Free · No account · 69 languages

Figure it out. Say it. Remember it.

Don't memorize the language — learn to build it. Construct real sentences yourself, then say them out loud.

Your progress stays private in your browser

Popular languages

Pick one and build your first sentence in under a minute.

Travel phrasebooks

The phrases you actually need — greetings, taxis, restaurants, emergencies — for the city you're visiting.

🇨🇳 BeijingChina · MandarinPhrasebook →🇨🇳 ShanghaiChina · MandarinPhrasebook →🇪🇸 MadridSpain · SpanishPhrasebook →🇪🇸 BarcelonaSpain · SpanishPhrasebook →🇦🇪 DubaiUAE · ArabicPhrasebook →🇦🇪 Abu DhabiUAE · ArabicPhrasebook →🇹🇷 IstanbulTurkey · TurkishPhrasebook →🇵🇹 LisbonPortugal · PortuguesePhrasebook →

🇬🇧🇫🇷🇫🇮🇦🇿🇧🇩🇨🇳

The game

Path — speak your way home

A new eastbound line each run. Construct a sentence at every city. The clock only bites when you miss. Paris · Helsinki · Baku · Dhaka · Beijing.

🔥 Good evening — your Tagalog path

0/0 lessons built

A ~5-minute daily loop that keeps Tagalog alive. Start anywhere.

Languages map

Click a country. Start the language.

A world map of courses we actually teach — not a booking map, and not Path.

🎯 Build Challenge

Build a sentence you've never seen

You already know two Tagalog words. Can you construct a brand-new sentence from them?

I wantquiero

coffeecafé

So how would you say “I want coffee.”?

That's LanguagePath.

The LanguagePath Method™

Reason it out — don't cram it in

You won't memorize phrases. You'll construct real sentences, then listen and rebuild them. Every step reuses what you already built — so the language compounds.

1 · UNDERSTANDGet one piece of the language.

2 · CONSTRUCTBuild a sentence you've never seen.

3 · SAYSay it out loud before you reveal.

4 · HEARListen and compare with the target.

5 · REBUILDReuse those pieces in the next sentence.

Language Bridges™

You're not always starting from zero

Every language you already know hands you free bridges to a new one. Words stick on first contact when you spot the connection.

English — information
French — informations
Spanish — información
Portuguese — informação

Add the languages you already speak in the 🌐 Hub → Settings — then tap ✨ Bridge on any phrase to surface the real cognates and shared roots that make new words click.

Real sentences you'll learn to build in Tagalog

Build real sentences from pieces you already know. Tap any phrase to hear it — then you'll build them yourself.

What you'll learn in Tagalog

0/0 lessons

Each lesson builds on the last, reusing what you already know. Tap a lesson to jump in.

Explore the Learning Library

Short, interactive pages on specific skills and situations — each one teaches you something real, then hands you straight into a course.

Learn practical Arabic for life in the UAEHow to say greetings in SpanishSpanish numbers 1–20Introduce yourself in SpanishSer vs Estar — the two Spanish 'to be' verbsArabic greetings (MSA)

Explore all learning topics →

Frequently asked questions

Is LanguagePath free?

Yes, every lesson, course and tool is free to use, with no account or sign-up. Two things are optional and paid: LanguagePath Pro ($4.99 a month or $29 a year), which removes ads and adds extra AI practice, and printable Travel Phrase Pack PDFs ($9 per city, or $19 for all 8). Advertising only loads after you consent — the site stays fully usable if you reject it.

Do I need an account?

No. Your progress is saved in your own browser's local storage. Nothing is uploaded to a server.

How is LanguagePath different?

You don't memorize phrases — you reason them out. The teacher gives you a piece, you build real sentences yourself, say them aloud, then reveal and check. Every step reuses what you already built.

Which languages can I learn?

Nine flagship courses (Mandarin, Arabic, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Turkish, Telugu, Farsi) plus dozens more in the picker. Each Path rolls a new eastbound line of cities from languages you can practise here.

What is Path?

