Tagalog Alphabet

If you're trying to learn the Tagalog Alphabet which is also called Filipino, check our courses about pronunciation, and sound of all letters... to help you with your Tagalog grammar. Try to concentrate on the lesson and memorize the sounds. Also don't forget to check the rest of our other lessons listed on Learn Tagalog. Enjoy the rest of the lesson!

Tagalog Alphabet

Learning the Tagalog alphabet is very important because its structure is used in every day conversation. Without it, you will not be able to say words properly even if you know how to write those words. The better you pronounce a letter in a word, the more understood you will be in speaking the Tagalog language.

Below is a table showing the Tagalog alphabet and how it is pronounced in English, and finally examples of how those letters would sound if you place them in a word.

Tagalog is the language spoken in the Philippines. It comes from tag ilog, which means the people by the river, meaning the people of Manilla. Originally they had their own alphabet, but when the Spaniards conquered the Philippines in the latin script was introduced. The Philippines alphabet exist only out of 20 letters, there is no c, v, f , x, q, or r. Tagalog words can be very long and can have 3 or more vocals after each other. These vowels are each pronounced separately, thus with a glottal stop in between, like Maaari (perhaps) pronounced as ma-a-a-ri.

Tagalog Pronunciation

You saw how a letter is written and might be pronounced, but there is nothing better than hearing the sound of the letters in a video or audio. Below you will be able to hear how the letters above are pronounced, just press the play button:

The alphabet and its pronunciation have a very important role in Tagalog, therefore they need very special attention. Once you're done with the Filipino alphabet, you might want to check the rest of our Tagalog lessons here: Learn Tagalog. Don't forget to bookmark this page.