.
  
  salamat (“thank you”)

• Wala ito. Salamat sa pag-aalala. (“This is nothing. Thanks for your concern.”)
  
  wala (“none”/”nothing”)
  
  ito (“this”)
  
  pag-aalala (“concern”)

10. How much is it? 

Filipinos are among the best when it comes to haggling, which is why some of the most important Filipino questions and answers for beginners are those about prices. 

In Tagalog, when you want to ask for the price of an item, you say:

• Magkano po iyan? 
  “How much is it?” / “How much is that?”

If you think you can get the seller to give you a better deal, you can say:

• Baka pwede pa po babaan ang presyo? 
  “Perhaps the price can still be lowered?”

In cases where there’s only one of a certain item for sale, or if you’re holding the item in your hand, you can simply say:

• Magkano? 
  “How much?”

Responding to the question:

What if you’re the one selling the item? Then you say:

• Mura lang. Isang-daang piso lang ang presyo niyan. 
  “It’s not that expensive. It only costs a hundred pesos.”

Alternatively, you can simply inform the buyer of the price: 

• Singkwenta. 
  “Fifty.”

Important words and their translation:

• Magkano po iyan? (“How much is it?”)
  
  magkano (“how much”)
  
  iyan (“that”)

• Baka pwede pa po babaan ang presyo? (“Perhaps the price can still be lowered?”)
  
  baka (“perhaps”/”maybe”)
  
  pwede (“possible”/”can”)
  
  babaan (“to lower”)
  
  presyo (“price”)

• Mura lang. Isang-daang piso lang ang presyo niyan. (“It’s not that expensive. It only costs a hundred pesos.”)
  
  mura (“cheap”)
  
  isang-daan (“one hundred”)
  
  presyo (“price”/”cost”)

Baka pwede pa po babaan ang presyo? (“Perhaps the price can still be lowered?”)

11. Nais Mo Bang Matuto Nang Mas Mabilis?

Do you want to learn faster? Well, it’s a good thing that FilipinoPod101 is here. With FilipinoPod101, you can learn not only Filipino questions and answers, but other important topics, as well. For example, how to read in Filipino, how to get around in the Philippines, and most importantly, how to speak more Filipino in 2020.

Yes, it’s very important to learn how to ask and respond to Tagalog questions, but you can only get better at it if you have a strong foundation in basic Filipino expressions and vocabulary. 

Haven’t signed up yet? Well, signing up is easy, and when you’re done, you can start enjoying benefits exclusive only for FilipinoPod101 members. By upgrading your account, you can also gain access to MyTeacher, an exclusive feature that lets you study Tagalog one-on-one with one of our FilipinoPod101 teachers.

Did you find this article helpful? Don’t hesitate to share it with your friends who also wish to learn more about the Filipino language and culture. And don’t hesitate to let us know your thoughts in the comments section!

Despite the complexity of the Tagalog language, learning it won’t be as difficult if you’re familiar with the most basic Filipino sentence patterns. The best thing about learning Tagalog is that it’s not that different from the English language when it comes to sentence patterns. Tagalog is quite flexible, too, so it’s not that hard to read and understand a simple sentence, as long as you’re keeping brushed up on your Filipino vocabulary.

But why study Tagalog sentence patterns in the first place? Simple: Having this knowledge lets you craft a variety of sentences so that you’re not limited to one or two patterns every time you’re speaking or writing. More importantly, knowing simple patterns helps you have an easier time whenever you come across long sentences when you’re reading or having a conversation with a Tagalog-speaking friend.

Because we want to help you improve your communication skills in Tagalog, we’ve decided to create a guide on basic Filipino sentence patterns. From making requests to asking directions, here are the ten most basic and practical sentence patterns in Tagalog.

Table of Contents

1. Linking Two Nouns: A is B.
2. Using Adjectives to Describe: A is [Adjective].
3. Expressing Want (I Want… / I Want to…)
4. Expressing Need (I Need… / I Need to…)
5. Expressing Like (I Like… / I Like to…)
6. Politely Asking Someone to Do Something
7. Asking for Permission (May I…? / Can I…?)
8. Asking for Information About Something (What is…?)
9. Asking About Time (When is…?)
10. Asking About Location or Direction (Where is…?)
11. You Can Learn More Than Just Sentence Patterns with FilipinoPod101

1. Linking Two Nouns: A is B.

Simple Filipino sentences are formed in the same manner as English sentences are—with a subject and a predicate. In this section, you’ll learn how to connect two nouns in order to form a sentence that expresses a complete thought. 

When it comes to linking two nouns in Tagalog, there’s only one word you need to remember, and that is the word ay.

As mentioned in our entry on Tagalog Word Order, ay is an inversion marker, and is used when switching from the V-S-O or V-O-S to the S-V-O sentence structure.

Here are several Filipino sentence examples showing how to link two nouns:

• Si Moon ay ang alaga kong aso. (“Moon is my pet dog.”)
• Ang asawa ko ay isang flight stewardess. (“My wife is a flight stewardess.”)
• Si Julienne ay kapatid na babae ni Jay. (“Julienne is Jay’s sister.”)
• Ang teleponong ito ay Samsung. (“This phone is a Samsung.”)
• Si Kobe ay kalaro ko dati. (“Kobe was a playmate of mine back in the day.”)

→ Have you seen our entry on the 50 Most Common Tagalog Nouns?

2. Using Adjectives to Describe: A is [Adjective].

When using adjectives to describe nouns, the marker ay is still very much present. Check out the following examples of this Filipino sentence construction:

• Ang tuta ay makulit. (“The puppy is annoying.”)
• Si Maria ay matapang. (“Maria is courageous.”)
• Ang nobyo niya ay tapat. (“Her lover is faithful.”)
• Si Shirley ay maingay. (“Shirley is loud.”)
• Si Ted ay tahimik. (“Ted is quiet.”)

→ What about our list of the Most Common Tagalog Adjectives?

3. Expressing Want (I Want… / I Want to…)

The Tagalog word used to express desire is gusto. It can be used to express the English words “want,” “like,” and “wish.” The word nais can also be used for stronger emotions, such as “longing” and “desire,” although it’s almost exclusively used in formal writing.

1- I want…

• Gusto ko ng baboy. (“I want some pork.”)
• Gusto ko ng tubig! (“I want water!”)

2- I want to…

• Gusto kong kumain ng puto. (“I want to eat some rice cake.”)
• Gusto kong pumasa sa pagsusulit. (“I want to pass the test.”)
• Gusto kitang bigyan ng pabuya. (“I want to give you a reward.”)
• Nais kong makarating sa London balang araw. (“I long to visit London someday.”)
• Nais kong malaman mong ikaw ang aking iniibig. (“I long for you to know that it’s you I desire.”)

If you wish to convey your hope of doing something, use the word sana, a word that expresses hope.

• Gusto ko sanang dumalaw sa kanya. (“I was hoping I could visit her.”)
• Gusto sana kitang makita noong panahong iyon. (“I was hoping I could see you that time.”)

And if you want to convey the opposite message, you simply replace the word gusto with ayaw, which expresses unwillingness.

• Ayaw ko ng baboy. (“I don’t want pork.”)
• Ayaw kong dumalaw sa kanila. (“I don’t want to go to their place.”)
• Ayaw kitang kausap. (“I don’t want to speak with you.”)

