Everyday Tagalog
Unlock conversational Filipino through its natural sentence rhythm, essential respect particles, and everyday street expressions. Learn how to connect warmly in daily social interactions without getting bogged down in textbook complexity.
Like Duolingo, but for Everyday Tagalog. Tomo turns the whole topic into a game you play five minutes a day, until it actually sticks.
A short one: 12 levels across 2 sections, about 24 minutes end to end, roughly 5 days at five minutes a day. It moves through Finding the Conversational Rhythm and Navigating Real-World Encounters. It starts from scratch.
Free forever · No credit card · iPhone & Android
Key ideas in Everyday Tagalog
- Natural Tagalog puts the adjective or action first and the subject second
- 'Pagod' (tired) acts as the predicate opening the sentence
- 'ang guro' (the teacher) follows as the subject being described
- Tagalog does not use a linking verb like 'is', 'am', or 'are' in ordinary sentences
- Juxtaposing the adjective directly before the topic marker and noun (e.g., 'Malamig ang tubig') creates a complete, correct sentence
- 'ang' functions like a spotlight marking the specific topic or focus of the sentence
- In a predicate-initial description, 'ang' immediately precedes the noun being talked about
- In Tagalog, personal pronouns attach immediately after the predicate adjective or state
- Two-word combinations like 'Masaya ako' form complete, self-contained sentences without extra words
- 'Hindi' negates a descriptive sentence by placing it at the very start
- Placing 'hindi' before the predicate immediately flips the meaning of the adjective that follows
- Inserting 'po' into questions or statements immediately signals politeness and deference in Tagalog
- 'Po' is standard when speaking to elders, superiors, or unfamiliar strangers
- Omitting 'po' when speaking to an older stranger can sound blunt or overly casual
- 'Opo' blends 'oo' and 'po' into a dedicated respectful word for 'yes'
- Saying no politely requires adding 'po' to make 'hindi po', softening a direct refusal
You've tried the other tabs
Thirty open tabs. Four facts you actually kept.
You watched. You nodded. By Sunday it was gone.
One answer, then back to scrolling.
Eight weeks. You meant to finish. You didn't.
Tomo gives Everyday Tagalog the Duolingo treatment: levels, streaks, and quick quizzes that test what you just learned. That game loop is what the tabs above never had, so it's the one you actually finish.
Here's what playing it feels like
A real question from this course. Take your best guess.
To say 'The teacher is tired' in natural Tagalog, which word should start the sentence?
Get it right to open this lesson and 11 more in the app.
Where Everyday Tagalog takes you
- 1
Finding the Conversational Rhythm
- The Predicate-First Formula
- Showing Respect with Tiny Particles
- 2
Navigating Real-World Encounters
- Pointing, Locating, and Asking
- Everyday Transactions and Taglish
2 sections · 4 units · 12 levels. Built to play, not to enroll.
Tomo is in ChatGPT
Tomo is also a ChatGPT plugin: the same playable courses, built and played inside your chat.
Add Tomo to ChatGPT- What to ask
- “Make me a Tomo course on black holes.” “Turn this chat into a Tomo course.”
- What you get
- Quick questions with instant feedback, hearts and stars, ready to play in about a minute.
- Where it goes
- No sign-up to start. Connect your Tomo account and your streak carries on in the app.
You pick the voice
Everyday Tagalog is taught in the Bestie style: your friend who just gets it. Want a different feel? In the app you can spin up the same topic in any of Tomo's teaching styles. Same facts, totally different vibe.
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Start Everyday Tagalog today.
Download Tomo, search Everyday Tagalog, and play your first lesson in under a minute.