Path is LanguagePath’s race: construct a sentence at each city. Misses cost days; a clean build costs nothing. The eighty-day clock is the rule, not the title. Explore → Path, or tap Play Path above.

🧠 How this works

Tagalog — Tagalog is built the reason-it-out way: you learn the pieces, then construct real sentences yourself. It starts with everyday, useful sentences.

The 3 rules of the method

🗣️ Say everything out loud. Silent reading doesn't build speech. Speak before you reveal.

⏸️ Always pause and try first. When you hit a challenge, actually work it out — getting it slightly wrong is how it sticks. Then tap Reveal.

🔁 Don't fear forgetting. Everything comes back through use in later steps. Keep moving; understanding beats memorizing.

Your course (≈10 min each)

Do roughly one a day. They build in order — each lesson reuses the last.

Planning a trip to Manila, the Philippines?

Learning Tagalog for a trip? Use the phrases from this course on the ground, and sort the rest here.

✈️ Find flights 🏨 Find a hotel 🎟️ Tours & tickets 📶 Travel eSIM 🛡️ Travel insurance

Flight delayed or cancelled? Check compensation with AirHelp → · or Compensair →

Partner links: LanguagePath may earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. How this works.

⭐ LanguagePath Pro: no ads, the whole course offline, and more AI practice. $4.99/month or $29/year. See Pro →

🎧 Lessons

Tap to begin. Speak each answer aloud before revealing.

🔁 Spaced recall

Your daily warm-up. Sentences you've built come back at growing gaps — but don't recall them from memory. Rebuild each one from its pieces, every time; that's what makes them permanent. Read the English, work it out aloud, then reveal.

🧩 Build

The real test of the method: brand-new sentences you've never seen, made only from words and structures you've already learned. You can't recall these — you have to construct them. That's fluency in miniature.

👂 Listening drills

Real conversations hit your ear with no subtitles. Here you only hear the language — work out the meaning, then reveal. This trains the skill you'll actually use in real conversations.

🗣️ Shadowing

A powerful way to develop more natural rhythm and pronunciation: hear a line and repeat it immediately, copying the rhythm and melody — not translating. 10–15 focused minutes beats an hour of tired mimicry.

✚ Chunk builder

Heard a useful phrase out in the world? Capture it here. Every chunk you save joins your Recall, Listen, Shadow and Quiz automatically — so it actually sticks.

📺 Resources & daily plan

Free listening you can understand and enjoy — the comprehensible-input piece. Mix these with your lessons.

💬 Real conversations

Full exchanges you'll actually have, start to finish. Tap 🔊 on any line, or play the whole conversation. Try covering the English and reading the other language aloud.

🎯 Quiz

Test yourself across everything you've learned. Multiple-choice both ways, plus a typing challenge. You need 80% to call a set solid.

🤖 Conversation partner

The practice no drill gives you: a real back-and-forth. Chat with an AI partner that stays at a beginner level and gently corrects you — a powerful way to turn what you've learned into speech.

🌍 Culture & etiquette

Speaking well is half of it — these unwritten rules will make locals warm to you instantly.

🗂️ Pocket phrases

Grab-and-go reference for real situations — greetings, numbers, emergencies that you just need ready. Search or filter, tap 🔊.

🔊 Sounds

Quick grammar

🌐 Hub

Your command centre — progress across every language, one daily plan, a single review that spans them all, and a phrase explorer that shows how your languages connect.

Learning Tagalog: a practical guide

This is a written companion to the free Tagalog course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.

What Tagalog is like

Tagalog is friendly to learn: there are no genders and no verb forms that change for each person like in Spanish. Word order is flexible — Gusto ko ng kape = "I want coffee" (literally "want I [marker] coffee"). Instead of 'a'/'the', Tagalog uses small markers: ang (the subject), ng (object / possessive), sa (to / at / in). ko = my/I, mo = your, niya = his/her. Add po to be polite, especially to elders — Salamat po. Questions often open with a question word: ano (what), saan (where), kailan (when), bakit (why), magkano (how much).