4. Expressing Need (I Need… / I Need to…)

The word “need” or “have” can be translated to the Tagalog word kailangan.

1- I need…

• Kailangan ko ng pagkain. (“I need some food.”)
• Kailangan ko ng kasama. (“I need a companion.”)
• Kailangan ko ng payo mo. (“I need your advice.”)

2- I need/have to…

• Kailangan kong ibigay ito kay Elsa. (“I need to give this to Elsa.”)
• Kailangan kong makarating doon kaagad. (“I have to reach that place fast.”)
• Kailangan kong makabili ng bigas. (“I need to buy some rice.”)
• Kailangan kong gawin ito. (“I need to do this.”)
• Kailangan kong sundin ang payo niya. (“I have to follow his advice.”)

If you want to say that you don’t need or don’t have to do something, you simply use the word hindi. 

• Hindi ko kailangan ng pagkain. (“I don’t need food.”)
• Hindi ko kailangan ang payo mo. (“I don’t need your advice.”)
• Hindi kita kailangan. (“I don’t need you.”)

Kailangan kong makapasa sa exams. (“I need to pass the exams.”)

5. Expressing Like (I Like… / I Like to…)

“Like” is gusto in Tagalog. The word “love” (not in a romantic sense) can also be translated to gusto. The word hilig can be used to express love, too, especially when referring to something one is inclined to doing. Take a look at the following examples of this Filipino sentence structure in action:

1- I like…

• Gusto kita. (“I like you.”)
• Mahilig ako sa mga aso. (“I love dogs.”)
• Hilig ko ang larong basketball. (“I love the game of basketball.”)

Pinoys also like using “slang” words when showing appreciation.

• Type ko ang bago mong sapatos! (“I like your new shoes!”) 
  • This is just another way of saying: “Those are my type of shoes!”
• Bet ko siya para sa’yo! (“I really like him for you!”) 
  • This is just another way of saying: “I’m betting on him for you!”

2- I like/love to…

• Gusto kitang bisitahin. (“I would like to visit you.”)
• Gusto kong makita ang ginawa mo. (“I would love to see your work.”)
• Mahilig akong gumala. (“I love to travel.”)
• Mahilig talaga akong sumayaw. (“I really love to dance.”)
• Mahilig akong kumanta habang naliligo. (“I love to sing while taking a bath.”)

Gusto kita. Tanggap ka na. (“I like you. You’re hired.”)

6. Politely Asking Someone to Do Something

There’s no direct translation for the word “please” in Tagalog. If you want to make a request, you simply add paki- before the verb you’re using. Paki- is a verbal prefix derived from the word pakiusap, which is Filipino for “request.” 

In the English language, the word “please” can be placed either at the beginning or the end of the sentence. In Tagalog, however, the verb used for making a request (paki + verb) is always placed at the beginning of the sentence. There’s no strict rule as to how to attach the affix paki to a verb. In most cases, you simply attach paki to the verb without separating the two with a dash.

• Pakibigay ng pera kay Daryl. (“Please give the money to Daryl.”)
• Pakiiwan ng mga gamit ko sa loob ng kwarto. (“Please leave my stuff inside the room.”)
• Pakibukas ng pinto. (“Open the door, please.”)
• Pakisabi sa nanay mo na dumaan ako. (“Please tell your mom that I dropped by.”)
• Pakiabot ng ketchup, Louise. (“Ketchup, please, Louise.”)

It’s also not unusual for Filipinos to attach paki- to English verbs:

• Paki-delete na lang ng files ko. (“Please delete my files as well.”)
• Paki-send na lang mga pictures sa e-mail. (“Just send the pictures through email, please.”)
• Paki-off ng washing machine. (“Turn off the washing machine, please.”)

In other cases, the word maaari (“can” or “may”) is enough to express a polite request.

• Maaari bang magtanong? (“Can I ask a question, please?”)
• Maaari ko bang makuha ang susi? (“May I have the keys, please?”)

One more thing. Don’t forget to say salamat (“thank you”) after making a request.

• Paki-serve na lang ng dessert pagkatapos naming kumain. Salamat! (“Just serve the dessert right after we eat, please. Thanks!”)

I said “keys,” not “kiss.”

7. Asking for Permission (May I…? / Can I…?)

Filipinos are known for being courteous. Despite what some people say about how there’s something questionable with the way respect has evolved in the Philippines and the world in general, most Filipinos remain very polite and respectful. 

One way Pinoys show respect is in how they ask for permission through the expressions “may I” and “can I.” Both are expressed in Tagalog using the words pwede or maaari. Keep in mind, though, that maaari has a more formal tone to it.

In Filipino culture, asking permission is very important. Below are some instances that would call for asking permission in the Philippines.

Asking a friend’s mom or dad for permission to invite them someplace:

• Pwede ko po bang yayain si Lydia na mamasyal? (“May I invite Lydia to go for a stroll?”)
• Maaari po ba naming isama si Aya sa birthday party ni John mamayang gabi? (“May we take Aya with us to John’s birthday party tonight?”)

Asking for permission to leave:

• Pwede na ba akong umalis? (“Can I leave now?”)
• Mauna na po kami. (“We should be running along.”)

*Note: There are some instances where the words pwede and maaari are not used when asking permission, although you’d be better off using them if you want to maintain that polite vibe.

Asking permission to borrow something:

• Pwede ko bang hiramin ang lapis mo? (“Can I borrow your pencil?”)
• Maaari bang manghiram ng kaunting barya? (“May I borrow some spare change, please?”)

Here are more examples:

• Pwede ko bang makita ang loob ng kahon? (“Can I see what’s inside the box?”)
• Pwede ba akong tumabi sa’yo? (“May I sit with you?”)
• Pwede na ba kaming pumasok? (“May we come in now?”)
• Maaari ko bang hingin ang iyong numero? (“Can I have your number?”)
• Maaari ba kitang dalawin bukas ng gabi? (“May I visit you tomorrow evening?”)

And finally, let’s not forget how a Filipino gentleman asks for the hand of the lady he loves from the lady’s parents:

• Pwede ko po bang hingin ang kamay ng inyong anak? (“May I ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage?”)

Pwede ba kitang maging asawa? (“Will you be my wife?”)

8. Asking for Information About Something (What is…?)

When asking for information in Tagalog, we use the word ano, which is Filipino for “what.” 

Let’s start with the most common “what” questions:

• Ano ang pangalan mo? (“What is your name?”)
• Anong cellphone number mo? (“What is your phone number?”)
• Anong problema mo? (“What’s your problem?”)

What if you’re asking about the date?

• Anong petsa na ngayon? (“What is the date today?”)
• Anong araw ngayon? (“What day is today?”)

And if you forgot a person’s name?

• Ano nga ba ulit ang pangalan mo? (“What was your name again?”)

Let’s say you found a bug you’ve never seen before…

• Anong tawag sa insekto na ito? (“What is this insect called?”)

Want an update on your friend’s love life? 

• Ano na ang nangyari sa boyfriend ni Jessica? (“Whatever happened to Jessica’s boyfriend?”)

And if you want to clarify things…

• Anong ibig mong sabihin nung sinabi mong ayaw mo na? (“What did you mean when you said you’re quitting?”)
• Ano yung sinabi mo tungkol sa akin? (“What was that you said about me?”)

