Why Tagalog Is So Hard To Learn (Plus 3 Tips To Make It Easier!)

Why Tagalog Is So Hard To Learn (Plus 3 Tips To Make It Easier!)

Tagalog is relatively difficult for English speakers to learn. The biggest challenges are major grammatical differences (especially verb–pronoun relationships) and completely different origins of vocabulary. Fortunately, there are also some easy aspects. Tagalog pronunciation and writing are straightforward, and a few grammatical features are refreshingly simple. Rest assured that you can easily get by in…

These 13 Filipino English Words Don’t Mean What You Think

These 13 Filipino English Words Don’t Mean What You Think

English is spoken throughout the Philippines and woven into everyday speech—especially in Manila. The Filipino English standard is very close to American English. On paper, it’s essentially the same; in speech, there are very few noteworthy differences. But that’s not to say it’s identical. Some loanwords have taken on very different meanings that surprise both…

What Language Is Spoken In Manila?

What Language Is Spoken In Manila?

If you speak English, then rest assured that you’ll get by perfectly fine in Manila, and virtually everywhere else in the Philippines.  After decades of American control, and close cultural ties ever since, that’s to be expected—especially in such a huge, cosmopolitan city. But English is obviously not indigenous, so what language is local to Manila? This…

Is Tagalog Worth Learning? (Maybe Not For The Reasons You’d Think)

Is Tagalog Worth Learning? (Maybe Not For The Reasons You’d Think)

Learning a useful amount of any language is a feat to be proud of. The process is a terrific hobby, and the outcome is valuable and enriching.  But all else being equal, Tagalog—the local language of Manila—is hard to pick up. With that in mind, is Tagalog worth learning for a trip to Manila? When…

How To Learn Tagalog (The Mindset & Method Every Beginner Needs)

How To Learn Tagalog (The Mindset & Method Every Beginner Needs)

Whether you want to learn Tagalog for daily life around Manila, or to talk to friends and family, or just for the fun of taking on a new language…it’s not an easy language to learn. What’s more, classes are rare (in most of the US) and there are fewer good resources than for the more common second-language choices….

Does Tagalog Have Gender?

Does Tagalog Have Gender?

If you’ve studied a European language, then you’ve probably spent many an hour trying to separate your le and la or you der, die, and das. And looking elsewhere in the world, languages have and handle gender in countless ways. Some disregard it altogether whereas others have elaborate systems of gender that even differ between people, animals, and objects! But where does…

Does Tagalog Have Conjugations? (Simple Explanation With Examples)

Does Tagalog Have Conjugations? (Simple Explanation With Examples)

Conjugation, or changing parts of a verb, is one of the most common ways that languages indicate when and how things happened. Although verb conjugations are common (especially in Western languages), they’re not at all universal. So, you may wonder, does Tagalog have conjugations? Tagalog verbs are conjugated to identify three things: aspect (what state the…

Glossika Tagalog Review: Is It The Simplest Way To Learn Filipino?

Glossika Tagalog Review: Is It The Simplest Way To Learn Filipino?

If you can speak passable Tagalog, you’ll never have to worry about getting by and making friends in Manila. Even on your own you’ll find life in Manila easier, more engaging, and simply more fun. However, there’s an idea that “exposure” and “immersion” simply make a language permeate your consciousness. We’d all like to step…