Words you may already know

🇪🇸 Spanish. Tagalog borrowed a huge amount of Spanish vocabulary over centuries: kumusta (from "¿cómo está?"), mesa (table), silya (chair), doktor (doctor), ospital (hospital), pamilya (family). You already know more than you think. 🌍 English. Modern Tagalog (along with Filipino) also swallows English words directly — taxi, hotel, computer, cellphone (selpon), joke, color. Everyday Tagalog mixes English in constantly. 🔗 Import your knowledge. Whenever a Tagalog word sounds like English or Spanish, grab it. These cognates — mesa, silya, kumusta, doktor, pamilya — are free vocabulary and build your confidence fast.

Pronunciation notes

Tagalog is written in the Latin alphabet and mostly said the way it's spelled. Nail these few sounds and you can read almost any word aloud.

a — as in "father" — open and full, never the short "cat" sound, as in araw = AH-raw.
e — as in "bed", as in mesa = MEH-sah.
i — as in "machine", as in isa = EE-sah.
o — as in "go", as in opo = OH-poh.
u — as in "boot", as in umuulan = oo-moo-AH-lahn.
ng — the nasal "ng" as in "singer" — one sound, not two letters, as in maraming = mah-RAH-meeng.
k — crisp hard "k", a little lighter than English, as in kumusta = koo-moos-TAH.
r — a single tap of the tongue, lightly rolled, as in Rizal = ree-SAL.

First phrases

The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.

Tagalog	Pronunciation	Meaning
Kumusta?	koo-moos-TAH	How are you?
Magandang umaga	mah-gahn-DAHNG oo-MAH-gah	Good morning
Magandang gabi	mah-gahn-DAHNG gah-BEE	Good evening / night
Paalam	pah-AH-lahm	Goodbye
Ako si Alex	ah-KOH see	I am Alex
Anong pangalan mo?	ah-NONG pah-ngah-LAHN moh	What's your name?
Salamat	sah-LAH-maht	Thank you
Maraming salamat	mah-RAH-meeng sah-LAH-maht	Thanks a lot
Walang anuman	WAH-lahng ah-noo-MAHN	You're welcome
Paki	pah-KEE	Please
Pasensya na	pah-SEHN-shah nah	Sorry / excuse me
Oo	OH-oh	Yes
Hindi	HEEN-dee	No
Isa	EE-sah	1
Dalawa	dah-LAH-wah	2
Tatlo	tat-LOH	3
Apat	AH-paht	4
Lima	LEE-mah	5
Anim	AH-neem	6
Pito	PEE-toh	7
Walo	WAH-loh	8
Siyam	shee-YAHM	9
Sampu	sahm-POO	10
Gusto ko ng kape	GOOS-toh koh nahng KAH-peh	I want coffee
Tubig	TOO-beeg	Water
Kanin	KAH-neen	Rice
Masarap	mah-SAH-rahp	Delicious
Saan ang banyo?	sah-AHN ahng BAHN-yoh	Where is the bathroom?
Kanan	KAH-nahn	To the right
Kaliwa	kah-LEE-wah	To the left

How the Tagalog course is structured

The course has 16 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:

Greetings & being polite — kumusta · magandang umaga · paalam
Being polite — salamat · paki · walang anuman · po
Numbers 1–10 — isa · dalawa · tatlo · sampu
I want" — gusto ko — gusto ko · ng · ayoko · sige
Food & drink — kape · tubig · kanin · masarap
Getting around — saan ang · kanan · kaliwa · diretso
Questions & "do you have…?" — ano · sino · kailan · may · pwede
Family & people — pamilya · nanay · tatay · kaibigan
Time, days & weather — ngayon · bukas · umuulan · panahon
Your name — ako si · pangalan · anong pangalan mo?
Getting help — tulong · kailangan ko ng tulong · hindi ko maintindihan
Tying it together — a capstone day out
Airport & tickets — paliparan · pasaporte · tiket · lipad
The taxi — taksi · pumunta · hotel · tumigil
The hotel — reserbasyon · kuwarto · susi · gabi
Ask for help — hindi ko maintindihan · mas mabagal · Ingles

Inside the lessons

Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.

