Tagalog

Tagalog is a Philippine language spoken in the Philippines, particularly in Manila, central and southern parts of Luzon, and also on the islands of Lubang, Marinduque, and the northern and eastern parts of Mindoro. Tagalog speakers can also be found in many other countries, including Canada, Guam, Midway Islands, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, UK and USA.

According to the 2010 census, there are about 22.5 million speakers of Tagalog in the Philippines [source]. According to survey conducted by the US Census Bureau, there were about 1.6 million Tagalog speakers in the USA in 2013.

The name Tagalog derives from tagá-ílog, which means "resident beside the river". Little is known of the history of the language before the arrival of the Spanish in the Philippines during the 16th century as no eariler written materials have been found.

The national language of the Philippines in known as Filipino (Wikang Filipino). It is a standard register of Tagalog, and is defined by the Commission on the Filipino Language (Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino) as "the native language, spoken and written, in Metro Manila, the National Capital Region, and in other urban centers of the archipelago." [source]. Filipino is also influenced by other Philippine languages.

Written Tagalog

Tagalog was written with the Baybayin script until the 17th century. After that the Latin alphabet was introduced, and the Baybayin script is used mainly for decorative purposes.

The earliest known book in Tagalog is the Doctrina Cristiana (Christian Doctrine) which was published in 1593. It was written in Spanish and Tagalog, with the Tagalog text in both Baybayin and the Latin alphabet.

Latin alphabet for Tagalog

A a	B b	K k	D d	E e	G g	H h
a	ba	ka	da	e	ga	ha
I i	L l	M m	N n	Ng ng	O o	P p
i	la	ma	na	nga	o	pa
R r	S s	T t	U u	W w	Y y
ra	sa	ta	u	wa	ya

Hear the Tagalog alphabet:

Pronunciation

Tagalog pronunciation

Notes

a is pronounced [ɐ] in unstressed positions, and sometimes in stressed positions
e is sometimes pronounced [i ~ ɪ ~ e], or [ai]
Unstressed i is usually pronounced [ɪ]. In final syllables i can be pronounced [ɪ ~ i ~ e ~ ɛ]. When i comes before consonant cluster beginning with s, such as st, it is not pronounced. E.g. istasyon [staˈʃon]
o is sometimes pronounced [u ~ ʊ ~ ɔ]. Before mb and mp it is pronounced [u]
u is pronounced [ʊ] in unstressed positions
k tend to be pronounced [kx] at the beginning of words. Between vowels it is often pronounced [x]
g tends to be pronounced [ɰ] between vowels.
h is often not pronounced in rapid speed
ng is pronounced [m] before b and p, and [n] before d,t, s and l

Sample text

Ang lahat ng tao'y isinilang na malaya at pantay-pantay sa karangalan at mga karapatan. Sila'y pinagkalooban ng katwiran at budhi at dapat magpalagayan ang isa't isa sa diwa ng pagkakapatiran.

Hear a recording of this text

Download Tagalog alphabet charts (Excel)

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Sample videos in Tagalog

Links

Information about the Tagalog language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagalog
http://www.towerofbabelfish.com/language-resources/learn-tagalog/
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/tagalog_mainpage.htm

Online Tagalog lessons
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/
http://talktagalog.com
http://www.tagalog1.com/Index_Lessons.jsp
http://www.tagaloglang.com
https://learningtagalog.com/grammar
http://www.fluenttagalog.com
http://polymath.org/filipino.php
http://polymath.org/tagalog.php
http://www.filipinopod101.com/

Tagalog phrases
http://www.seasite.niu.edu/Tagalog/Tagalog_Homepage99/useful_tagalog_phrases3.htm
http://www.tagaloglang.com
http://www.hillmanwonders.com/philippines/phrases_philippines.htm
http://www.101languages.net/tagalog/basics.html
http://www.linguanaut.com/english_tagalog.htm
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD1832BDD7835EE25
http://talktagalog.com/yourfirst100tagalogsentences/

Online Tagalog dictionary
http://www.tagalog-dictionary.com

Tagalog Translators
http://www.tagalogtranslator.nl
http://home.planet.nl/~roosiedb/tagtrans3/tagtrans3.html

Information about Philippine history, language and scripts
http://www.mts.net/~pmorrow/
http://www.eaglescorner.com/baybayin/
http://www.bibingka.com/dahon/

Philippine languages

Aborlan Tagbanwa, Agutaynen, Bantik, Bikol, Binukid, Blaan, Buhid, Bukid, Buol, Calmian Tagbanwa, Casiguran Dumagat Agta, Central Tagbanwa, Gorontalo, Hanuno'o, Iranun, Iraya, Isnag, Kagayanen, Kalanguya, Kapampangan, Klata, Maguindanao, Mamanwa, Manide, Maranao, Matigsalug, Molbog, Mongondow, Obo, Palawano, Ratahan, Rinconada Bikol, Sangirese, Suwawa, Tagalog, Tagabawà, Talaud, Tawbuid, Tboli, Tiruray, Tombulu, Tondano, Tonsawang, Umiray Dumaget, Western Subanon

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 17.10.23

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