kaeskuwela
kaeskuwéla with stress marks
classmate
Usage Note
Kaeskuwela is formed with the prefix 'ka-' (fellow, co-) attached to 'eskuwela' (school, from Spanish 'escuela'). It is the everyday Tagalog word for a fellow student in the same class or school. Filipinos often maintain close friendships with former kaeskuwela well into adulthood, reflecting the strong bonds formed during school years.
Examples
" Kaeskuwela ko siya. "
Natural Translation
She's my classmate.
Literal Translation
Classmate my she.
" Siya ang kaeskuwela ko noong elementarya. "
Natural Translation
He/She was my classmate in elementary school.
Literal Translation
He/She the classmate my when elementary.
" Kahit limampung taon na ang nakalipas, malapit pa rin ako sa mga kaeskuwela ko noong hayskul. "
Natural Translation
Even though fifty years have passed, I'm still close to my classmates from high school.
Literal Translation
Even-though fifty years already the passed, close still I to the classmates my when high-school.
Take Tagalog with you
The full course, a 12,500-word dictionary, and flashcards that make every word stick — free to start on iOS and Android.
Tagalog builds thousands of words from a few hundred roots.
How Tagalog words workRelated Words
Explore Tagalog by topic
Free guides on grammar, vocabulary, and culture to take you past single-word lookups.
Tagalog Pronouns Explained: Complete Chart with Examples
Every Tagalog pronoun explained with clear charts: ang/ng/sa forms, tayo vs kami, ikaw vs ka, politeness markers, and the mistakes beginners make.
Tagalog Root Words: Learn a Few Hundred, Understand Thousands
Tagalog root words unlock vocabulary fast: learn a few hundred and recognize thousands. Real word families, examples, and a practical study strategy.
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.
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.