Greetings & being polite

Key pieces: kumusta · magandang umaga · paalam

Start with the greeting you'll hear first: kumusta — how are you? It comes from Spanish "¿cómo está?". Say it out loud.

Kumusta? (koo-moos-TAH) — How are you? Memory hook: kumusta ≈ Spanish "¿cómo está?".
Magandang umaga (mah-gahn-DAHNG oo-MAH-gah) — good morning
Magandang gabi (mah-gahn-DAHNG gah-BEE) — good evening / night
Paalam (pah-AH-lahm) — goodbye
Sige (SEE-geh) — OK / go ahead

To say “Hello, how are you?” in Tagalog: Kumusta? (koo-moos-TAH). Built from kumusta = how are you?.

To greet by time of day: magandang umaga — good morning. Maganda means "beautiful/good", so it's literally "beautiful morning".

To say “Good morning!” in Tagalog: Magandang umaga! (mah-gahn-DAHNG oo-MAH-gah). Built from magandang = beautiful/good; umaga = morning.

To say “Goodbye!” in Tagalog: Paalam! (pah-AH-lahm). Built from paalam = goodbye.

Being polite

Key pieces: salamat · paki · walang anuman · po

The two words that open every door: salamat (thank you) and paki (please). Say them out loud.

Salamat (sah-LAH-maht) — thank you
Maraming salamat (mah-RAH-meeng sah-LAH-maht) — thanks a lot
Walang anuman (WAH-lahng ah-noo-MAHN) — you're welcome
Paki (pah-KEE) — please
Pasensya na (pah-SEHN-shah nah) — sorry / excuse me
Oo (OH-oh) — yes
Hindi (HEEN-dee) — no

To say “Thank you” in Tagalog: Salamat (sah-LAH-maht). Built from salamat = thank you.

To thank someone a lot, say maraming salamat — literally "many thanks".

To say “Thank you very much” in Tagalog: Maraming salamat (mah-RAH-meeng sah-LAH-maht). Built from maraming = many; salamat = thanks.

Add po after words to be polite, especially to elders: Salamat po. And reply to a thank-you with walang anuman — you're welcome.

To say “You're welcome” in Tagalog: Walang anuman (WAH-lahng ah-noo-MAHN). Built from walang = no; anuman = anything.

Numbers 1–10

Key pieces: isa · dalawa · tatlo · sampu

Start counting: isa, dalawa, tatlo — one, two, three.

Isa (EE-sah) — 1
Dalawa (dah-LAH-wah) — 2
Tatlo (tat-LOH) — 3
Apat (AH-paht) — 4
Lima (LEE-mah) — 5
Anim (AH-neem) — 6
Pito (PEE-toh) — 7
Walo (WAH-loh) — 8
Siyam (shee-YAHM) — 9
Sampu (sahm-POO) — 10

To say “One” in Tagalog: Isa (EE-sah). Built from isa = one.

To count money, use a number + piso (peso). Limang piso = five pesos.

To say “Five pesos” in Tagalog: Limang piso (LEE-mahng PEE-soh). Built from limang = five; piso = peso.

To ask a price, use Magkano? — how much?

To say “How much is this?” in Tagalog: Magkano ito? (mag-KAH-noh EE-toh). Built from magkano = how much; ito = this.

I want" — gusto ko

Key pieces: gusto ko · ng · ayoko · sige

To say what you want: gusto ko — I want (literally "I like"). Gusto ko ng kape = I want coffee.

Gusto ko (GOOS-toh koh) — I want
Gusto ko ng… (GOOS-toh koh nahng) — I want a…
Ayoko (ah-YOH-koh) — I don't want
Sige (SEE-geh) — OK
Gusto mo? (GOOS-toh moh) — do you want?

To say “I want coffee” in Tagalog: Gusto ko ng kape (GOOS-toh koh nahng KAH-peh). Built from gusto ko = I want; ng = (marker); kape = coffee.

ng is a small marker connecting you to the thing you want. And to say you don't want something, use ayoko .

