short essay about yourself tagalog

Filipino Self-Introductions: “My Name is” in Tagalog and More!

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re trying to find a way to give someone your name—in perfect Tagalog . As we all know, first impressions last. And to make a good one, you have to know what you’re doing. So, after searching for “My name is,” in Tagalog, it’s time to take it to the next level.

So, how to introduce yourself in Filipino?

As in many places, in the Philippines, there are different ways of introducing yourself. There are different approaches for when you’re around buddies, older people, or in a corporate setting (unless your boss tossed all the rules and specifically requested you to call him by his nickname in a land called The Things that Never Happened). But hey, it can be a wild world sometimes.

By the time you’re through with this article, you should have no trouble during your next few Filipino self-introductions!

Table of Contents

• Politeness Matters
• The All-Important Kumusta
• Say More About Yourself
• When You Need to be Formal with Your Introduction
• You’re All Set to Introduce Yourself in Filipino

1. Politeness Matters

Now, you already know how to say “My name is,” in the Filipino language, which means you’re ready to learn about another set of keywords: po and opo . These are included in the “ Mano ” tradition in the Philippines. In some Asian cultures such as Japan and Korea, they have a certain way of speaking to express respect or politeness, sometimes referred to as “ honorifics .” It’s possible that something like this exists in other cultures too, so it’ll be interesting to see the similarities and differences.

1- So, how do you use po and opo ?

It’s not too difficult to use these words when you introduce yourself in Tagalog. If you’re speaking to someone older, someone who’s possibly five or ten years older than you, you use po and opo when talking to them.

Now, imagine that you’re invited to a friend’s house. You can expect to meet his/her relatives, and naturally, you’ll have to introduce yourself when they ask about you or say the inevitable kumusta? But before that happens, greeting them when you enter the home will get things started on the right foot.

Here’s how that might go:

• You: Magandang umaga po.
• Friend’s parent/relative: Magandang umaga din sayo.
• You: “Good morning!”
• Friend’s parent/relative: “Good morning to you, too!”

As you can see, umaga translates to “morning,” and if you’re eager to be more time-specific, you can use tanghali or hapon which translate to “afternoon.” These words aren’t very different, but people say tanghali early in the afternoon (like at noon), and hapon late in the afternoon (like around three o’clock). But there’s no thought police here, so no one will stop you in your tracks if you said Magandang hapon at one o’clock.

For night time, there’s gabi which means “evening.” You can also keep things general with araw , which is “day.” Now, to see it used, here’s a tiny cheat sheet. You can also take a look at the examples here .

2- Greetings in Filipino

Here are some of the most useful Filipino and Tagalog greetings to use throughout the day!

Opo is mostly used to answer questions politely, and sentences usually start with it. Sometimes, it’s all you have to say for the equivalent of a courteous “yes.”

Here’s an example:

Friend’s parent/relative: Kasamahan ka ba ni Jason? You: Opo. Magkasama kami sa opisina.

Friend’s parent/relative: “Are you and Jason co-workers?” You: “Yes. We work in the same office.”

You can always look at more examples online of how you can speak politely in Filipino, or check out additional content on our site so you can hear them used in the wild. Okay, not too wild. But enough to make anyone smile because of your effort to be polite.

That seems pretty standard, doesn’t it? For a quick recap, you know how to say your name in Tagalog and some basic greetings in Filipino. Now, it’s time to unravel the mystery that is kumusta . It’s not really that much of a mystery because it’s probably one of the first things you hear about the Filipino culture.

2. The All-Important Kumusta

Once you’ve come across Kumusta ka , you got yourself something good in your Filipino language arsenal. That’s because it can be used as “Hi” or “ How are you ?” and Filipinos are known for being jolly —many are likely to let out a smile once they hear these magic words.

Let’s take a closer look at how it’s used, shall we?

Imagine you’re with a friend who happens to see another friend while you’re outside. It’s only natural to introduce you to that other person. Now, you don’t need to worry about doing something wrong. Chances are, your friend will say “hi” to that other person and introduce you as quickly as possible.

Here’s what you can expect:

Friend: Hi Jojo. Kumusta? Jojo: Oy, pare! Kumusta?

Friend: Ayos naman. Si (your name) pala. Jojo: Kumusta, (your name).

You: Kumusta. Ako si (your name).

In English:

Friend: “Hi Jojo. How are you?” Jojo: “Hey, man! How are you?”

Friend: “I’m alright. This is (your name) by the way.” Jojo: “Hi, (your name)?”

You: “Hi. I am (your name).”