9. Asking About Time (When is…?)

The Tagalog word for “when” is kailan, so when asking for information about when something is going to happen, we start the sentence with kailan. Here are examples of the basic Filipino sentence structure for this kind of question:

• Kailan ang kaarawan mo? (“When is your birthday?”)
• Kailan nga yung meeting natin kay Bernadette? (“When is our meeting with Bernadette, again?”)

• Kailan ang uwi ng papa mo galing sa London? (“When is your father arriving from London?”)
• Kailan ka huling pumunta doon? (“When did you last go there?”)
• Kailan ang punta mo ng Maynila? (“When will your trip to Manila be?”)

Keep in mind that you can also use the shortened spelling kelan instead of kailan. However, it’s not considered standard and is often used in informal settings, such as in text messages or on social media.

• Kelan ulit tayo magkakape? (“When are we having coffee again?”)
• Kelan siya babalik? (“When is she coming back?”)
• Sabi mo magpapa-party ka. Kelan na mangyayari ‘yon? (“You said you’re throwing a party. When is it happening?”)

10. Asking About Location or Direction (Where is…?)

Location and direction are the two most important things you need to know when traveling or when staying in a different country for the first time. Since Filipinos are naturally accommodating, you won’t need to worry about asking for directions in case you get lost; they’ll be glad to help. The only thing you need to make sure is that you know the exact words to say when asking about a certain location or when asking for directions.

When asking about location or direction in Filipino, we use the Tagalog word saan, which directly translates to “where.” Here are some examples of how to craft a sentence in Filipino to ask for directions with this word:

• Saan banda ang pinakamalapit na botika? (“Where is the nearest drugstore?”)
• Saan po may bangko na malapit dito? (“Where is the nearest bank from here?”)
• Alam niyo po ba kung saan ang klinika ni Dr. Akhunzada? (“Do you know where Dr. Akhunzada’s clinic is located?”)
• Saan po banda ang National Museum? (“Where can we find the National Museum?”)
• Saan ka na banda? (“Where are you now?”)
• Pare, saan ang kotse ko? (“Dude, where’s my car?”)

→ For more easy Filipino sentence pattern examples, check out our entry on the Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners.

Where na you? Here na me.

11. You Can Learn More Than Just Sentence Patterns with FilipinoPod101

Now that you’ve learned some basic sentence patterns in Tagalog, there’s no question that you’ll be more confident with your Tagalog speaking and writing skills. But do you know that you can move beyond the basics to more advanced Filipino grammar proficiency? Yes, you can, with FilipinoPod101.com.

FilipinoPod101 is one of the leading Tagalog language-learning systems today, so if you’re looking for resources and tools to help you improve your Tagalog, don’t think twice about visiting us today. With FilipinoPod101, you’ll learn everything from basic Filipino grammar and the Filipino alphabet, to more  practical language lessons. Whether you’re an auditory or visual learner, you can rest assured that there are tools here designed just for you.

Want to know Tagalog inside and out within a shorter time frame? Our MyTeacher feature is exactly what you need. This is a Premium PLUS feature that lets you learn Tagalog with your own teacher, so that you’ll have someone to give you real-time feedback, making sure you’re always improving.

Did you like this article on Filipino sentence patterns? If you did, don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments section!

Telling oneself to never use adverbs in speech or writing is like advising a bird to cut off one of its wings—it’s simply preposterous. That’s how important adverbs are. 

Most people think of an adverb as any word that ends with “-ly” (at least in the English language), but in reality, there’s more to adverbs. They’re not always just a single word used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. It’s one of the four core parts of speech, without which one can’t construct a logical sentence. That’s the exact reason we’re studying the adverb in Filipino today.

To begin, what is “adverb” in Tagalog? (Ano ang adverb sa Tagalog?) 

In Tagalog, an adverb is referred to as pang-abay. And as mentioned, they’re words or phrases that modify a verb, an adjective, or another adverb in a sentence. Unlike the commonly used adverbs in English that usually end in “-ly,” however, Filipino adverbs do not have a specific format in terms of spelling or word endings.

There are a dozen types of pang-abay, most of which have an equivalent in the English language. Let’s take a look at the most common types of Tagalog adverbs, shall we? And afterward, you can study our list of Filipino adverbs with examples!

Table of Contents

1. Kinds of Pang-Abay
2. The 100 Most Practical Tagalog Adverbs
3. Master Your Tagalog Adverb Skills with FilipinoPod101

1. Kinds of Pang-Abay

1 – Pamanahon (“Time”)

A pang-abay na pamanahon or “adverb of time” describes when, for how long (duration), and how often (frequency) an action happened. There are three types of pang-abay na pamanahon.

May pananda (“with a marker“). Examples of this type of pang-abay na pamanahon are: noon (“then”), sa (“on”), kung (“when”), tuwing (“whenever”), hanggang (“until”), kapag (“when”), and nang (“when”).

Walang pananda (“without a marker“). Tagalog adverbs under this category include: kanina (“earlier”), kahapon (“yesterday”), ngayon (“now”), mamaya (“later”), and bukas (“tomorrow”).

Nagsasaad ng dalas (“states the frequency“). In the English language, these are referred to as adverbs of frequency. Araw-araw (“every day”), tuwing umaga (“every morning”), taon-taon (“every year”), kada minuto (“every minute”), oras-oras (“every hour”), and tuwing pasko (“every Christmas”) are some adverbs that belong to this category. 

2 – Panlunan (“Place”)

A pang-abay na panlunan or “adverb of place” talks about the place where the action has been, is being, or will be carried out. In Filipino grammar, the most commonly used adverbs of place are: sa, kina, and kay. Sa is usually followed by a common noun or a pronoun. 

Kina and kay, on the other hand, are usually followed by a proper noun, particularly a name of a person. For example:

Kay answers the question, “From whom?” So while it seems to function as a preposition here, it actually serves as an adverb.

• Speaking of place, here’s a quick tip on how to tell people where you’re from in Filipino.

3 – Pamaraan (“Manner”)

An adverb of manner in Tagalog is pang-abay na pamaraan. These words describe how an action has been, is being, or will be done. These adverbs utilize na, nang, and -ng. Examples of pang-abay na pamaraan are: mabilis (“fast”), malakas (“loudly”), dahan-dahan (“slowly”), mahigpit (“tightly”), and mabuti (“carefully”).

4 – Pang-Agam (“Doubt”)

The word agam is Tagalog for “doubt,” which means pang-abay na pang-agam are adverbs that express a lack of certainty about how an action is done. Examples include marahil (“perhaps”), siguro (“maybe”), tila (“apparently”), and parang (“it seems”).

5 – Pananggi (“Disagreement”)

A pang-abay na pananggi or “adverb of disagreement” expresses negation or disagreement. Words under this category include hindi (“no,” “not,” “never”), ayaw (“not,” “never”), huwag (“don’t”), and wala (“nothing”).

6 – Pang-abay na Panang-ayon (“Affirmation”)

Pang-abay na panang-ayon is the opposite of pang-abay na pananggi. These adverbs in Filipino include words such as tunay (“really,” “truly”), sadya (“assuredly,” “definitely”), talaga (“really,” “surely,” “certainly”), syempre (“of course,” “naturally”), and sigurado (“undoubtedly,” “surely”).

