Introductions
Let us learn about introducing oneself. Here are some words, phrases, and sentences.
| Kumusta ka? | How are you? (informal; derived from the |
| Spanish “Como esta?”) | |
| ka | You (second person singular) |
| Mabuti | Fine. |
| ako | I (first person singular) |
| si | subject marker (This word tells us that the word which follows it is the subject of the sentence. It is used for proper nouns or names.) |
| Ako si Sarah. | I + si + Sarah. I am Sarah. |
| ang | subject marker (This word tells us that the word which follows it is the subject of the sentence. It is used for common nouns.) |
| pangalan ko | name |
| my (first person singular, possessive); | |
| I (first person singular) | |
| Ralph ang pangalan ko. | Ralph + ang + name + my. My name is Ralph. |
| Ikinagagalak | pleased |
| ikinagagalak ko | I am pleased |
| na | linker (used to link words; used here to mean the word “to)” |
| kong | contraction of ko + na |
| makilala | meet |
| Ikinagagalak kong makilala ka. | Pleased + I + na (used for to) + meet + youPleased to meet you. |
Study this dialogue to learn how to introduce yourself in Tagalog.
RALPH : Kumusta ka? How are you?
SARAH : Mabuti. Ako si Sarah. Fine. I am Sarah.
RALPH : Ralph Woods ang pangalan ko. My name is Ralph Woods.
SARAH : Ikinagagalak* kong makilala ka. Pleased to meet you.
RALPH : Ikinagagalak kong makilala ka. Pleased to meet you.
Now practice the dialogue.
SENTENCE CONSTRUCTION
Let’s study the following words and how to formulate questions.
| Sino | Who |
| Sino ka? | Who + you? Who are you? |
| po | honorific; used to show politeness and respect |
| kayo | you (plural) |
| Sino po kayo? | Who + honorific + you? |
| Who are you? (formal; polite) | |
| ano | what |
| Ano ang pangalan mo? | What + ang + name + your? What is your name? |
There is no equivalent of the verb “to be” (are, is) in Tagalog. Thus, if you look at “Sino ka?” the literal translation is just “Who you?” Similarly, the literal translation for Ano ang pangalan mo? is “What marker name your?”
A brief culture note – the question “Sino ka?” is not considered to be polite. Unless you are speaking to someone much younger, it is best to use Sino po kayo?
Let’s study how to answer these questions. One important characteristic of the Tagalog language is flexibility. We can change the order of the sentence. The subject (person, place, thing, or idea of doing something) can come before the predicate (tells something about the subject), or the predicate can come before the subject.
In Tagalog, the predicate–subject order is more commonly used, especially in conversations. The subject–predicate order is considered formal and less common. Thus, it is called an “inverted order” by grammarians.
Here are two ways to construct sentences.
Question: Sino po kayo? Who are you?
| Predicate–Subject | Subject–Predicate | |
| Answers: | Si Sarah ako.Si +Sarah + I. (Sarah I.) | Ako si Sarah.I + si + Sarah. (I Sarah.)I am Sarah. |
Question: Ano ang pangalan mo? What is your name?
| Predicate–Subject | Subject–Predicate | |
| Answers: | Ralph ang pangalan ko.Ralph + ang + name + my. | Ang pangalan ko ay Ralph.Ang + name + my + ay + Ralph.My name is Ralph. |
Now, practice asking and answering questions.
QUESTION AND ANSWER PRACTICE
Now, let us practice some of the words you learned by asking and answering questions:
1. Question: Kumusta ka?
Answer: ____________________________________________________.
2. Question: Ano ang pangalan mo?
Answer: ____________________________________________________.
3. Question: ____________________________________________________?
Answer: Mabuti.
4. Question: ____________________________________________________?
Answer: Sarah ang pangalan ko.
LANGUAGE AND CULTURE TIP (Tongue-Twisters): Ikinagagalak kong makilala ka is a tongue-twister. It also sounds very formal. If you forget it, don’t let this bother you. Just plunge into the conversation by saying your name, and then say “Kumusta ka?” You’ll be fine.
Introducing Oneself to an Older Person
At the same party, Ralph later meets Mr. Tolentino, a lawyer. Mr. Tolentino is in his late 40s, and is older than Ralph. Thus, Ralph greets him politely, using the honorific words po and pong, and plural pronouns.
Here are a few words for polite speech and more pronouns.
| pong | contraction of the honorific po + na (linker) |
| ho | honorific; used
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