It’s important to emphasize that this will happen in very informal settings, and you can find more examples on our site , as well as a lesson on how to talk about friends . Remember, though,that things change a bit when you talk to someone older or if you want to be more polite.

So far, the things you’ve learned can help you breeze through five to ten minutes of conversation. Just kidding! Of course, it’s about twenty minutes. Seriously though, it’s not so much about the amount of time you spend talking, but the impression you make.

Speaking of talking more, it’s time to bring in the goods. That introduction has been preparing you for this part: knowing what questions you may have to answer and things that are perfectly okay to ask in Filipino culture.

3. Say More About Yourself

It’s time to actually say details about yourself. But you may be wondering what can be considered “too much information,” or what you can casually talk about.

Like in many places, it’s wise not to get ahead of yourself and talk about your whole family history. You can easily share details such as where you live, your age, where you studied, your marital status, and whether you have kids or not. But wait a minute, doesn’t that sound like a bit too much?

In Filipino culture, you have to remember that mentioning these topics is common . People mean no offense by asking you these things. After you say your name in Filipino, you’re either going to face some questions, or you may just decide that you want to include some more details in your introduction.

Take a look at this dialogue between strangers.

1- Talk About Where You Live

Imagine that this is a colleague you met in the office for the first time:

You: Magandang umaga. Colleague: Magandang umaga din sayo.

You: Ako si (your name.) Anong pangalan mo? Colleague: Ako si Eric. Taga saan ka?

You: Nakatira ako sa Makati. Ikaw? Colleague: Sa Antipolo kami pero nagrent ako ng apartment sa Makati para malapit sa office.

You: “Good morning.” Colleague: “Good morning to you, too.”

You: “My name is (name.) What’s yours?” Colleague: “My name is Eric. Where are you from?”

You: “I live in Makati. How about you?” Colleague: “I am from Antipolo, but I rented an apartment in Makati because it’s closer to the office.”

After reading this, you may think that something isn’t quite right. Why are there English words in a Tagalog conversation? There’s a simple answer: English is considered the second language in the Philippines, so it isn’t difficult to see people mixing Tagalog and English words in one sentence. This is called Taglish . This is just used in informal communication or when words that are used have no equivalent in Filipino.

Asking about where one lives doesn’t seem too private, but notice that in the example, the colleague easily shared details about moving and where they lived previously.

2- Share Your Age, Marital Status, and Talk About Your Children

Things become more exciting (or unexpected) with this next part, but it all depends on how you look at it. Regardless, keep in mind that it’s all done in good faith. Talking about family is commonly done in the country, and reading this might give you better insight. Providing details such as your age , marital status, and even about your children, happens so casually, as you can see in this dialogue.

Colleague: Ilang taon ka na? You: 27 na ako.

Colleague: Single ka? You: Hindi, may asawa na ako.

Colleague: O talaga? Ako din may asawa na. Kailan kayo kinasal? You: Two years ago.

Colleague: May anak na kayo? You: Wala pa kaming anak ngayon. May anak na ba kayo?

Colleague: Oo, dalawa. Yung panganay ko grade one, yung bunso ko two years old palang.

Colleague: “How old are you?” You: “I’m 27.”

Colleague: “Are you single?” You: “No, I’m already married.”

Colleague: “Oh, really? I’m also married. When did you get married?” You: “Two years ago.”

Colleague: “Do you have children?” You: “We don’t have kids yet. Do you have children?”

Colleague: “Yes, we have two. My eldest is in first grade, my youngest is just two years old.”

Fun fact: “O” is just a filler in Tagalog and is very much like “Oh” in English.

3- Share What School You Went to & Your Major

Another tried and tested way of how you can introduce yourself in Tagalog is by talking about the school you went to, your major, or your job. To some cultures, this may be another sensitive topic (especially asking whether a person finished school or not), but it’s perfectly normal here.

Here’s another example conversation:

You: Kumusta? Ako si Andrew. Anong pangalan mo? Colleague: Ako si Francis.

You: Ikaw yung kasama ni Jenny kanina, di ba? Colleague: Oo ako ‘yon. Bago lang kasi ako sa office kaya sinasamahan niya ako at first job ko ito.

You: Matagal na ba kayong magkakilala ni Jenny? Colleague: Oo pareho kami na Accounting ang course sa PUP. Ikaw, anong course mo?

You: Entrepreneurship ang major ko. Colleague: First job mo ba ito?

You: Hindi. Marami akong naging trabaho noong nasa US ako. Colleague: Talaga? Working student ka?

You: Oo. Kailangan ko kasi ng pambayad sa college. Colleague: Ang galing mo naman. Mahirap mag-aral kapag may trabaho ka pa.