7 – Pang-abay na Panggaano o Panukat (“Number or Measure”)

A pang-abay na panggaano o panukat answers questions like “How much?”, “How far?”, “How heavy?”, and “How long?” Examples are tatlong litro (“three liters”), limang kilometro (“five kilometers”), marami (“a lot”), and kaunti (“a little”).

8 – Pang-abay na Panulad (“Adverbs of Comparison”)

Pang-abay na panulad or “adverbs of comparison” are used to compare two or more objects in a sentence. It usually involves the adverbs mas (“more”) and kaysa (“than”).

• Have you checked out our entry on how to make comparisons in Filipino?

9 – Pang-abay na Ingklitik (“Enclitic”)

These adverbs are words that normally come right after the first word in a Tagalog sentence. They don’t necessarily have direct English equivalents, but are very crucial Filipino adverbs. Some of these words are na, naman, nang, yata, kaya, muna, pala, sana, ba, pa, din/rin, and daw/raw.

10 – Pang-abay na Benepaktibo

These adverbs talk about the benefits of an action done in a sentence. They’re normally formed with the help of the phrase para sa or “for the.”

11 – Pang-abay na Kawsatibo

These adverbs state the reason an action has been done in a sentence. They’re normally formed with the help of the phrase dahil sa or “because of.”

12 – Pang-abay na Kondisyonal

These adverbs state the condition or reason an action was done in a sentence. They’re normally formed with the help of kung (“if”), kapag/pag (“when”), and pagka (“when”).

Now that you know the types of adverbs in Tagalog, let’s check out 100 Tagalog adverb examples in sentences.

2. The 100 Most Practical Tagalog Adverbs

1 – Pamanahon (“Time”)

1

sa  “on”

Pupunta kami kina Ligaya sa Sabado. “We will go to Ligaya’s on Saturday.”

2

tuwing “whenever,” “every time”

Nagluluto si lola ng tinola tuwing bumibisita kami. “Grandma cooks chicken soup every time we visit.”

3

buhat “since”

Nag-iba ang ugali ni Ron buhat ng maaksidente siya. “Ron’s personality changed since he had the accident.”

4

noon “before”

May ganyang damit din ako noon. “I also had a shirt like that before.”

5

kapag “when”

Magsampay ka kapag nakita mong lumabas ang araw. “Hang the clothes when you see the sun coming out.”

6

kinabukasan “the following day”

Umuwi na rin si Tiyo Willie kinabukasan. “Uncle Willie left the following day.”

7

hanggang “until”

Nanatili sila sa bahay ni Rey hanggang umaga. “They stayed at Rey’s place until morning.”

8

kanina “earlier”

Umulan nang malakas kanina. “It rained hard earlier.”

9

kahapon “yesterday”

Kahapon sila dumating. “They arrived yesterday.”

10

bukas “tomorrow”

Bukas na lang ako papasok sa trabaho. “I’ll go to work tomorrow instead.”

11

ngayon “now”

Bakit di ka nalang pumunta doon ngayon? “Why don’t you just go there now?”

12

mamaya “later”

Susunduin kita mamaya, ha? “I’ll fetch you later, okay?”

13

araw-araw “every day”

Araw-araw mo dapat iniinom ang gamot mo. “You’re supposed to take your medicine every day.”

14

taon-taon “yearly,” “every year”

May family reunion kami taon-taon. “We have a family reunion every year.”

15

kada minuto “every minute”

Sinisilip niya ang sanggol sa kwarto kada minuto. “He checks on the baby in the room every minute.”

16

bawat oras “every hour”

Nagpapalit sila ng guwardiya bawat oras. “They change guards every hour.”

17

linggo-linggo “every week”

Nagsisimba si Carmen linggo-linggo. “Carmen goes to church every week.”

18

tuwing umaga “every morning”

Tumatakbo si JR tuwing umaga. “JR runs every morning.”

2 – Panlunan (“Place”)

Notice how sa, kina, and kay take on different meanings depending on their use. Also, while some of their equivalents may appear to function as prepositions when translated in English, they actually function as adverbs, or pang-abay, in Filipino. That’s one way in which Filipino grammar is unique!

19

sa “in”

Buksan mo ang bintana sa kusina. “Open the window in the kitchen.”

20

sa “at”

Nanonood sila ng laro ngayon sa plaza. “They’re currently watching the game at the plaza.”

21

sa “for”

Ibigay mo ang bayad para sa karne. “Give the payment for the meat.”

22

kay “from”

Bumili ako ng bag kay Leni. “I bought a bag from Leni.”

23

kina “at”

Doon ako kumain kina Henry. “I ate there at Henry’s.”

24

kay “to”

Paki-abot nito kay Karla. “Please pass this over to Karla.”

25

kina “at”

Hanapin mo ang nawawalang pusa kina Shirley. “Look for the missing cat at Shirley’s place.”

3 – Pamaraan (“Manner”)

26

mahigpit “tightly”

Hinawakan niya ako nang mahigpit. “She held me tightly.”

27

malakas “loudly”

Sinigawan niya nang malakas ang kawatan. “He shouted loudly at the thief.”

28

madali “easily”

Madaling nahuli ni MJ si Charles. “MJ caught Charles easily.”

29

mabilis “quickly”

Kumain siya nang mabilis upang hindi mahuli. “He ate quickly so as not to be late.”

30

marahan “softly”

Marahan niyang ibinulong ang mensahe. “He softly whispered the message.”

31

tahimik “silently”

Tahimik siyang pumasok sa silid. “She entered the room silently.”

32

dahan-dahan “slowly”

Tumayo siya nang dahan-dahan. “She got up slowly.”

33

mabuti “carefully,” “intently”

Tinitigan niya nang mabuti ang papeles. “She stared intently at the documents.”

34

papilit “forcefully”

Papilit na hinila ni Diana ang kapatid na babae. “Diana forcefully pulled her sister away.”

35

pahapyaw “passingly”

Nag-aral nang pahapyaw si Lorie. “Lorie only studied passingly.”

36

pabalang “disrespectfully”

Pabalang niyang sinagot ang ama. “He answered his father disrespectfully.”

37

padabog “angrily”	Padabog siyang lumabas sa kwarto. “He angrily (stomping his feet and slamming the door behind) left the room.”
The verb dabog is an action of anger that involves stomping of the feet or slamming of the door, and is often associated with tampo. Adding the affix pa- transforms it into an adverb of manner, since one of the uses of the affix pa- is to denote how an action is done, as in pabulong (“softly” as in a whisper), pabaliktad (“inversely”), and paatras (“backward”).

4 – Pang-agam (“Doubt”)

38

baka “perhaps”

Baka hindi tayo umabot. “We might not reach on time.”

39

siguro “maybe”

Nakaalis na siguro si papa. “Maybe dad left already.”

40

tila “seemingly”

Tila lalakas pa ang bagyo. “The storm is seemingly getting stronger.”

41

parang “it seems”

Parang ayaw sumama ni John sa atin. “It seems John doesn’t want to come with us.”

42

marahil “probably”

Marahil ay na-traffic sila. “They probably got caught in traffic.”

43

wari “estimate,” “reckon”

Wari ko ay matagal tayong hindi magkikita. “I reckon we won’t be seeing each other anytime soon.”

44

malamang “most likely”

Malamang hindi na matutuloy ang programa. “The show would most likely not push through.”