To say “I don't want” in Tagalog: Ayoko (ah-YOH-koh). Built from ayoko = I don't want.

To say “I want water” in Tagalog: Gusto ko ng tubig (GOOS-toh koh nahng TOO-beeg). Built from gusto ko = I want; tubig = water.

Food & drink

Key pieces: kape · tubig · kanin · masarap

Eating and drinking: kape (coffee), tubig (water), kanin (rice) — the staple of every meal.

Kape (KAH-peh) — coffee
Tubig (TOO-beeg) — water
Kanin (KAH-neen) — rice
Mesa (MEH-sah) — table Memory hook: mesa ≈ Spanish "mesa" (table).
Silya (SEE-lyah) — chair Memory hook: silya ≈ Spanish "silla" (chair).
Masarap (mah-SAH-rahp) — delicious

To say “I want rice” in Tagalog: Gusto ko ng kanin (GOOS-toh koh nahng KAH-neen). Built from gusto ko = I want; kanin = rice.

Masarap — delicious! Say it when the food is good.

To say “It's delicious!” in Tagalog: Masarap! (mah-SAH-rahp). Built from masarap = delicious.

To say “Water, please” in Tagalog: Tubig, paki (TOO-beeg, pah-KEE). Built from tubig = water; paki = please.

Getting around

Key pieces: saan ang · kanan · kaliwa · diretso

To find your way, ask Saan ang…? — where is…?

Saan ang…? (sah-AHN ahng) — Where is…?
Kanan (KAH-nahn) — to the right
Kaliwa (kah-LEE-wah) — to the left
Diretso (dee-REH-tsoh) — straight ahead
Banyo (BAHN-yoh) — the bathroom Memory hook: banyo ≈ English "bathroom".
Palengke (pah-LEHNG-keh) — the market

To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Tagalog: Saan ang banyo? (sah-AHN ahng BAHN-yoh). Built from saan = where; ang = the; banyo = bathroom.

To say “Where is the market?” in Tagalog: Saan ang palengke? (sah-AHN ahng pah-LEHNG-keh). Built from saan = where; ang = the; palengke = market.

Kumanan = turn right, kumaliwa = turn left. Straight ahead is diretso .

To say “Straight ahead” in Tagalog: Diretso (dee-REH-tsoh). Built from diretso = straight ahead.

Questions & "do you have…?"

Key pieces: ano · sino · kailan · may · pwede

Tagalog question words: ano (what), saan (where), kailan (when), bakit (why).

Ano (ah-NOH) — what
Sino (see-NOH) — who
Kailan (kah-EE-lahn) — when
Bakit (BAH-keet) — why
Paano (pah-AH-noh) — how
May…? (may) — is there / do you have…?
Pwede…? (PWEH-deh) — may I / can I…? Memory hook: pwede ≈ Spanish "puede".

To say “What is this?” in Tagalog: Ano ito? (ah-NOH EE-toh). Built from ano = what; ito = this.

May…? asks "is there…?" and it's extremely handy. May wifi? = is there wifi?

To say “Is there wifi?” in Tagalog: May wifi? (may WEE-fee). Built from may = is there; wifi = wifi.

Pwede…? = may I / can I…? It comes from Spanish "puede".

To say “Who is that?” in Tagalog: Sino iyon? (see-NOH ee-YON). Built from sino = who; iyon = that.

Family & people

Key pieces: pamilya · nanay · tatay · kaibigan

Family is central in the Philippines: pamilya (family), nanay (mother), tatay (father).

Pamilya (pah-MEEL-yah) — family Memory hook: pamilya ≈ Spanish "familia".
Nanay / Ina (NAH-nai / EE-nah) — mother
Tatay / Ama (TAH-tai / AH-mah) — father
Kuya (KOO-yah) — older brother
Ate (AH-teh) — older sister
Anak (ah-NAK) — child
Kaibigan (kah-ee-BEE-gahn) — friend

To say “I have a family” in Tagalog: May pamilya ako (may pah-MEEL-yah ah-KOH). Built from may = have/there is; pamilya = family; ako = I.