You: Marami naman ang ganon sa amin at madali lang ang trabaho sa bakery. Colleague: Ah sa bakery ka pala nagtrabaho. Ayos yon.

You: Oo, sa bakery, sa supermarket, basta part-time na trabaho kinuha ko.

You: “Hi. My name is Andrew. What’s your name?” Colleague: “My name is Francis.”

You: “You were with Jenny earlier, right?” Colleague: “Yes, I was with her. This is my first job and I am new in the office, so she accompanies me.”

You: “Have you and Jenny known each other for a long time?” Colleague: “Yes, we both took up Accounting in PUP. How about you, what was your major?”

You: “I took up Entrepreneurship.” Colleague: “Is this your first job?”

You: “No. I had many jobs when I was in the U.S.” Colleague: “Really? Were you a working student?”

You: “Yes. I needed the money to pay for college.” Colleague: “That’s really great. It’s hard to go to school when you have work.”

You: “Many people do that back there and my work in the bakery was easy.” Colleague: “Oh, you worked in a bakery? Sounds great.”

You: “Yes, I worked at a bakery, supermarket, and other places. I just took any kind of part-time work.”

Fun fact: In the Philippines, “course” is usually used instead of “major” when you talk about what you studied in college.

If you want to hear another example of what a profession-related conversation could look like, we have a relevant lesson on our website. Again, note that this is a very common conversation topic. Knowing how to talk about it will surely help you make friendly relations with more people.

4. When You Need to be Formal with Your Introduction

At this point, you’ve read about how you can be polite and friendly, and what subjects you might be asked about when you introduce yourself in Filipino. Give yourself a pat on the back. Chances are, saying your name in Filipino has become a piece of cake, and nothing you’ll face will make you sweat (figuratively, of course). Visiting the Philippines always means being ready for that tropical feel.

The Philippines isn’t all about staying at the beach and drinking coconut water, though. You still have to go to the office, talk to bosses, and say your name in Tagalog when you introduce yourself. An office setting requires a different kind of courtesy, but it’s nothing overwhelming. Take a look at this dialogue and see how it goes.

You: Magandang umaga po, Sir. Department Head: Magandang umaga din sayo. Maupo ka.

You: Salamat po, Sir. Department Head: Anong maitutulong ko sayo?

You: Sir, gusto ko po sana na magpalipat sa Makati branch natin. Department Head: Pwede ko bang malaman kung bakit?

You: Mas malapit po kasi sa bahay ko yung Makati branch. Kung mas malapit po yung bahay ko, mas madali sa akin ang mag-overtime. Department Head: Pag-iisipan ko yang sinabi mo sa akin. Ipapatawag kita kaagad kapag may balita na ako kung pwede kang lumipat o hindi.

You: Salamat po, Sir.

You: “Good morning, sir.” Department Head: “Good morning to you, too. Please sit down.”

You: “Thank you, sir.” Department Head: “What can I do for you?”

You: “Sir, I’d like to be transferred to our Makati branch.” Department Head: “Could you tell me why?”

You: “It’s because I live closer to our Makati branch. If I lived closer to the office, I could work overtime more.” Department Head: “I’ll think about it. I’ll let you know whether you can transfer or not as soon as I receive information about it.”

You: “Thank you, sir.”

There’s a lot of po usage in this dialogue and, as previously said, it’s to show politeness. Another notable thing is the use of “sir.” In the Philippines, addressing a superior in the office as Miss, Ma’am, or Sir, is enough to show your respect for them.

There are also a few things you’ll have to remember before having a chat with your boss (e.g. you should knock before entering a room). Lucky for you, FilipinoPod101.com has a lesson that covers the various phrases you may need for a good first impression.

5. You’re All Set to Introduce Yourself in Filipino

Most people who have been to the Philippines, or who have read a few things about the country, will tell you that Filipinos are quite friendly. The term “hospitable” is almost always used to describe the people of the Philippines. This means that to get the most out of your visit, you need to mirror this friendliness as much as you can, whether you’re saying your name or introducing yourself in Filipino.

Kumusta can be heard almost anywhere, and it’s impossible to forget. However, remembering how things are done gives you extra points. Besides, the aim is to learn; though skating by is fairly enjoyable, nothing beats the satisfaction of having a new skill.

Now that you’ve scratched bits of the surface, you can always keep an eye out for more. You can get past just knowing how to say your name in Tagalog; FilipinoPod101.com gives you a window to the culture, language, and just about anything to make your stay in the Philippines more enjoyable.