45

yata “it seems,” “I think”

Dumating na yata ang mga bisita. “It seems that the guests have arrived.”

46

mukha “it looks like,” “it seems”

Mukha yatang wala na tayong pag-asang manalo. “It looks like we no longer have any chances of winning.”

47

para “it looks like,” “it seems”

Para ngang uulan, ano? “Indeed, it seems like it’s going to rain, doesn’t it?”

5 – Pananggi (“Disagreement”)

48

ayaw “do not,” “would not”

Ayaw niyang sagutin ang tawag ko. “She doesn’t want to answer my call.”

49

hindi kailanman “never”

Hindi kailanman nagyabang si Michael. “Never did Michael boast.”

50

hindi “not”

Hindi magandang sabihin sa iba na mataba sila. “It’s not good to tell someone they are fat.”

51

hinding-hindi “never ever”

Hinding-hindi kita iiwan. “I will never ever leave you.”

52

huwag “do not,” “never”

Huwag kang makialam sa kanya. “Don’t interfere in his business.”

53

huwag na huwag “do not ever”

Huwag na huwag ka nang magpapakita. “Don’t you ever show your face again.”

54

wala “nothing”

Walang kwenta ang buhay kung malayo ka sa akin. “Life has no purpose if you are far away from me.”

6 – Panang-ayon (“Affirmation”)

55

sadya “just,” “simply”

Sadyang mabilis magsalita si Aristotle. “Aristotle just/simply talks fast.”

56

tunay “really”

Tunay na mabait ang Diyos. “God is really good.”

57

talaga “surely”

Talagang masungit si Miss Minchin. “Miss Minchin is surely ill-tempered.”

58

syempre “of course”

Syempre, mamamasko kami kina mama. “Of course, we’ll spend Christmas at Mama’s.”

59

sigurado “undoubtedly,” “definitely”

Siguradong matatalo tayo sa kanila. “We will undoubtedly lose to them.”

60

walang duda “no doubt”

Walang duda na siya yung tumawag sayo. “No doubt, it was he who called you.”

61

siyanga “indeed”

In response to a statement: Siyanga! “Indeed!”

62

totoo “truly”

Totoong nagbago na ako. “I have truly changed.”

63

oo “yes”

Oo, galit ako! “Yes, I am mad!”

64

opo “yes”

Opo, lolo, ako po ito. “Yes, Grandpa, it’s me.”

7 – Pang-abay na Panggaano o Panukat (“Number or Measure”)

Unlike most types of Tagalog adverbs, pang-abay na panggaano o panukat does not have specific words that belong under its category. These adverbs simply state the weight, distance, length, or price of an object in a sentence.

65

anim na talampakan “six feet”

Anim na talampakan ang lalim ng hukay. “The ditch is six feet deep.”

66

tatlong kilo “three kilos”

Bumili ako ng tatlong kilong bigas. “I bought three kilos of rice.”

67

tatlong litro “three liters”

Kaya kong ubusin iyang tatlong litrong tubig. “I can finish off that three liters of water on my own.”

68

dalawang piso “two pesos”

Tumaas nang dalawang piso ang presyo ng asukal. “The price of sugar went up two pesos.”

69

dipa “an arm’s length”

Isang dipa lamang ang layo ng leon kay Sheila. “The lion was only an arm’s length away from Sheila.”

70

limang kilometro “five kilometers”

Nagbisikleta si JD nang limang kilometro. “JD rode his bike for five kilometers.”

71

apatnapung yarda “forty yards”

Apatnapung yarda ang tinakbo ni Eddie. “Eddie ran forty yards.”

8 – Pang-abay na Panulad (“Adverbs of Comparison”)

72

mas marami “a lot more”

Mas marami siyang alam kaysa kay Ben. “He knows a lot more than Ben.”

73

higit na magaling “way better”

Higit na magaling umawit si April kaysa kay Ann. “April sings way better than Ann.”

74

mas maingay “noisier”	Mas maingay doon kaysa dito. “It’s more noisy (noisier) there than here.”
Keep in mind that unlike in the English language, we don’t add -er to comparative and -est to superlative forms of adverbs. Instead, we simply place mas (“more”) before the adverb. If translated literally, “noisier” would be mas maingay. In the same manner, mas maingay in English is not “more noisy,” but “noisier.”

75

mas mabilis “faster”

Mas mabilis ang kotse niya kaysa sa kotse ko. “His car is faster than my car.”

76

mas malayo “farther”

Ang bahay nila ay mas malayo sa paaralan kaysa sa bahay namin. “His house is farther from the school than our house.”

77

mas malaki “greater”

Ang talo niya ngayong taon ay mas malaki kaysa noong nakaraan. “His loss this year is greater than his loss last year.”

78

mas malakas “stronger”

Alam kong mas malakas ka kaysa sa kanya. “I know you are stronger than her.”

9 – Pang-abay na Ingklitik (“Enclictic”)

79

kaya “that is why, therefore”

Na-traffic ako kaya nahuli ako sa klase. “I got caught in traffic that’s why I was late in class.

80

yata “it seems”

Masaya yata si Andrew ngayon ah. “It seems that Andrew is cheerful today.”

81

muna “first”

Magmerienda muna kayo bago umalis. “Have some snacks first before leaving.”

82

pala	1. Nandito ka pala? “Oh, so you’re here?” 2. Kahapon ka pa pala dumating? Akala ko bukas pa ang flight mo. “So you arrived yesterday? I thought your flight was supposed to be tomorrow.”
Perhaps you’re wondering why pala doesn’t have an English translation. Well, it’s because it’s one of the few untranslatable Filipino words. Based on the examples, however, you can assume that it’s used to express a sense of being surprised by newly learned information.

83

sana “I hope,” “I wish”

Sana manalo na ako ngayon. “I hope I win this time.”

84

lang “just”

Sandali lang akong maglalaro. “I won’t take long playing.”

85

din “also”

Marunong din akong tumugtog ng gitara. “I also know how to play the guitar.”

86

na “already”

Naayos na ang sasakyan. “The vehicle has already been fixed.”

87

naman “again”

Nakatulog ka na naman. “You fell asleep again.”

88

pa “yet”

Hindi pa dumadating ang padala ni Ate. “The parcel from big sister hasn’t arrived yet.”

89

nga “in fact,” “indeed”

Masipag si Ed. Niligpit nga niya ang mga kalat dito eh. “Ed is diligent. In fact, he got rid of all the mess here.”

90

man “whether”

Paglilingkuran ko ang lahat, mayaman man o mahirap. “I will serve anyone, whether rich or poor.”

91

ba	1. Nakarating na ba tayo? “Are we there yet?” 2. Sinagot niya na ba ang email mo? “Did he respond to your email already?” 3. Kumain ka na ba? “Have you eaten already?”
Ba is another untranslatable Tagalog word. It’s often used with questions.

92

tuloy	Hindi ka nag-aral; hindi ka tuloy pumasa sa exam. “You didn’t study; that’s why you didn’t pass the exam.”
Just like pala and ba, tuloy in this usage has no equivalent English word. In essence, however, it has a similar function as that of the English word “therefore,” and implies consequence. Take note that this is different from the two other tuloy words that mean “to come in” and “to continue.”

