Tagalog

/təˈɡɑːlɔːɡ/ noun

Definition

The national language of the Philippines, also called Filipino. An Austronesian language spoken by over 20 million native speakers.

Etymology

From the Tagalog word 'taga-ilog' meaning 'river dweller' or 'from the river', referring to people living along the Pasig River in Manila. The language name literally describes the geographic origin of its speakers.

Kelly Says

Tagalog is unique among world languages for its complex focus system, where verbs change form based on which part of the sentence the speaker wants to emphasize. The language has also absorbed thousands of Spanish, English, and Chinese loanwords, creating a fascinating linguistic fusion that reflects Philippine history.

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