When learning Tagalog, you need more than just declarative sentences. You also need to know how to formulate questions of your own. After all, questions are fundamental in any language as they allow you to gather information, clarify details, and engage in conversations. For that to happen, learning about question words in Tagalog is a must.
Question words, also known as interrogative words, are used to, as the name implies, ask questions. They are either added to a sentence or used by themselves to request or demand an answer and provide additional information.
There are several Tagalog question words, each with its own rules and function. However, let us first concentrate on the basic wh questions in Tagalog: who, what, where, when, why, and how.
Question Words in Tagalog
1. Sino - Who
- Pronunciation: SEE-noh
- Sino is used when you want to inquire about a person.
- Examples:
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Sino siya? |
Who is he/she? Who are they? |
|
Sino ang kasama ni Carlo? |
Who is the person with Carlo? |
|
Sino ang pumunta? |
Who came? |
|
Sino ang gumising ng maaga? |
Who woke up early? |
2. Ano - What
- Pronunciation: a-NOH
- Ano is used when you want to inquire about something. Ano is versatile and can be used in a variety of situations to gather information about objects, actions, and more.
- Examples:
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Ano ang kailangan mo? |
What do you need? |
|
Ano ang ginamit mo? |
What did you use? |
|
Anong nangyari? |
What happened? |
|
Ano ang sangkap na ito? |
What is this ingredient? |
3. Saan - Where
- Pronunciation: sah-AN
- Saan is used when you want to ask about a location.
- Examples:
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Saan ka pupunta? |
Where are you going? |
|
Saan ka galing? |
Where did you come from? |
|
Saan ang daan papuntang Baguio? |
Where is the path to Baguio? |
|
Saan ang parkeng pinuntahan ni Rosa? |
Where is the park Rosa went to? |
4. Kailan - When
- Pronunciation: kah-ee-LAN or kai-LAN
- Kailan is used when you want to ask something related to time.
- Examples:
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Kailan ka babalik? |
When will you come back? |
|
Kailan ang alis mo? |
When will you go? |
|
Kailan ang parada? |
When is the parade? |
|
Kailan tayo pupunta sa Pilipinas? |
When will we go to the Philippines? |
5. Bakit - Why
- Pronunciation: BAH-keet
- Bakit is used when you want an explanation or the reason behind something.
- Examples:
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Bakit mo ginawa iyon? |
Why did you do that? |
|
Bakit puno ka ng pawis? |
Why are you sweaty? |
|
Bakit ganyan iyan? |
Why is it like that? |
|
Bakit ganyan ang suot mo? |
Why are you dressed like that? |
6. Paano - How
- Pronunciation: pah-AH-noh
- Paano is used when you want to inquire about the method behind something.
- Examples:
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
|
Paano mo ginawa iyan? |
How did you do that? |
|
Paano nangyari iyon? |
How did that happen? |
|
Paano lutuin ito? |
How do you cook this? |
|
Paano sabihin itong salitang ito? |
How do you say this word? |
Asking the Right Questions
Question words and questions in general are essential when learning a language. Besides allowing you to navigate through places and conversations, they are vital for deepening your understanding of the language itself. By asking questions, you can clarify meanings, seek explanations, and fill in the gaps in your knowledge, making it easier to navigate through various situations.
Moreover, questions prompt you to think critically, expand your vocabulary, and improve your comprehension. The more questions you ask, the more you learn, making questions an indispensable part of your language learning toolkit.
For a more elaborate lesson on how to use Tagalog question words, try using Turong Wika.
Turing Wika is a language learning app that focuses on teaching conversational Tagalog. It offers a range of words and examples that you can seamlessly integrate into your day-to-day conversations, whether you’re traveling in the Philippines or interacting with Tagalog speakers in your community. This hands-on approach makes Turong Wika an invaluable tool, especially for those who want to practice speaking Tagalog in a natural, conversational context.
Additionally, the app recognizes that learning a language is a journey with ups and downs. If you ever need to revisit a topic or refresh your memory, Turong Wika has you covered with its convenient Cheat Sheet feature. This allows you to quickly review previous lessons, ensuring that you never feel lost or overwhelmed as you progress in your studies.
If you want to challenge your knowledge, you can use the Practice feature. Simply tap on the topic of your choosing and the number of questions you want to answer.
Communicate more confidently and effectively. Scan the code below to download the app now!
Communicate more confidently and effectively. Click on the button below to download the app now!