10 – Pang-abay na Benepaktibo

para sa “for the”

1. Magluto ka ng arroz caldo para sa maysakit. “Cook some rice broth for the sick patient.” 2. Ang kinolektang  pera ay para sa ikabubuti ng paaralan.” “The money collected is for the benefit of the school.” 3. Para sa kinabukasan mo ang ginagawa ng tatay mo. “What your dad is doing is for your future.”

11 – Pang-abay na Kawsatibo

94

dahil sa “because of”

Naubos ang pera niya dahil sa kawawaldas. “He lost all his money because of his unnecessary spending.”

95

sanhi ng “cause of”

Sanhi ng kanyang pagkalungkot ang pagkamatay ng alagang aso. “The cause of his depression was the death of his dog.”

96

bunga ng “a result of”

Bunga ng kakulangan sa “human connection” ang pagiging adik sa computer games. “Computer game addiction is a result of a lack of human connection.”

97

dulot ng “a result of”

Dulot ng pagkain ng karne ang maraming pinsala sa kalusugan. “Many human ailments are a result of too much meat consumption.”

12 – Pang-abay na Kondisyonal

98

kung “if”

Sasama lamang ako kung sasama si Ellen. “I will go only if Ellen does.”

99

kapag “whenever”

Masaya ako kapag nandyan ka. “I feel happy whenever you’re around.”

100

pagka “once”

Pagka nakita kong tumino ka na, saka lamang ako maniniwala. “I will only believe you once I see that you’ve changed your ways.”

3. Master Your Tagalog Adverb Skills with FilipinoPod101

There’s no way you won’t master the different kinds of adverbs in Filipino after studying 100 of the most common Filipino adverbs, right? Well, how we wish it were so. But learning a new language takes a lot of time and effort. That’s why FilipinoPod101 is here for you.

With FilipinoPod101, you can easily enhance your vocabulary, improve your Tagalog-speaking skills, and speak Tagalog with confidence. And you can do all that simply by starting your free trial today. Doing so will give you access to a number of fun audio and video lessons you can take with you wherever you are. 

You’ll also have access to several Filipino language-learning resources, as well as FilipinoPod101’s very own mobile app that lets you learn Filipino pronunciation and the Filipino alphabet. It even lets you create your own vocab list to study and master.

That said, learning about adverbs in Filipino is just one of the many things you can do here at FilipinoPod101. If there are more things you wish to know about Tagalog adverbs, or anything about the Filipino language in general, don’t hesitate to reach out to us in the comments section. Thanks! 

We hope you enjoyed this lesson!

We’ve already talked about how to tell time in Filipino. We’ve studied the verb in Tagalog, as well. If you’re still wondering why you need to learn both, well, this article might be able to enlighten you a little bit. In this lesson, we’re going to explore a subject that deals with both time and action: conjugation.

Conjugation deals with verb tenses. Verb tenses tell listeners what time period a sentence is referring to: past, present, or future. Tagalog conjugation, in particular, can be quite complex, but that’s the reason we’re here—to help you learn about verb conjugation in Filipino in an easy and enjoyable way.

Table of Contents

1. What is Conjugation?
2. Verb Groups
3. Irregular Verbs and Their Conjugations
4. Quiz Time!
5. FilipinoPod101 Will Help Eliminate any Confusion

1. What is Conjugation?

In grammar, conjugation refers to the process of how a verb transforms, particularly for the purpose of expressing tense, person, and mood. Unlike in English, conjugating verbs using Tagalog is quite unique in the sense that Filipino verbs are morphologically complex and are conjugated in terms of their progressiveness, rather than their tense. I know that’s a lot to take in right now, but you’ll understand things a lot better once we get deeper into the discussion. 

Before we start studying how to conjugate Tagalog verbs, I would suggest that you first take a look at our post on the 100 most practical Filipino verbs, which covers the basics of pandiwa or “verbs.” 

And now, let’s take a look at how Tagalog verbs are conjugated according to verb groups.

2. Verb Groups

Tagalog verbs can be grouped depending on how they’re conjugated. As mentioned in our Filipino Verbs article, the easiest way to understand and learn Filipino verb conjugation is to memorize the common affixes (panlapi) used in Tagalog grammar. These affixes are mag-, ma-, um-, in-, and i-, and Tagalog verbs can be grouped according to these affixes.

Tagalog verbs can also be distinguished either as actor-focus verbs or object-focus verbs. Don’t worry, because we’ll get to learn and understand these two verb groups, as well, as we go through the verb affixes we mentioned above.

1 – MAG Verbs

MAG verbs are among the most commonly used Tagalog verbs. They are actor-focus verbs, and are so-called because they’re formed by adding the prefix mag- to the beginning of the verb. The prefix mag- is used if the verb is in the future and imperative forms. 

Let’s take a look at some examples of common MAG verbs:

Root Verb	Past	Present	Future	Imperative
aral (“to study”)	nag-aral (“studied”)	nag-aaral (“studying”)	mag-aaral (“will study”)	mag-aral (“study”)
basa (“to read”)	nagbasa (“read”)	nagbabasa (“reading”)	magbabasa (“will read”)	magbasa (“read”)
salita (“to talk,” “to speak”)	nagsalita (“talked,” “spoke”)	nagsasalita (“talking,” “speaking”)	magsasalita (“will talk,” “will speak”)	magsalita (“talk,” “speak”)
sulat (“to write”)	nagsulat (“wrote”)	nagsusulat (“writing”)	magsusulat (“will write”)	magsulat (“write”)
saulo (“to memorize”)	nagsaulo (“memorized”)	nagsasaulo (“memorizing”)	magsasaulo (“will memorize”)	magsaulo (“memorize”)

Right now, you may be wondering, “How do I conjugate MAG verbs?” Let us show you.

Notice in the table above that in the four different tenses, the root verb changes form simply by adopting affixes.

Let’s take the verb aral, or “study,” for example.

To form the future tense of aral, we simply attach the prefix MAG- to the verb and repeat the first syllable, so that it becomes mag-aaral. Keep in mind that a hyphen or gitling is required between mag– and any verb that begins with a vowel.

For the imperative form of the verb, mag– is attached to the verb, and the original form is retained. 

So if you want to tell someone to study, you say: Mag-aral ka nang mabuti. (“Study well.”)

Mag-aral ka nang mabuti. (“Study well.”)

To form the present tense, replace MAG- with NAG-, and again, repeat the first syllable of the verb. In this case, aral becomes nag-aaral.

The same goes for the past tense, except that you no longer have to repeat the first syllable: nag-aral. 

2 – MA Verbs

After the MAG verbs are the MA verbs, which are also actor-focus verbs. And just like MAG verbs, MA verbs are formed by attaching a prefix, which in this case is ma-, to the verb.

Root Verb	Past	Present	Future	Imperative
kinig (“to listen”)	nakinig (“listened”)	nakikinig (“listening”)	makikinig (“will listen”)	makinig (“listen”)
nood (“to watch”)	nanood (“watched”)	nanonood (“watching”)	manonood (“will watch”)	manood (“watch”)
tulog (“to sleep”)	natulog (“slept”)	natutulog (“sleeping”)	matutulog (“will sleep”)	matulog (“sleep”)
ligo (“to bathe”)	naligo (“bathed”)	naliligo (“bathing”)	maliligo (“will bathe”)	maligo (“bathe”)
pasyal (“to stroll”)	namasyal (“strolled”)	namamasyal (“strolling”)	mamamasyal (“will stroll”)	mamasyal (“stroll”)

Conjugating MA verbs is as easy as conjugating MAG verbs since the rules are similar. 

