When teaching your children their first words in Tagalog, choosing which ones to teach can be daunting, especially for kids! With so many words to choose from, it can be a bit harrowing for parents to know how to help their kids best learn this epic Asian language. In this post, we’ll go over the easy Tagalog words for toddlers to learn. Let’s start!
Raising a Filipino kid? Teaching Tagalog to toddlers is essential because it helps them develop a strong foundation in their native language and also helps them connect with their cultural heritage. Furthermore, it can also give them a head start in learning other dialects in the Philippines. Let’s get to know more about it in the sections below.
What Are The Best Tagalog Words For Toddlers
Essential Words And Phrases
When you want to teach your toddler Tagalog, starting with a few basic words and phrases sets the stage for better learning. This guide on Tagalog introduces preschool children to basic terms and phrases that are easy to say and remember. So start your children small, and watch as they keep learning more and more words as we go along!
Hello – Kumusta ka? (kah-moos-tuh kah?)
This is the basic greeting in Filipino culture – a very casual yet polite way to say hello and ask how someone is. Variants include kamusta or kamusta na? Either way, they all mean the same thing!
Goodbye – Paalam! (puh-ah-lam!)
Paalam is one way to say goodbye in Tagalog. It is the most formal way to say it, as colloquially, Filipinos would use the English “bye” instead. Still, if we’re developing language skills, we must be as immersed as possible!
The Honorifics “Po” And “Opo”
In Filipino culture, one of the first things that kids learn is “po” and “opo” – honorific words that are added to the end of each Tagalog sentence when speaking to someone older. However, rather than just a word, it is more of a grammar rule that respects seniority in Filipino.
To teach this to your kids, let them know that they have to use po when speaking to someone older than them. Their Pinoy grandparents will be thrilled when they use po and opo when talking with your bilingual children!
Body Parts
Let’s get into some of the body parts your toddler would want to learn in Tagalog! Teaching them these crucial words helps them learn Tagalog faster and will also help them communicate their physical needs in the Philippine national language.
- Body – katawan (kuh-ta-wan)
- Shoulders – balikat (buh-lee-kat)
- Hands – kamay (kah-mahy)
- Feet – paa (puh-ah)
- Head – ulo (ooh-loh)
- Fingers/toes – daliri/daliri sa paa (duh-lee-ree/duh-lee-ree suh puh-ah)
- Eyes – mata (muh-tah)
- Nose – ilong (eeh-long)
- Ears – tenga (teh-nga)
- Mouth – bibig (bee-big)
These are the essential body parts in Filipino, and they are great for teaching toddlers! These words also lead very nicely into teaching them their first Filipino nursery rhyme: Paa, Tuhod, Balikat, Ulo!
Tip: using visual aids when teaching Tagalog words makes learning fun!
Colors
What would children be without their crayons, pastels, and colorful toys? Teaching your toddler the Filipino words for primary colors is crucial for giving them a positive experience when speaking Tagalog! Here are some words for primary colors:
- Red – pula (poo-lah)
- Blue – asul (ah-sool)
- Green – berde (behr-deh)
- Yellow – dilaw (dee-low)
- Orange – kahel (kah-hel)
- White – puti (poo-tee)
- Black – itim (ee-tim)
The language-savvy among you may have spotted a few words that sounded very similar to Spanish, and you’re right! Here’s a fun fact: many words, including asul and berde, are holdovers from the Spanish era of the Philippines. After 333 years of Spanish rule, Filipino culture has adapted some words into its national language.
Numbers
Numbers! Who doesn’t love them when learning a new language? Kids will have a lot of fun learning how to count in Tagalog, especially toddlers! Here are the numbers one to ten that you can use to teach your children how to count in Tagalog.
- One – isa (ee-suh)
- Two – dalawa (duh-luh-wah)
- Three – tatlo (tut-loh)
- Four – apat (uh-pot)
- Five – lima (lee-mah)
- Six – anim (uh-nim)
- Seven – pito (pee-toh)
- Eight – walo (wuh-loh)
- Nine – siyam (see-yum)
- Ten – sampu (sum-pooh)
Those are the numbers one to ten in Tagalog! But, of course, once you get past ten, it’s a whole different system that we won’t get into right now! If you want to learn how to count in Tagalog, download Ling and learn Tagalog words both you and your toddler can enjoy.
Another fun fact: Native Filipino speakers use two number systems when counting. They use Spanish words for numbers, another holdout from the Spanish era. So when you come to the Philippines, don’t be surprised if people start counting en Español!
Essential Action Words In Tagalog
Now we’re getting into some more complicated stuff – verbs! Known as pandiwa in Filipino, these verbs will be necessary for your kids to learn as they can clearly express what they are doing or currently doing in this language. Let’s see what we’ve got…
Common Activities
- Run – takbo (tuck-bo)
- Jump – talon (tuh-lohn)
- Dance – sayaw (suh-yow)
- Sing – kanta (khan-tah)
- Play – laro (luh-roh)
Daily Activities
For something more usable in your day-to-day life, let’s now go to some terms used for daily activities: eating, drinking, sleeping, and brushing your teeth. It’s one way to keep your children learning by incorporating Filipino into their daily activities. In addition, this method makes learning more intuitive.
