11 Hard-To-Pronounce Tagalog Words + Tips For Tagalog Beginners!

Have you ever encountered the words ng, mga, mangga, or nakakakilabot?

Maybe you’ve heard one of your relatives blurt out some deep or old Tagalog that you can’t seem to try and mimic.

Or, you may have other Tagalog words you’ve heard for the first time and felt like that’s something confusing to say.

Some of these words are considered hard to pronounce for non-native Tagalog speakers.

Beginner or not, challenges in learning a new language can be conquered if you know the simple pronunciation rules.

First, let’s unpack all of these hard-to-pronounce Tagalog words and then we’ll give you steps, tips, and extra information on how to memorize them.

What Are The Hard-To-Pronounce Tagalog Words?

Did you experience hearing Tagalog the first time and say, “hey that sounds interesting?”

But, as soon as you step into the Tagalog language realm, every word seems so foreign for you, listening-wise and speaking-wise.

Learning hard-to-pronounce Tagalog words will be a rollercoaster at first, but with enough exposure and examples like what we’ll share here, you’ll get the hang of the different Tagalog alphabet sounds.

Here are some hard-to-pronounce Tagalog words and their English translations that you can use when conversing with your Filipino friends.

1. Most Disturbing – Pinakanakapagpapabagabag-damdamin

If the longest word English word is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, in the Filipino language, it is pinakanakapagpapabagabag-damdamin.

It is considered a high tier for hard-to-pronounce Tagalog words and can be difficult to pronounce for English beginners.

The word is formed using a common way of creating superlatives in Tagalog, using “pinaka-” (the most) followed by a descriptor.

The suffix “-damdamin” is often used to refer to feelings or emotions in Tagalog.

Thus, you get a superlative description of ‘the most disturbing’.

Example Sentence: The death of Maria Clara is one of the most emotionally disturbing scene in the novel El Filibusterismo. (Ang pagkamatay ni Maria Clara ang isa sa pinakanakapagpapabagabag-damdamin sa nobelang El Filibusterismo.)

2. Worrisome – Nakakapagpabagabag

English is filled with long words that can tie our tongues in knots, words like “antidisestablishmentarianism” or “incomprehensibilities.”

But did you know that in the Tagalog language, such terrifying tongue twisters also exist?

The word nakakapagpabagabag is one of the famous tongue twisters in the Filipino language. But did you know that it’s just an adjective.

This hard-to-pronounce Tagalog word means ” worrisome.” It is also one of the Filipino words that are hard to pronounce. That’s why you rarely hear Filipinos using it in daily conversations.

Example Sentence: What you did is very worrisome. (Nakakapágpabagabag ang ginawa mo.)

3. Twinkling – Kumukutikutitap

If the stars could talk, they might just be able to pronounce our next challenging Tagalog word: “Kumukutikutitap”. Yes, it’s a mouthful, isn’t it?

The Tagalog word kumukutikutitap describes something twinkling, like the twinkle of stars or the flicker of Christmas lights in Filipino.

Example Sentence: The star is twinkling in the sky. (Kumukutikutitap ang mga bituin sa langit.)

4. Amazing – Kagila-gilalas

Kagila-gilalas is one of the deep Filipino words to describe the astounding feeling you feel. It came from the word gilalas, which means “astonishment or amazement.”

So, kagila-gilalas translates to amazing in English. But pronunciation can be quite a challenge. Even native Tagalog speakers might have a difficult time with this one!

Example Sentence: The talents that Filipinos show to the world today are amazing. (Kagilagilalas ang mga talentong ipinakita ng mga Pilipinon sa mundo.)

5. Rumbling – Dumadagundong

You know that feeling when a thunderstorm approaches, and you can feel the vibrations of the rumbling thunder under your feet and through your bones?

In Tagalog, there’s an exact word for that: Dumadagundong.

Its English translation is “rumbling, or a make a deep and loud sound.” It usually describes a loud or rumbling sound like thunder, explosion, and more.

Dumadagundong is one of those Tagalog words that’ll make you sound like a true language maestro once you nail it. But oh boy, isn’t it a bit of a tongue twister?

Example Sentence: I heard the rumbling thunder. (Narinig ko ang dumadagundong na kulog.)