Before you go, let us know in the comments how you feel about self-introductions in Filipino and Tagalog! Write us a short self-introduction in Filipino about yourself to practice. 😉 We look forward to hearing from you!

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#1 Best Guide On How To Write An Essay In Tagalog

• , September 10, 2024

Curious to learn how to write an essay in Tagalog? Well, you’re in luck because that’s exactly what we’re going to be talking about in this handy blog post!

As you read on, you will not only learn Tagalog but also realize just how easy it is to write essays in Tagalog. After this, your Tagalog writing and overall communication skills should improve a lot!

How To Write An Essay In Tagalog

If you want to know how to write a good essay ( sanaysay in Filipino), definitely remember that less is more! By writing less, you’re conveying to your reader that you’re organized and an expert on what you’re talking about. To learn more helpful tips, make sure to keep reading!

1. Do Your Research

Doing proper research ( pananaliksik ) before getting started is essential when it comes to the writing process. After all, how will you be able to write about a topic if you don’t know anything about it? When you’re conducting research, make sure to also fact-check and gather data from multiple sources. That way, your article has more authority.

Doing more research will also ensure that you know about a certain topic in-depth and can even lead to you gaining a new perspective along the way.

2. Draft Your Essay

After completing your research and answering the questions you have in your mind, you can now proceed to drafting ( pagbabalangkas ) your essay . This process is so important because it gives you time to organize your thoughts and ideas into a concise structure. If you skip this step, your essay is sure to come out disorganized, with different topics all jumbled up in each other.

Make sure that during this step, you outline your essay thoroughly. This will make the process of writing the actual essay go much smoother because you won’t have to go back and research information or search for notes. Keep all your notes in the same place when you’re writing an essay!

3. Start Writing

After conducting research ( pananaliksik ) and drafting your essay ( pagbabalangkas ), it’s time to start writing! Remember that when you write an essay, you should divide it into three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion.

The Introduction Of The Essay

The introduction ( panimula ) is where you will answer basic questions and tell your readers what the essay is going to be about. Make sure that you hook your readers in your introduction. Otherwise, they won’t keep reading.

The Body Of The Essay

Next is the body ( katawan ) of the essay. This is where you’ll talk in-depth about the topic. Make sure to include any research you did in this section and your analysis of the research. You can also include your opinion in this section if the topic permits.

The Conclusion Of The Essay

The last part of an essay is known as the conclusion ( konklusyon or wakas ) . This is where you can wrap up any major ideas in your essay. If you’re really good, you should be able to tie your conclusion somehow back to the introduction! It’s important to keep your conclusion insightful and avoid completely summarizing the essay. Readers want to feel enlightened after they finish reading an essay, not be given an entire synopsis!

4. Edit Your Work

Your essay isn’t finished until you’ve gone back and edited it. If time permits, we recommend sleeping on your essay and then coming back to it the following day.

Looking at an essay with a fresh set of eyes will allow you to notice errors that you might have missed if you had edited it on the same day you wrote it. The two main things to check for when it comes to editing are overall clarity and grammatical mistakes. Both of these can distract your reader from the actual content of the essay if you’re not careful.

Words To Make Your Tagalog Essay Standout

Writing an essay in Tagalog can be a challenge, especially if you are not yet fluent in the language. Remember not to stress too much! With all the resources available nowadays, from YouTube videos to online articles, there are a thousand ways to check if the Tagalog word you’re using is correct.

If you want to learn more Tagalog words or the language itself, the Ling app can help. It’s a gamified language learning app available on Google Play and the App Store that teaches you all about the Tagalog language and 60+ more languages. Now, let me share with you some words to get you started writing your Tagalog essay!

There are so many more Tagalog words you can learn to make your essay more compelling, but we just wanted to get you started on how to write an essay in Tagalog .

Expanding Your Vocabulary For Tagalog Essays

To truly excel in writing essays in Tagalog, it’s essential to have a rich vocabulary. Here are some advanced words and phrases that can add depth and precision to your essays:

• Pagpapalawig (Expansion) – Use this term when you’re elaborating or expanding on a point. It shows that you’re adding more details or going deeper into a topic.
• Salungat na Pananaw (Contrary View) – When discussing a different or opposing perspective, this phrase is quite handy. It helps in introducing an alternative argument or viewpoint.
• Mahalagang Punto (Important Point) – This phrase can be used to highlight key arguments or significant aspects of your essay.
• Sa Madaling Salita (In Short) – This is a useful transition phrase for summarizing or concluding your thoughts succinctly.
• Mabisang Argumento (Effective Argument) – Utilize this when emphasizing the strength of your argument or reasoning.
• Pangunahing Tema (Main Theme) – Ideal for stating the main theme or central idea of your essay.
• Kritikal na Pagsusuri (Critical Analysis) – This is an essential phrase for essays that require analyzing or evaluating concepts, situations, or literary works.
• Pagkakatulad at Pagkakaiba (Similarities and Differences) – Use this when you are comparing and contrasting ideas or topics in your essay.
• Panghuling Pahayag (Final Statement) – This is a powerful way to introduce your concluding remarks, ensuring a strong finish to your essay.
• Susing Salita (Keyword) – Refers to the main terms or concepts central to your essay’s topic.

