30+ Easy Tagalog Family Vocabulary

Ling Learn Languages
5 min readMar 11, 2021

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When it comes to Filipinos, the family is the most important thing. If you are interested to impress your Pinoy friends, colleagues, and special someone, then make sure not to miss out on this comprehensive list of Tagalog family vocabulary terms that you will encounter in day to day setting. Ever heard someone say lola, ina, ama, or kuya and ate? Get to know what these words mean today!

The Philippines has always one of the go-to destinations of people interested in immersing themselves in a tropical country. With the stretches of white beaches, immaculate-looking historical structures, and the amazing cuisine, I sure bet that a lot of you are itching to visit this place. And if you really are keen on visiting, I highly suggest that you start learning their language and add a few lessons here and there about their culture.

And perhaps this is the reason why you landed on this page today. You probably know of a Filipino and is interested in creating a fun relationship. Well, you came to the right place! In today’s post, we will review the Tagalog language related to families and I will also share with you some truth about a typical Filipino household. If that rocks your boat, off we go!

Filipino Household: The Typical Family Members

Ever heard of the word pamilya? This is a Tagalog word that refers to family and this remains to be one of the terms that do not have direct Tagalog synonyms. You see, the Philippine tradition when it comes to families is very much different from what you can see from the Western concept. Usually, when a member reaches 18 years old, Western families expect their child to move and find their own place.

For Filipinos, it is always suggested that you stay with your family until such time that you are married. Though this tradition still exists today, a huge number of people are slowly adopting the western concept and have moved to a place that is much nearer to their workplace. And if ever you get invited to attend a traditional family party or a fiesta (depending on the place), do not be surprised if you meet not just the parents but the whole clan!

You see the country has a very strong familial relationship to the point that it is possible to find almost three generations living in just one house of compound! In fact, some of the streets are even named after the popular families who reside in that certain place. Given that structure, you can also expect to hear that kids have grown up not just with the help of the mother and father but by the whole family! Isn’t that exciting?

Tagalog Family Vocabulary

In this part, we decided to create a comprehensive list of all the Tagalog terms that you should learn especially if you want to impress. Do note that by tradition, Filipinos love being called using these labels than their first name. I

In fact, even if they are not your real kuya (brother) or ate (sister), you can use any of these as a sign of respect. For instance, if you want to buy off of the streets some street food sold by an old lady, you can simply say paibili po (English translation: can I buy one?) and add the word nanay or ate to sound respectful.

Ready to learn more? Read and practice the Tagalog labels below.

Did you have fun learning about this set of Filipino words? Which among these is your favorite?

As I end this article, I hope that I was able to give justice and provide you with the best list of vocabulary words that you will encounter on a day-to-day basis. If you enjoyed this post, please feel free to share it on social media and help us reach more people interested in learning Tagalog. Also, do not miss out on our previous posts such as how to introduce yourself and how to greet happy birthday.

For other Tagalog-related topics and lessons, I highly suggest that you check out the Ling App, my most recommended way of learning any language for free! It remains to be one of the latest applications which cover a comprehensive discussion about the Tagalog language combined with native-sounding examples and fun activities. Through this, you can discover a love for learning and challenge yourself to be better even if you are learning the least spoken, hardest, or easiest languages!

Learn Tagalog Using Free Resources

Finding yourself motivated and becoming more interested in learning the national language of the Philippines?

Then it is high time that you consider upskilling using modern resources that are easily downloadable to your device. Contrary to common belief, you can actually teach yourself any language so long as you stay motivated and consistent. You also do not have to pay loads of cash just to be able to unlock a foreign language!

For instance, if you are someone who enjoys interactive quizzes and short lessons related to grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, then the Ling App is definitely for you. On the flip side, if you find yourself wanting a straightforward type of app with the most updated phrases, then Simply Learn will accelerate your language acquisition skills in an instant!

You do not have to print hard-to-follow modules or sign-up for classes! Install these today and start your journey on the right foot with two easy-to-navigate learning buddies, the Ling App and Simply Learn.

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Ling Learn Languages

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