6. Commercial – Patalastas

Next on the list of hard-to-pronounce Tagalog words is patalastas.

No, it’s not the Tagalog word for potatoes (patatas). This word means “commercial” in English.

It’s a staple in everyday Tagalog conversations, especially when discussing the latest trends splashed across your TV screen or streaming on your devices.

Moreover, it’s one of the hardest Tagalog words to pronounce because of the letters used. If you find it hard to pronounce it, just pronounce it by syllables first.

Example Sentence: Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano have a lot of commercials today. (Maraming patalastas ngayon sina Donny Pangilinan at Belle Mariano.)

7. Going down? – Bababa ba?

You might find it hard to believe, but this is actually a sentence in the Filipino language that means “Going down? or Are we going down?”.

It came from the word “baba,” which means “down” the one syllable of ba, added in the beginning, is used to indicate that the action is yet to happen (future tense).

Lastly, the word “ba” is a particle added to phrases when asking a question. It’s also one of the popular Tagalog tongue twisters to learn.

Example Sentence: Are we going down? I’ll just get my things. (Bababa ba? Kukunin ko muna ang gamit ko.)

8. Flower – Bulaklak

Is there anything not to love about flowers? Their vibrant colors, intoxicating scents, and the way they brighten up any living space – it’s no wonder we’re drawn to them.

But for those just dipping their toes into the world of Tagalog, we have one flower-related Tagalog word that might have you stuttering: Bulaklak.

Even if it is only a short word, it is still one of the hardest words to pronounce in the Filipino language. The word bulaklak is the Filipino word for the English word “flower”.

It is pronounced fast with no pause or stop between syllables.

Example Sentence: Buy flowers on Valentine’s Day. (Bumili ka ng bulaklak sa Araw ng mg Puso.)

9. Unbelievable – Di kapani-paniwala

Think of that jaw-dropping moment when you first saw the pristine beaches of the Philippines or heard the impossible notes of a particularly well-sung kundiman.

That feeling of awe, of sheer wonder—that’s di kapani-paniwala.

The word “‘di kapani-paniwala” means “unbelievable” in English.

The hyphen between “kapani” and “paniwala” is used to separate words that are being repeated.

It also indicates a partial stop or a pause in pronunciation.

Example Sentence: The success we hoped for is unbelievable. (Di kapani-paniwala ang naging tagumpay ng ating hinahangad.)

10. Those – Mga

Mga is a Tagalog particle that pluralizes count nouns.

And this word is surprisingly hard to pronounce.

If you look at it, you might not have any idea how to pronounce it because it is composed of two consonants consecutively and a vowel.

It was originally spelled as manga, but with the development of the Filipino language, it was changed to the shortened version “mga”.

A lot of foreigners are finding it hard to pronounce this particle.

Example Sentence: Those Filipinos are naturally helpful. (Ang mga Pilipino ay likas na matulungin.)

11. Of – Ng

The last word is similar to the previous one. It is composed of only two consonants with no vowels. That’s why it is a mystery to pronounce it if you’re not a Filipino.

The word Ng (pronounced as ‘nang’), equivalent to the English word ‘of,’ is a vital bridge in many Tagalog sentences.

To pronounce it correctly, you want to merge the N and G sounds almost simultaneously.

Begin by saying the word “sing.” Notice that lingering “ng” sound at the end? It’s the same sound! That nasal vibe that resonates at the back of your throat is your target.

Example Sentence: This is the beginning of the movie. (Ito ang simula ng pelikula.)

Tips On How To Memorize Hard-To-Pronounce Tagalog Words Better

So, now you’ve seen some of the hard-to-pronounce Tagalog words out there.

But, as a Tagalog beginner, or someone who’s really committed to explore more about Tagalog, how will you memorize them?

There are many ways and tips on how to memorize hard-to-pronounce Tagalog words better.

Excited to check them out? Here they are!