Let’s look at the Filipino conjugation of the verb nood, or “watch.” To conjugate it in the future tense, all you need to do is attach the prefix ma- to the verb and repeat the first syllable no-. Nood will now become manonood.

Simply by attaching ma- to the verb and retaining the original form of the root verb, you’ll be able to come up with the imperative form, which is manood.

For the past and present tenses, na- is added as a prefix. Once again, the first syllable is repeated in forming the present tense, but not in forming the past tense. That said, the present tense of nood is nanonood, while its past tense is nanood.

*Note: For some MA verbs that begin with the letter “p,” “p” is changed to “m” when conjugating. Pasyal, for instance, becomes namasyal (past), namamasyal (present), mamamasyal (future), and mamasyal (imperative). The same goes for the verb patay (“to die”), which is conjugated as namatay (past tense) instead of napatay, which is actually the past tense of the same verb in the IN form.

Speaking of which, some verbs can be both UM verbs and IN verbs, although others can only be MAG verbs and IN verbs, depending on the focus.

3 – UM Verbs

UM verbs are actor-focus verbs. They’re formed with the help of the infix um, which is placed within the verb to construct the past, present, and infinitive forms of the verb. Take a look at the Filipino verb conjugation table below for some examples of UM verbs.

Root Verb	Past	Present	Future	Imperative
kain (“to eat”)	kumain (“ate”)	kumakain (“eating”)	kakain (“will eat”)	kumain (“eat”)
kanta (“to sing”)	kumanta (“sang”)	kumakanta (“singing”)	kakanta (“will sing”)	kumanta (“sing”)
tawa (“to laugh”)	tumawa (“laughed”)	tumatawa (“laughing”)	tatawa (“will laugh”)	tumawa (“laugh”)
higa (“to lie down”)	humiga (“laid down”)	humihiga (“lying down”)	hihiga (“will lie down”)	humiga (“lie down”)
sigaw (“to shout”)	sumigaw (“shouted”)	sumisigaw (“shouting”)	sisigaw (“will shout”)	sumigaw (“shout”)

The rules for conjugating UM verbs are a bit different. Let’s look at the verb tawa (“to laugh”), for instance. By observing the table above, you’ll see that the past and infinitive forms of the verb are the same—tumawa. The infix is inserted after the first letter of the word.

To form its future tense, the infix is not added, but the first syllable is repeated. In this case, tawa becomes tatawa.

Now, to form the present tense of the verb, take the future tense first and insert the infix um after the first letter of the word. This time, tatawa (future tense) becomes tumatawa (present tense).

Keep in mind that to form the future tense of an UM verb whose first syllable ends in a consonant (such as in the case of kanta, where the first syllable is kan-), only the first two letters are to be repeated. The future tense of kanta, therefore, is kakanta and NOT kankanta.

4 – IN Verbs

Unlike the first three verb groups, which are actor-focus verbs, IN verbs are object-focus verbs. This means that in a sentence, the focus is on the object and not the actor. Let’s take a look at the table below to see how IN verbs are formed:

Root Verb	Past	Present	Future	Imperative
kain (“to eat”)	kinain (“ate”)	kinakain (“eating”)	kakainin (“will eat”)	kainin (“eat”)
basag (“to break”)	binasag (“broke”)	binabasag (“breaking”)	babasagin (“will break”)	basagin (“break”)
sabi (“to say”)	sinabi (“said”)	sinasabi (“saying”)	sasabihin (“will say”)	sabihin (“say”)
pilit (“to insist,” “to force”)	pinilit (“insisted,” “forced”)	pinipilit (“insisting,” “forcing”)	pipilitin (“will insist,” “will force”)	pilitin (“insist,” “force”)
tawag (“to call”)	tinawag (“called”)	tinatawag (“calling”)	tatawagin (“will call”)	tawagin (“call”)

Conjugating IN verbs isn’t that complicated. Let’s start with the future tense using the verb basag. To conjugate basag to its future tense, simply repeat the first syllable, ba-, and add –in as a suffix so that basag becomes babasagin. 

In some instances, -hin is added instead of -in, such as in the case of sabi, which in the future tense is sasabihin. The same is true for basa (“to read”), which is babasahin in the future tense.

For the imperative form, the rule is to simply add -in as a suffix, transforming basag to basagin.

To conjugate basag to its present tense, begin with the future tense, which is basagin, and then add IN between the first and second letters. Next, remove the suffix -in, transforming the word to binabasag. You can also get the same result by repeating the first syllable and then inserting IN between the first and second letters.

IN is simply added right after the first letter of the root verb to transform it to its past tense. Basag then becomes binasag.

The rules are different for IN verbs starting with the letter “L” when conjugating in present and past tenses. Take the word linis, for example. To transform this to the present tense, the first syllable is repeated and ni- is attached as a prefix so that linis becomes nililinis. For the past tense, ni- is simply added as a prefix to the root form: nilinis.

5 – I Verbs

I verbs are object-focus verbs like IN verbs, although some of them can be actor-focus verbs, as well. Here’s a table of some common I verbs:

Root Verb	Past	Present	Future	Imperative
inom (“to drink”)	ininom (“was drank”)	iniinom (“being drunk”)	iinumin (“will be drank”)	inumin (“drink”)
hinto (“to stop”)	inihinto (“was stopped”)	inihihinto (“being stopped”)	ihihinto (“will be stopped”)	ihinto (“stop”)
bigay (“to give”)	ibinigay (“was given”)	binibigay (“being given”)	ibibigay (“will be given”)	ibigay (“give”)
guhit (“to draw”)	iginuhit (“was drawn”)	iginuguhit (“being drawn”)	iguguhit (“will be drawn”)	iguhit (“draw”)
deklara (“to declare”)	idineklara (“was declared”)	idinideklara (“being declared”)	idideklara (“will be declared”)	ideklara (“declare”)

Let’s take a look at how I verbs are conjugated. Let’s use the verb deklara (“to declare”). Like some I verbs, deklara can also be a MAG verb.

Here’s deklara as a MAG verb:

• Magdedeklara ang punong-guro na walang pasok bukas. 
  “The school principal will declare that classes are suspended for tomorrow.”

In this sentence, the focus is on the actor, which is the punong-guro, or the “principal.”

Now, here’s deklara as an I verb:

• Idedeklara ng punong-guro na walang pasok bukas. 
  “It will be declared by the school principal that classes will be suspended for tomorrow.”

“That moment the principal says there are no classes tomorrow.”

This time, the focus is on the object, making the verb deklara both a MAG verb and an I verb.

So, how do we conjugate I verbs? Let’s use the verb guhit (“to draw”). To form the future tense of this word, repeat the first syllable of the root verb and attach the prefix i- so that guhit (“to draw”) becomes iguguhit (“will be drawn”).

→Ang larawan ni Rose ay iguguhit ni Jake. 
“Anna’s portrait will be drawn by Jake.”

The imperative form is the simplest since you only need to attach i- to the root verb. The imperative for guhit, then, is iguhit.

→Iguhit mo nga ang mukha ng aso sa isang pirasong papel. 
“Draw the dog’s face on a piece of paper.”

