Learn Pilipino from Native Speakers

Learn Pilipino Pronunciation

Filipinos speak eight major indigenous languages, all within the Malayo-Polynesian group. In order of the number of speakers, they are Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Ilongo, Bikolano, Waray-Waray, Pampangan and Pangasinan. Each of the eight has a number of dialects; some dialects of the same language are mutually unintelligible. The roots of many words are Sanskrit, and a few are Chinese and Arabic. All the languages possess extensive literatures; the oldest and richest is that of Tagalog, the dialect of central and southern Luzon.

In an effort to promote national unity, the government instituted Tagalog-based Pilipino as the national language in 1939. (Pilipino, English and Spanish are the three official languages of the Philippines.) Fifty-five percent of the population speaks Pilipino, the primary language of instruction in the schools, although English, Spanish and the local vernaculars are also mandatory.

English is spoken by 45 percent of all Filipinos. It remains the most useful tongue for formal communication and is employed by professionals, academics, government workers and businessmen.