Tagalog
ethnolinguistic group in Luzon and Palawan
Usage Note
Tagalog refers to both the people and the language that forms the basis of Filipino, the national language of the Philippines. The Tagalog people are primarily concentrated in Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and parts of Palawan. The language has over 28 million native speakers and is understood by the majority of Filipinos.
Examples
" Marunong ka ba ng Tagalog? "
Natural Translation
Do you know Tagalog?
Literal Translation
Know you (question) of Tagalog?
" Nagsasalita siya ng Tagalog. "
Natural Translation
He/she speaks Tagalog.
Literal Translation
Speaks he/she of Tagalog.
" Ang wikang Tagalog ang naging batayan ng Filipino, ang pambansang wika na sinasalita ng milyon-milyong tao sa buong bansa. "
Natural Translation
The Tagalog language became the basis of Filipino, the national language spoken by millions of people across the whole country.
Literal Translation
The language Tagalog the became basis of Filipino, the national language that spoken by millions people in whole country.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workRelated Words
- AWOL absence without leave
- Amboy short for American boy
- Ati ethnolinguistic group in Panay
- Balbalan ethnolinguistic group (Kalinga)
- Hiligaynon ethnolinguistic group/language
- Ilokana female native of the Ilocos region; Ilokana woman
- Ilokano Ethnolinguistic group in Ilocos
- Ilonggo Language/People of Western Visayas
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.

Is Tagalog Hard to Learn? An Honest Answer
Tagalog takes around 1,100 hours to reach professional proficiency. Here is what is easy, what is hard, and what to expect at 3, 6, and 12 months.

Languages of the Philippines: Tagalog, Cebuano, and More
Languages of the Philippines: one national language (Filipino) plus 180+ regional languages. Here's who speaks what, where, and why it matters to you.

Philippines Geography for Learners: Islands & Language
Philippines geography for Tagalog learners: 7,641 islands, three island groups, and the Southern Luzon heartland where the Tagalog language was born.

Tagalog vs Filipino: What's the Difference & Which to Learn
Tagalog and Filipino aren't the same language — but they overlap almost completely. Here's the real difference and which one you should actually learn.