1. One of the most common words you’ll here from the list in this blogs are mga, ng, and bulaklak. The rest are mostly used for Tagalog poems or deep Tagalog media.
2. Do you feel like all Tagalog words are really hard to pronounce, start with basic words in Tagalog like Ako, Siya, Sila, and simple Tagalog phrases like Maganda ka.
3. Be familiar with pronunciation by watching Tagalog movies or listening to OPM, which are Tagalog songs. Check them out, Tagalog songs are globally popular and are even charting on the Billboards now!
4. Don’t feel embarrassed about not being able to pronounce Tagalog words. Filipinos will even give you some friendly advice on how to pronounce these words properly.
5. Use the Ling app to incorporate some of these words on your daily memorization.

Need more tips? Ask questions in our comment box and we can recommend you more answers, tips, or suggestions to improve your Tagalog language skills.

How Do You Say Hard To Pronounce Tagalog Words In Tagalog?

To say hard to pronounce Tagalog words in Tagalog, you can just say mga salitang mahirap bigkasin🔊 Play Ng

Or you can also say this phrase, mahirap bigkasing mga salita 🔊 Play mahirap bigkasing mga salita

Both of these phrases mean the same but only differ in the emphasis and Tagalog sentence structure.

Other Words And Phrases To Express Hard To Pronounce Tagalog Words

Now that you’ve learned a handful of hard to pronounce words and phrases in Tagalog, let’s take a look at some sentences or phrases related to this.

You can use these Tagalog question words to improve your Tagalog language learning. Or, if you are looking for a friend, you can impress them with your Tagalog vocabulary knowledge.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hard To Pronounce Tagalog Words

What Tagalog Word Is The Most Difficult To Pronounce?

The most difficult Tagalog word to pronounce according to Filipinos is Pinakanakapagpapabagabag-damdamin.

Most of these hard to pronounce Tagalog words are often long Tagalog words too.

You can even check rarely used Tagalog words and some of them will take time to pronounce especially if you are not a native Tagalog speaker.

How Do Filipinos Pronounce Words?

Filipinos will pronounce words similar to how the phonetically Latin alphabet is pronounced.

A is like ah, B like bah, and so on. There is a saying “Kung ano ang bigkas, siya ang baybay” which in English means, for how it is pronounced, it also has the same spelling.

Did you know? We have a fully detailed guide on Tagalog pronunciation! Try some of the words while doing your Tagalog lessons.

How Do You Pronounce Ñ and Ng in Tagalog?

Ñ or enye is spoken as you see the word “enye” Pronunciation: eh nyeh. However, when included in words like La Niña ( Sto. Niño (A name of a Saint), Malacañang (the official homeplace of the President), Señorita (same with Spanish meaning princess/little girl).

On the other hand, ng words are a bit tricky. In English, it’s similar to how the ng is in th word “gang” or even with the ng in the word English.

In Tagalog, you can pronounce this by placing your tongue flat in your mouth while you’re opening your mouth producing a nasal sound (airy).

Conquer Hard-To-Pronounce Tagalog Words

Did you enjoy these hard-to-pronounce Tagalog words? Which words made an impact for you?

Let’s take a recap of the topic today.

You’ve learned that longest hard to pronounce Tagalog word is Pinakanakapagpapabagabag-damdamin.

We’ve also discussed 11+ words ranging from bulaklak to babababa ba? These Tagalog words will be more than likely mentioned by one of your titos or titas. But, you should be ready to impress them right?

You’ll also be happy that most of these words won’t be mentioned unless if the Tagalog sentence or the situation calls for it.

Hopefully, during the reunion, it won’t be as nakakapagabagabag as some beginners may think it will be.

Just continue to learn Tagalog with a language app like Ling!

Turn Tagalog Language Learning Easier Today!

To learn Tagalog language, one must be patient and open.

The mumble-jumble of words and pronunciation is not just seen in Tagalog only.

Today, many language learners like you have a hard time speaking and listening to many Asian and Eastern European languages for their different tones, accents, and phonetic sounds.

With the Ling app, you can have short quizzes and practice sentences that contains real-life Tagalog conversations.

For example, if you open the basic sentences in Tagalog lesson and scroll down, you’ll see a speaking practice.

You can use the “Press the button to record” and the app will determine if you’ve pronounced the Tagalog word correctly.

Also, you can even interact with us here in this blog and let us know other ways to help you in your Tagalog pronunciation skills.

We hope to see you on the next blog!