Tagalog Absolute Beginner Lesson 1 – Basic Greetings

Category : Beginner Lessons

With our lessons, you will learn the absolute beginner levels of Tagalog through the most effective ways of jumping into a language; practice through reading and speaking!

Tagalog at beginner level is very easy to absorb. By the end of our lessons, you will know how to greet others, introduce yourself, express your likes and dislikes, tell time, and get around in the Philippines. These lessons apply to all walks of life, from young children to foreigners who want to quickly learn how to converse with native Filipinos.

1.0 A quick overview of pronunciation

The pronunciation of Tagalog words are exactly as they are spelled. Each vowel represents one individual syllable. Think of it in the same principle as “banana” being pronounced as “ba-na-na”. For example, the Tagalog word “kamusta” is pronounced “ka-mus-ta” and “oo” is pronounced “o-o”.

1.1 Saying yes or no


Oo
Yes


Opo
Yes (respectful, typically spoken to someone older)


Hindi
No

1.2 Meeting or leaving someone

The word ‘maganda’ directly translates as ‘beautiful’, but is used as ‘good’ in the context of greeting someone. A beautiful morning is a good morning!


Kamusta
Hello.


Magandang umaga.
Good morning.


Magandang tanghali.
Good noon.

Magandang hapon.
Good afternoon.


Magandang araw.
Good day.

Magandang gabi.
Good evening.

Paalam.
Goodbye.

1.3 Common Conversation Phrases

The word ‘kamusta’ is commonly used as a way to say ‘hello’, but can be used as a way to ask how someone is doing when said with a questioning tone.


Kamusta ka?
How are you?


Kamusta kayo?
How are you? (plural)


mabuti
fine/good


Mabuti ako.
I am fine.


Mabuti kami.
We are fine.


Salamat.
Thank you.


Maraming salamat.
Thank you very much.

sori
sorry (English influenced)


paumanhin
sorry (excuse me)

patawad
sorry

Patawarin mo ako.
Forgive me.

1.4 Basic Rules

The word ‘po’ can be added to most sentences to convey respect. This is typically done to show respect to elders, people who are in positions of authority, older family members, and older friends.


Salamat.

Salamat po.
Thank you

hindi

Hindi po
No

Oo

Opo
Yes

Mabuti ako.

Mabuti po ako.
I am fine.

Tagalog Absolute Beginner Lesson 2 – Introducing Yourself

Category : Beginner Lessons

Kamusta! Previously, you learned the basics of greeting and starting a conversation in Tagalog. With this lesson, you will take the next step in conversing which is learning how to introduce and talk about yourself.

2.1 Names


pangalan
name

To introduce yourself by your name, simply say the phrase “Ako ay si” follow by your name.

Ako ay si ________.
I am ________.


Ako ay si Juan.
I am Juan.


Ang pangalan ko ay Juan.
My name is Juan.


Juan ang pangalan ko.
Juan is my name.


Ano ang pangalan mo?
What is your name?

2.2 Nationality


Taga-Amerika ako.
I am from America. (casual)


Mula ako sa Pilipinas.
I am from the Philippines. (formal)


Nakatira ako sa California.
I live in California.

Taga-saan ka?
Where are you from?

2.3 Age

gúlang
age


taon
year


Limang taon na ako.
I am five years old. (casual)


Ako ay limang taong gulang.
I am five years old. (formal)


Ilang taon ka na?
How old are you?

2.4 Profession and Job

trabaho
job

trabahador
worker

propesyon
profession

Ako ay isang guro.
I am a teacher.


Nagtatrabaho ako sa mol.
I work at the mall.


Wala akong trabaho.
I have no job.

Ano ang trabaho mo?
What is your job?


Tagalog Absolute Beginner Lesson 3 – Likes & Dislikes

Category : Beginner Lessons

In the previous lesson, you learned how to introduce yourself. Ano ang pangalan mo? In this lesson, you will learn how to express your likes and dislikes of objects, people and actions.

gusto
like


ayaw
dislike

3.1 Liking and disliking objects

To show your like or desire for something, use the phrase ‘Gusto ko ng’ + ‘item/thing’.

Example:


Gusto ko ng tinapay.
I want bread.

Gusto ko ng tubig.
I want water.

To show your dislike or disapproval for something, use the phrase ‘Ayaw ko ng’ + ‘item/thing’.

Example:


Ayaw ko ng manok.
I don’t want chicken.

