Speak and Understand Real Filipino
Like Duolingo, but for Speak and Understand Real Filipino. Tomo turns the whole topic into a game you play five minutes a day, until it actually sticks.
For the part of you with thirty open tabs that never became anything.
Free during early access · No credit card · iPhone & Android
Key ideas in Speak and Understand Real Filipino
- The word 'Magandang' is paired with the time of day
- Kumusta is the standard, versatile greeting derived from Spanish
- Specific time markers like 'Umaga' and 'Gabi' define the greeting
- It functions as both 'Hello' and 'How are you?'
- Filipinos use 'Aalis na ako' or 'Mauna na ako' to signal departure
- Ingat is the shorthand for 'Take care'
- Announcing the act of leaving is more common than a formal 'Goodbye'
- It is the standard way to close an interaction and show concern
- Kumusta can be a throwaway 'Hi'
- Adding the pronoun 'ka' (you) directs the question to the person's state
- Politely announcing your departure in a social setting
- Kumusta has no time constraints
- Distinguishing between a casual greeting and a sincere inquiry
- Umaga covers the whole morning
- Understanding the cultural weight of 'Ingat'
- Tanghali is specifically for the noon hour
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 Speak and Understand Real Filipino 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.
Which greeting is inspired by Spanish and works perfectly no matter what time it is?
Get it right to open this lesson and 174 more in the app.
Where Speak and Understand Real Filipino takes you
Start speaking Tagalog from day one by focusing on the phrases you actually need. Move from basic survival to deep cultural connection and understanding the unique logic of the language.
- 1
Your First Conversation
- Saying Hello and Goodbye
- The Magic of 'Po' and 'Opo'
- Introducing Yourself Simply
- Essential Survival Phrases
- 2
Getting What You Need
- Ordering Food and Drinks
- Asking 'How Much?' and Bargaining
- Taking a Jeepney or Tricycle
- Numbers for Prices and Time
- Pointing Things Out with 'Ito' and 'Iyan'
- Asking for Directions
- 3
Connecting with People
- Talking About Your Family
- Asking Others About Their Day
- Expressing Likes and Dislikes
- 4
Sounding Like a Local
- The Art of 'Taglish' (Mixing English)
- Using Fillers Like 'Ano' and 'Kwan'
- Common Slang for Friends
- Expressing Emotions with 'Sayang' and 'Hay'
- Mastering the 'Ng' Sound
- 5
Describing the World
- Colors and Shapes
- Weather and the Tropical Climate
- Describing People and Personalities
- Common Action Words
- 6
The Logic of Filipino Sentences
- Why the Verb Often Comes First
- Using 'Ang' to Point at the Subject
- The Difference Between 'Kami' and 'Tayo'
- Linking Words with 'Na' and 'Ng'
- Asking Who, What, and Where
- 7
Action and Time
- Things Happening Now
- Talking About the Past
- Planning for the Future
- 8
Deep Roots and Culture
- Spanish Influence in Tagalog
- The Respect System and Honorifics
- Regional Dialects vs. Filipino
- Proverbs and Wisdom
- The History of the National Language
8 sections · 35 units · 175 levels. Built to play, not to enroll.
You pick the voice
Speak and Understand Real Filipino is taught in the The Professor style: clear, structured, thorough. 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 Speak and Understand Real Filipino today.
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