- Eat – kain (kah-een)
- Drink – inom (ee-nohm)
- Sleep – tulog (too-lohg)
- Brush teeth – sipilyo (see-peel-yoh)
These basic verbs, or pandiwa, are some of the most common terms your children will use when describing their day. Of course, there are still tenses to consider when it comes to these verbs, but we won’t be getting into that just yet. But if you want a head start, download the Ling app now or check out our guide about Tagalog tenses.
Animals And Nature In Tagalog
If you want your kids to master Tagalog truly, you’ll have to give them the words they need to describe the world around them. That’s why teaching them the Tagalog equivalent of familiar animals and words related to nature is essential in helping them understand both the world around them and the terms used to describe them — all in Tagalog, of course!
Common Animals
- Dog – aso (ah-soh)
- Cat – pusa (poo-suh)
- Bird – ibon (ee-bohn)
- Fish – isda (ees-duh)
- Mouse – daga (duh-gah)
- Monkey – unggoy (oong-goy)
- Eagle – agila (uh-gee-luh)
These common animals will pique their interest in learning a new language.
Tip: If you want to show this to them, make sure to add some visual learning materials as well – create a little slideshow in Google Slides for flashcards, and see your kids’ eyes brighten as they learn new words they can use!
Bonus tip: During a long car ride, ask your child to say the Filipino equivalent of the animals they see along the road. You’ll be surprised at how much they retain if they practice enough!
Nature Words
Thinking of going on a camping trip with the kids? Please take this opportunity to teach them something new! Here are some nature-related words that you can use to keep your child’s language education going, even during their camping trips.
- Sun – araw (uh-rowe)
- Moon – buwan (boo-wahn)
- Tree – puno (poo-noh)
- Flower – bulaklak (boo-luck-lack)
- Forest – gubat (goo-but)
- Hill – burol (boo-rohl)
- Mountain – bundok (boon-dohk)
- Stream – batis (buh-tease)
- River – ilog (ee-lohg)
- Lake – lawa (luh-wa)
- Ocean – dagat (duh-gat)
These are just some of the most common nature words in Tagalog that you can use to enhance your toddler’s vocabulary in a way that makes it feel more fun than just reading off a book!
Fun fact: Did you know that the English word boondock, which means “a rural area settled by a few people,” has its roots in Tagalog? Yes! This is a loan word from when the US occupied the country shortly after the Second World War.
Emotions And Feelings In Tagalog
We want our kids to grow up knowing how to express themselves clearly. So if you want them to know how to express their emotions and feelings in Tagalog, we’ve got you! We’ll detail a few common feelings and their translations in this language so you can show your child how to express themselves when needed adequately.
Emotions In Tagalog
Here are some common words (not phrases!) used to express emotions in Filipino. If you want to use this in a simple sentence, remember to use the possessive ako (me) at the end of each word to denote that the speaker is feeling this emotion.
- Happy – masaya (muh-sah-yah)
- Sad – malungkot (muh-loong-cot)
- Angry – galit (gah-leet)
- Excited – sabik (suh-beek)
Those are the most common emotions used in Filipino! Some words, such as sabik, have been replaced by English loan words like “excited” recently, but you can still teach your kids the correct way of saying it in Filipino!
Feelings In Tagalog
Now, some feelings toddlers may commonly feel are told in the Filipino language! These words are super easy and add more value to your kids’ language education. Make sure to teach them how to express themselves this way since kids who know how to tell people how they’re feeling will develop excellent social skills in the future!
- Hot – mainit (muh-ee-net)
- Cold – malamig (muh-lah-meeg)
- Tired – pagod (puh-gohd)
- Hungry – gutom (goo-tohm)
- Sleepy – inaantok (in-ah-ahn-tohk)
These are some of the most likely feel your child will have daily. Once they get these words down pat, you’ll be able to tell (in Tagalog, of course!) how your kids are feeling now!
Master Tagalog With Ling
Now that you know some essential words in Tagalog, you’re ready to teach your toddler new ways to express themselves! We covered a lot of ground here, from crucial words and phrases, some important verbs, helpful terms related to animals and nature, and even some emotions and feelings in the Filipino language. We know that this may be a lot to process, but we bet you’ll be able to add these words to your daily interactions with your kid. And with enough practice, you and your children can have entire conversations in Tagalog! From there, the possibilities for communicating in a new and wonderful language are endless!
This is just the beginning, however! The learning will continue. You and your kids can learn their first Tagalog words with the Ling app. No need for bulky books and classroom settings – our easy-to-use app is geared to help you talk just like a native speaker! Download the Ling app now from App Store or Google Play and start learning like a pro!