Ayaw ko ng petsay.
I don’t want bokchoy.

3.2 Liking and disliking actions

To show your like or desire to do something, use the phrase ‘Gusto kong’ + ‘action verb’.

Example:


Gusto kong tumakbo.
I want to run.


Gusto kong maligo.
I want to bathe.


Gusto kong uminom ng tubig.
I want to drink water.

To show your dislike or disapproval to do something, use the phrase ‘Ayaw kong’ + ‘action verb’.

Example:


Ayaw kong magtabaho.
I don’t want to work.


Ayaw kong lumagoy.
I don’t want to swim.


Ayaw kong mamatay.
I don’t want to die.

3.3 Liking and disliking someone

Gusto kita.
I like you.


Gusto ko siya.
I like him/her.

To express that you like someone by their name, use the phrase ‘Gusto ko si’ + ‘their name’.


Gusto ko si Manny Pacquiao.
I like Manny Pacquiao.


Ayaw ko sa iyo.
I don’t like you.


Ayaw ko sa kanya.
I don’t like him/her.


Ayaw ko si Manny Pacquiao.
I don’t like Manny Pacquiao.

3.4 Asking for someone’s likes and dislikes


Ano ang gusto mo?
What do you like/want?


Alin ang gusto mo, A o B?
Which one do you like, A or B?


Ano ang gusto mo, isda o baboy?
What do you like, fish or pig.

Ikaw? Anong gusto mo?
And you? What do you like?


Tagalog Absolute Beginner Lesson 4 – Numbers and Time Expressions

Category : Beginner Lessons

Filipino primary schools teach children to count in Filipino and English. As a result of 373 years of Spanish colonization (1521 – 1898) over the Philippines, Spanish derived numbers are used commonly by most of the Filipino population.

4.1 Numbers

Besides counting with Tagalog numbers, Filipinos often use Spanish-derived numbers for telling time and one’s age. Often they provide a faster and simpler way to speak.

For example:
labindalawa (syllables: 5)
twelve

dose (syllables: 2)
twelve (Spanish derived)

TagalogSpanish derived

isa
one

uno
one

dalawa
two

dos
two

tatlo
three

tres
three

apat
four
kuatro
four

lima
five
sinko
five

anim
six
seis
six

pito
seven
siete
seven

walo
eight
ocho
eight

siyam
nine
nueve
nine

sampu
ten
diez
ten

4.2 Numbers in phrases

To express a specific number of an object, add ‘ng’ to the number words that end in vowels and add ‘na’ to the number words that end in consonants.

For example:
pito(ng) isda
seven fish


isang bata
one child


anim na sapatos
six shoes


siyam na libro
seven books

4.3 Time expressions


ngayon
now


bukas
tomorrow


kahapon
yesterday


mamaya
later


umaga
morning


tanghali
noon

hapon
afternoon


gabi
night

hatinggabi
midnight


mamayang umaga
later this morning

mamayang hapon
later this afternoon


mamayang gabi
later tonight


Anong oras?
What time?


Anong oras na?
What time is it?


Anong oras na ngayon?
What time is it now?

Hanggang kailan?
Until when?


Tagalog Absolute Beginner Lesson 5 – Getting Around

Category : Beginner Lessons

Previous lessons have taught you how to introduce yourself, but how do you get to where you’re going? You may need to ask for directions! The word ‘directions’ in Tagalog is ‘direksyon’.

5.1 Where?


saan
where


Nasaan?
Where?

Nasaan ba tayo?
Where are we?


Nasaan ang banyo?
Where is the restroom?

5.2 Directions


dito
here


diyan
there


doon
over there

Pumunta doon si Julia.
Julia went there.


Tumakbo diyan si Julia.
Julia ran over there.

To ask for directions to a location, simply say ‘nasaan ang’ with the location’s name. This will work for most locations.

Example:


Nasaan ang banyo?
Where is the restroom?

5.3 Common Phrases To Get Around

Para
Stop (for requesting to leave a jeepney, tricycle or bus)
Note: It is typical to add ‘po’ at the end of Para to show respect regardless of the driver’s age.


Taga Amerika ako.
I am from America.

Tagasaan ka?
Where are you from?


Nagbabakasyon lang ako dito.
I am just here on vacation.


Tagalog On The Spot

Slang Of The Day

Jowa
lover / boyfriend / girlfriend

Example:
Jowa mo ba si Juan?
Is Juan your boyfriend?