Kuya is what you call an older brother and ate an older sister — people use them for friends and strangers too, as a sign of warmth.

To say “This is my friend” in Tagalog: Ito ang kaibigan ko (EE-toh ahng kah-ee-BEE-gahn koh). Built from ito = this; ang = the; kaibigan ko = my friend.

To say “My family” in Tagalog: Ang pamilya ko (ahng pah-MEEL-yah koh). Built from ang = the; pamilya ko = my family.

Time, days & weather

Key pieces: ngayon · bukas · umuulan · panahon

Time words: ngayon (now / today), bukas (tomorrow), kahapon (yesterday).

Ngayon (nah-GYON) — now / today
Bukas (BOO-kahs) — tomorrow
Kahapon (kah-HAH-pon) — yesterday
Umaga (oo-MAH-gah) — morning
Gabi (gah-BEE) — night
Linggo (LEENG-goh) — week / Sunday
Biyernes (bee-YER-nes) — Friday Memory hook: biyernes ≈ Spanish "viernes".

To say “See you tomorrow” in Tagalog: Kita bukas (KEE-tah BOO-kahs). Built from kita = see you; bukas = tomorrow.

To talk about the weather, ask Kumusta ang panahon? — how is the weather? Umuulan = it's raining.

To say “It's raining” in Tagalog: Umuulan (oo-moo-AH-lahn). Built from umuulan = it is raining.

Mainit = hot, malamig = cold, maaraw = sunny.

To say “It's hot” in Tagalog: Mainit (mah-EE-neet). Built from mainit = hot.

Your name

Key pieces: ako si · pangalan · anong pangalan mo?

Introduce yourself: Ako si… — I am… Say Ako si Alex to say your name.

To say “My name is Alex” in Tagalog: Ako si Alex (ah-KOH see Alex). Built from ako = I; si = (name marker); Alex = your name.

To ask someone's name: Anong pangalan mo? — literally "what name is yours?".

To say “What's your name?” in Tagalog: Anong pangalan mo? (ah-NONG pah-ngah-LAHN moh). Built from anong = what; pangalan mo = your name.

To say “Pleased to meet you” in Tagalog: Masaya akong makilala ka (mah-SAH-yah ah-KONG mah-kee-LAH-lah kah). Built from masaya = happy; makilala = to meet; ka = you.

Getting help

Key pieces: tulong · kailangan ko ng tulong · hindi ko maintindihan

If you need help fast, shout Tulong! or Saklolo! — help!

Tulong! / Saklolo! (too-LONG / sak-LOH-loh) — Help!
Kailangan ko ng tulong (kah-ee-LAH-ngahn koh nahng too-LONG) — I need help
Doktor (dok-TOR) — the doctor Memory hook: doktor ≈ English "doctor".
Ospital (os-pee-TAHL) — the hospital Memory hook: ospital ≈ English "hospital".
Hindi ko maintindihan (HEEN-dee koh mah-een-teen-DEE-hahn) — I don't understand
Hindi ko alam (HEEN-dee koh ah-LAHM) — I don't know

To say “Help!” in Tagalog: Tulong! (too-LONG). Built from tulong = help.

To say you don't understand: Hindi ko maintindihan . And Hindi ko alam = I don't know.

To say “I need help” in Tagalog: Kailangan ko ng tulong (kah-ee-LAH-ngahn koh nahng too-LONG). Built from kailangan = need; ko = I; ng tulong = help.

Tying it together

Key pieces: a capstone day out

You've built a real toolbox! This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing it.

To say “Good morning! How are you?” in Tagalog: Magandang umaga! Kumusta? (mah-gahn-DAHNG oo-MAH-gah, koo-moos-TAH). Built from magandang umaga = good morning; kumusta = how are you?.

To say “I'm well, thank you” in Tagalog: Mabuti naman, salamat (mah-BOO-tee nah-MAHN, sah-LAH-maht). Built from mabuti = well; naman = (softener); salamat = thanks.