Incorporating these words and phrases into your Tagalog essays will not only improve the quality of your writing but also demonstrate a higher level of language proficiency. Remember, the key to effectively using advanced vocabulary is understanding the context in which each word or phrase is most appropriately used.

Common Pitfalls In Writing Essays In Tagalog

While learning how to write an essay in Tagalog , it’s just as important to know what to avoid as it is to know what to do. Here are some common pitfalls you should watch out for:

• Overuse of Direct Translations : One of the most common mistakes is directly translating phrases or idioms from English to Tagalog. This can lead to awkward phrasing or even change the meaning entirely. As we know, languages have their unique expressions, so try to think in Tagalog rather than translating from English.
• Ignoring Formal and Informal Tones : Tagalog, like many languages, has formal and informal tones. Be mindful of the tone you’re using in your essay. Academic and formal essays usually require a more formal tone, so avoid using colloquial or Tagalog slang terms .
• Neglecting the Flow of Sentences : The flow and structure of sentences in Tagalog can be quite different from English. Pay attention to sentence construction to ensure your essay reads naturally. Long, convoluted sentences can confuse readers, so aim for clarity and conciseness.
• Inconsistent Use of Tenses : Tagalog verbs can be tricky, especially with their various aspects (completed, ongoing, and contemplated). Make sure to keep your verb tenses consistent throughout your essay to maintain clarity and coherence.
• Overlooking Local Context and Nuances : Tagalog has rich local contexts and nuances. Make sure to incorporate these appropriately in your writing. Understanding and using regional expressions or phrases can add authenticity to your essay, but be careful not to misuse them.
• Insufficient Proofreading : Finally, don’t underestimate the importance of proofreading. Spelling and grammatical errors can significantly undermine the credibility of your essay. If possible, have a native speaker review your work to catch errors you might have missed.

How Do You Say Essay In Tagalog?

Sample Phrases When Talking About Writing An Essay In Tagalog

Many essays require you to be familiar with intermediate Tagalog grammar . Some may even be as deep as going to advanced Tagalog words. But, it’s all going to be easy if you can strike up a conversation or two with a Filipino friend. Test some of these phrases and sentences with a Tagalog native speaker so you can get some valuable pointers when writing an essay in Tagalog .

Frequently Asked Questions On How To Write A Tagalog Essay

What should i avoid when writing a tagalog essay.

A Tagalog essay may include some foreign words here and there. But it’s important to keep it to a minimum. Many professors in universities or teachers at a Philippine local high school won’t even be happy seeing even just one foreign word or sentence if it’s not a reference to your main point.

In that case, it’s also important to brush up with more Tagalog vocabulary words to help you become familiar with this language. Also, make sure not to abbreviate a lot of words. If you can say ito instead of ‘to , then it’s best to write it in full.

Which Filipino Essays Are Popular?

We recommend you read Jose Rizal’s Filipino essays. His works are among the most documented of all the Philippine heroes.

Also, you can browse essays from previous Philippine presidents and officials like Ramon Magsaysay, Carlos P. Romulo, and Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino.

For prestigious authors and writers, Francisco Sionil José, Lualhati Bautista, Teodoro A. Agoncillo, José Garcia Villa, Edith L. Tiempo, and Nick Joaquin have some of the best Filipino essays of all time.

How Do You Write An Argumentative Essay In Tagalog?

Argumentative essays are mostly written similarly to a debate. You tackle a topic and encourage people to believe or at least agree with your clause. For Tagalog, it’s important not to be focused on many poetic Tagalog words to just feel like you’re a literary genius with Tagalog jargon. But it’s important that you can convey your message clearly and precisely to your Filipino audience.

Over To You

By avoiding these common pitfalls, your journey to mastering essay writing in Tagalog will be smoother and more successful. Keep practicing, and don’t hesitate to seek feedback from native speakers or language-learning communities! Good luck on your Tagalog essay writing journey!

One Response

thank you for helping me to make an essay, it’s actually helped me to do my essay so thank you saur muchh !!

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