3. Irregular Verbs and Their Conjugations

So, how do you conjugate Filipino verbs that are irregular?

In the English language, irregular verbs are verbs that don’t follow the simple rule of attaching “-d” or “-ed” to the end of the word to construct its past tense. In Tagalog grammar, verbs are not categorized in such a manner, although most English irregular verbs, if not all, have an equivalent word in Filipino. 

Take the word “drank,” for instance. It’s the past tense of “drink,” and in Filipino, it’s translated either as uminom (“UM” actor-focus verb) or ininom (“IN” object-focus verb). 

With this in consideration, it’s clear that in this case, the irregularity of the verb “drank” in the Filipino language is not simply in the spelling, but in the usage. Let’s use it in a sentence for you to better understand what I mean:

→Uminom ako ng kape. 
“I drank some coffee.”

Uminom, in this sentence, functions as an actor-focus verb. The same is true for its English equivalent, “drank.”

Let’s compare it to this sentence:

→Ininom ko ang kape. 
“I drank the coffee.”

Ininom, in this sentence, is an object-focus verb, while its English equivalent “drank” remains an actor-focus verb.

“I take my coffee very seriously.”

Here are more examples, using some of the most common irregular English verbs with their conjugation and their equivalent in Tagalog:

1 – Awake

Root Verb	Simple Past	Past Participle
gising (“awake”)	nagising (“awoke”)	nagising, ginising (“awoken”)

Simple Past

→Nagising ako nang may tuwa sa aking puso. 
“I awoke with joy in my heart.”

Past Participle

→Nagising (actor-focus) ako sa mahimbing na pagkakatulog. 
“I have awoken from a deep sleep.”

→Ginising (object-focus) ako ng ingay. 
“The noise has awoken me.”

2 – Bite

Root Verb	Simple Past	Past Participle
kagat (“bite”)	kinagat (“bit”)	nakagat, kinagat (“bitten”)

Simple Past

→Kinagat ko ang aking mga labi. 
“I bit my lips.”

Past Participle

→Nakagat siya ng alaga niyang pusa. 
“She was bitten by her pet cat.”

→Kinagat ako ng ahas. 
“I was bitten by a snake.”

3 – Break

Root Verb	Simple Past	Past Participle
sira (“break”)	sinira, nasira, sumira (“broke”)	nasira, sinira, sira (“broken”)

Simple Past

→Sinira niya ang laruan ni Stephan. 
“He broke Stephan’s toy.”

→Siya ang sumira ng tablet. 
“He was the one who broke the tablet.”

→Nasira lang siya nang basta-basta. 
“It just broke.”

Past Participle

→Nasira ang sasakyan niya dahil sa baha. 
“His car had broken down because of the flood.”

→Sinira nila ang mga panuntunan. 
“They had broken the rules.”

→Matagal nang sira iyan. 
“It’s been broken for some time now.”

4 – Eat

Root Verb	Simple Past	Past Participle
kain (“eat”)	kinain, kumain (“ate”)	nakakain, nakain, kakakain (“eaten”)

Simple Past

→Kinain niya ang natirang ulam. 
“He ate the leftover food.”

→Kumain kami ng halo-halo. 
“We ate halo-halo.” →Nasira ang sasakyan niya dahil sa baha.

Past Participle

→Nakakain ka na ba nito? 
“Have you ever eaten this?”

→Nakain si Jonah ng malaking isda! 
“Jonah was eaten by a huge fish!”

→Salamat! Kakakain lang namin. 
“Thanks! We’ve just eaten.”

5 – Forget

Root Verb	Simple Past	Past Participle
limot (“forget”)	nakalimutan (“forgot”)	nakalimot, nakalimutan (“forgotten”)

Simple Past

→Nakalimutan kong mag-agahan. 
“I forgot to eat breakfast.”

Past Participle

→Nakalimot ka na ba?
“Have you forgotten?”

→Nakalimutan ko ang pangalan niya.
“I have forgotten her name.”

4. Quiz Time!

Here’s a five-item quiz for you to apply what you’ve just learned about Filipino conjugation. You can then refer to the answers and their explanations in the next section.

1.) ___________ ni Joey ang regalong natanggap.
(“Joey opened the gift she received.”)

Choices: a.) Binubuksan b.) Binuksan c.) Bubuksan d.) Buksan

2.) ___________ si Joshua nang limang taon bilang presidente ng paaralan.
(“Joshua will serve as president of the school for five years.”)

Choices: a.) Silbi b.) Magsisilbi c.) Nagsilbi d.) Nagsisilbi

3.) Huwag mong ___________ ang dalawang mama na nag-aaway.
(“Don’t try to pacify the two men who are fighting.”)

Choices: a.) inawat b.) aawatin c.) inaawat d.) awatin

4.) ___________ na lang ako ng sine.
(“I will just watch a movie instead.”)

Choices: a.) Manonood b.) Nanood c.) Manood d.) Nanonood

5.) Si Andrew ay ___________ habang naliligo.
(“Andrew is singing while taking a bath.”)

Choices: a.) kakanta b.) kumanta c.) kanta d.) kumakanta

“I don’t always ace my quiz…just kidding, yes I do!”

Now, let’s see how well you did.

1-  “Joey opened the gift she received.”

What was your answer for the first item? If you answered B (Binuksan), then you’re correct! The verb “opened“ is in the past tense, and its equivalent in Filipino is binuksan, which in this case is an IN verb.

Answer: Binuksan

2- “Joshua will serve as president of the school for five years.”

The auxiliary verb “will” + the verb “serve” indicates that the action is going to take place in the future. It’s also clear that the choices are all MAG verbs because of the prefixes mag- and nag-. But since the verb is in the future tense, nagsilbi and nagsisilbi are out of the question. Silbi is also not a valid choice since it’s in the root form. That leaves us with magsisilbi, or “will serve.”

Answer: Magsisilbi

3- “Don’t try to pacify the two men who are fighting.”

“Pacify” in this sentence is awat in Filipino, and is in its imperative form. The choices are inawat, aawatin, inaawat, and awatin, which belong to the IN verb category. 

According to the rules for conjugating an IN verb to its imperative form, we simply add the suffix -in to the root form. In this case, that’s adding -in to awat, which gives us awatin. 

Answer: awatin

4- “I will just watch a movie instead.”

“Will watch” speaks of a future action. To find the correct answer, let’s first check which verb group the choices belong to. In this case, all of the choices are MA verbs: manonood, nanood, manood, and nanonood. 

We’re only interested in figuring out which of these four choices is the future tense of “watch” or nood. Going back to our rules for conjugating a MA verb to its future tense, what we need to do is attach the prefix ma- to the root verb and repeat its first syllable. That would give us ma + no + nood. The answer, therefore, is B, Manonood.

Answer: Mananood

5-  “Andrew is singing while taking a bath.”

The verb “singing” (kanta) is clearly in the present tense, while all the choices are under the UM verb category. All we need to do to find the correct answer is determine the present tense of kanta. Again, to form the present tense of an UM verb, we first conjugate it to its future tense and insert the infix um after the first letter of the word. That means repeating the first syllable ka and then adding um right after the first k. That gives us the word kumakanta.

Answer: kumakanta

5. FilipinoPod101 Will Help Eliminate any Confusion

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