To say “I want coffee and rice, please” in Tagalog: Gusto ko ng kape at kanin, paki (GOOS-toh koh nahng KAH-peh aht KAH-neen, pah-KEE). Built from gusto ko = I want; at = and; kanin = rice; paki = please.

To say “How much is this?” in Tagalog: Magkano ito? (mag-KAH-noh EE-toh). Built from magkano = how much; ito = this.

Airport & tickets

Key pieces: paliparan · pasaporte · tiket · lipad

You have landed. The building is the paliparan . Your document is a pasaporte .

paliparan (pah-lee-PAH-rahn) — the airport
pasaporte (pah-sah-POR-teh) — the passport
tiket (TEE-ket) — the ticket
lipad (LEE-pahd) — the flight
gate (gayt) — the gate

To say “Where is the airport?” in Tagalog: Saan ang paliparan? (sah-AHN ahng pah-lee-PAH-rahn). Built from saan = where; ang paliparan = the airport.

To say “Here is my passport” in Tagalog: Ito ang pasaporte ko (EE-toh ahng pah-sah-POR-teh koh). Built from ito = here is; pasaporte ko = my passport.

To say “A ticket, please” in Tagalog: Isang tiket, paki (EE-sahng TEE-ket, pah-KEE). Built from isang tiket = a ticket; paki = please.

To say “Where is the gate?” in Tagalog: Saan ang gate? (sah-AHN ahng gayt). Built from saan = where; ang gate = the gate.

The taxi

Key pieces: taksi · pumunta · hotel · tumigil

The driver is waiting. taksi is the word you need. Tell them where to go with gusto kong pumunta .

taksi (TAHK-see) — the taxi
tsuper (TSOO-per) — the driver
gusto kong pumunta (GOOS-toh kong poo-MOON-tah) — I want to go
tumigil dito (too-MEE-gil DEE-toh) — stop here

To say “Taxi, please” in Tagalog: Taksi, paki (TAHK-see, pah-KEE). Built from taksi = taxi; paki = please.

To say “I want to go to the hotel” in Tagalog: Gusto kong pumunta sa hotel (GOOS-toh kong poo-MOON-tah sah hoh-TEL). Built from gusto kong pumunta = I want to go; sa hotel = to the hotel.

To say “Stop here, please” in Tagalog: Tumigil dito, paki (too-MEE-gil DEE-toh, pah-KEE). Built from tumigil dito = stop here; paki = please.

To say “How much is it?” in Tagalog: Magkano ito? (mag-KAH-noh EE-toh). Built from magkano = how much; ito = this.

The hotel

Key pieces: reserbasyon · kuwarto · susi · gabi

At the desk: May reserbasyon ako — I have a reservation.

hotel (hoh-TEL) — the hotel
reserbasyon (reh-sehr-bah-SYOHN) — the reservation
kuwarto (KWAR-toh) — the room
susi (SOO-see) — the key
isang gabi (EE-sahng gah-BEE) — one night

To say “I have a reservation” in Tagalog: May reserbasyon ako (may reh-sehr-bah-SYOHN ah-KOH). Built from may = have; reserbasyon = a reservation; ako = I.

To say “A room for one night, please” in Tagalog: Isang kuwarto para sa isang gabi, paki (EE-sahng KWAR-toh PAH-rah sah EE-sahng gah-BEE, pah-KEE). Built from isang kuwarto = a room; isang gabi = one night; paki = please.

To say “The key, please” in Tagalog: Ang susi, paki (ahng SOO-see, pah-KEE). Built from ang susi = the key; paki = please.

To say “Where is my room?” in Tagalog: Saan ang kuwarto ko? (sah-AHN ahng KWAR-toh koh). Built from saan = where; kuwarto ko = my room.

Ask for help

Key pieces: hindi ko maintindihan · mas mabagal · Ingles

When the language is too fast: Mas mabagal, paki — slower, please.

mas mabagal (mahs mah-BAH-gahl) — slower
ulit (oo-LEET) — again
Ingles (ING-les) — English
puwede mo ba akong tulungan? (PWEH-deh moh bah ah-KONG too-loo-NGAHN) — can you help?

To say “I don't understand” in Tagalog: Hindi ko maintindihan (HEEN-dee koh mah-een-teen-DEE-hahn). Built from hindi ko = I don't; maintindihan = understand.

To say “Slower, please” in Tagalog: Mas mabagal, paki (mahs mah-BAH-gahl, pah-KEE). Built from mas mabagal = slower; paki = please.

To say “Can you help me?” in Tagalog: Puwede mo ba akong tulungan? (PWEH-deh moh bah ah-KONG too-loo-NGAHN). Built from puwede mo ba = can you; akong tulungan = help me.

To say “Do you speak English?” in Tagalog: Marunong ka ba ng Ingles? (mah-ROO-nong kah bah nahng ING-les). Built from marunong ka ba = do you know; Ingles = English.

Culture and etiquette

Kumusta opens every door

A warm kumusta! and a smile go a long way. Filipinos are famously hospitable — greeting someone in Tagalog lights up the conversation, even if you switch to English after.

Respect with po & opo

Add po to show respect, especially to elders: Salamat po. Use opo for a polite yes and sprinkle po freely — it marks you as well-mannered.

Ride the jeepney

The jeepney is the Philippines' iconic shared taxi. Climb in, pass your fare forward with a "bayad po", and say a loud "para po" when you want to get off. It's an adventure in itself.

Spanish hiding in the words

After centuries of contact, Spanish left a huge imprint: kumusta (cómo está), mesa, silya, doktor, pamilya. Spot the pattern and you've unlocked free vocab.

Family comes first

Family is everything. You'll hear kuya (older brother) and ate (older sister) used for friends and even strangers — a sign of closeness and respect.

Palengke & tipping

At the market (palengke) light, friendly bargaining is normal. In restaurants a small tip or rounding up is appreciated — never expected.

Example dialogues

At a café

You: Kumusta! Gusto ko ng kape. (koo-moos-TAH, GOOS-toh koh nahng KAH-peh) — Hello! I want a coffee.

Barista: Sige po. Mainit o may yelo? (SEE-geh poh, mah-EE-neet oh may YEH-loh) — Sure. Hot or iced?

You: May yelo, salamat. Magkano? (may YEH-loh, sah-LAH-maht, mag-KAH-noh) — Iced, thanks. How much?

Barista: Isandaang piso po. (ee-sahn-DAH-ahng PEE-soh poh) — One hundred pesos.

You: Salamat po! (sah-LAH-maht poh) — Thanks!

On the jeepney

You: Saan ang jeepney papuntang palengke? (sah-AHN ahng jeep-NAY pah-poon-TAHNG pah-LEHNG-keh) — Where is the jeepney going to the market?

Driver: Dito, sumakay ka. (DEE-toh, soo-MAH-kai kah) — Here, hop on.

You: Magkano ang pamasahe? (mag-KAH-noh ahng pah-mah-SAH-heh) — How much is the fare?

Driver: Labinlimang piso. (lah-been-LEE-mahng PEE-soh) — Fifteen pesos.

You: Sige, salamat! (SEE-geh, sah-LAH-maht) — Okay, thanks!

At a restaurant

Waiter: Kumusta! Ilan po kayo? (koo-moos-TAH, EE-lahn poh kah-YOH) — Hello! How many of you?

You: Dalawa po. (dah-LAH-wah poh) — Two.

You: Gusto ko ng menu, paki. (GOOS-toh koh nahng meh-NOO, pah-KEE) — I'd like the menu, please.

Waiter: Ito po. (EE-toh poh) — Here you are.

You: Gusto ko ng kanin at manok. (GOOS-toh koh nahng KAH-neen aht mah-NOK) — I want rice and chicken.

Waiter: Magandang pili! Masarap po. (mah-gahn-DAHNG pee-LEE, mah-SAH-rahp poh) — Good choice! It's delicious.

Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.