By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to greet someone, ask how they are, ask their name, and introduce yourself. You'll also understand why pangalan ko means my name and pangalan mo means your name.

How to study: Read each Tagalog expression aloud before looking at its translation. Try to guess what it means. Open the explanation when you're ready, then say the expression again from memory. Understanding matters more than rushing.

- Your first conversation

Ana and Ben meet for the first time. Listen to their entire conversation, then practise each line in Tagalog.

Ana Kumusta ka?

How are you?

Ben Mabuti naman, salamat. Ikaw?

I'm fine, thank you. And you?

Ana Mabuti rin. Ano ang pangalan mo?

I'm fine too. What's your name?

Ben Ben ang pangalan ko. Ikaw?

My name is Ben. And you?

Ana Ako si Ana.

I'm Ana.

Ben Masaya akong makilala ka.

I'm happy to meet you.

Ana Masaya rin akong makilala ka.

I'm happy to meet you too.

Tip

Read the conversation again, concentrating on the Tagalog rather than the translations. You don't need to understand every word yet.

- Understand each expression

- 1. Kumusta ka?

Kumusta ka?

What does Kumusta ka? mean? What does ka contribute?

Reveal Suggested Answer

Language connection

The Tagalog word kumusta developed from the Spanish expression ¿Cómo está?. You'll discover many more familiar words as you learn.

- 2. Mabuti naman, salamat. Ikaw?

Mabuti naman, salamat. Ikaw?

How does Ben answer? What does ikaw mean?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- 3. Mabuti rin. Ano ang pangalan mo?

Mabuti rin. Ano ang pangalan mo?

How do you ask someone's name? Which word means name?

Reveal Suggested Answer

Listen to the shorter, everyday version:

Anong pangalan mo? — What's your name?

- 4. Ben ang pangalan ko. Ikaw?

Ben ang pangalan ko. Ikaw?

What's the difference between ko and mo?

Reveal Suggested Answer

Word order

A possessive often follows its noun in Tagalog: pangalan ko (my name), bahay ko (my house).

- 5. Ako si Ana.

Ako si Ana.

What does Ako si Ana mean? Does si mean am?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- 6. Masaya akong makilala ka.

Masaya akong makilala ka.

What does this expression mean? Which word means happy?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- 7. Masaya rin akong makilala ka.

Masaya rin akong makilala ka.

What extra meaning does rin add?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- Three useful speaking patterns

- Pattern A — Greet someone

Kumusta? — Hello / How are things?

Kumusta po kayo? — How are you? (respectful)

Use the first with friends. Use the respectful form with older people or when you want to show particular courtesy.

- Pattern B — Say whose it is

Pangalan ko. — My name.

Pangalan mo. — Your name.

Bahay ko. — My house.

Bahay mo. — Your house.

Notice how the noun stays the same. Only ko and mo change.

- Pattern C — Introduce yourself

Ako si Ana. — I'm Ana.

Ben ang pangalan ko. — My name is Ben.

Ang pangalan ko ay Ben. — My name is Ben (a somewhat more formal construction).

Tip

Remember: ako means I; ikaw is an independent form of you; and ka is another form of you, as in Kumusta ka?.

- Essential vocabulary

Tagalog	English
kumusta	hello / how are things?
ka	you (short pronoun form)
ikaw	you (independent form)
ako	I / me
ano	what
pangalan	name
ko	my (in this construction)
mo	your (in this construction)
ang	grammatical marker
si	marker used with personal names
mabuti	good / well
salamat	thank you
masaya	happy
rin	also / too

Other useful words you'll encounter again: naman (conversational nuance), po (politeness), and kayo (plural you or respectful singular you).

- Your turn

1. How do you say How are you? in Tagalog?

Reveal Suggested Answer

2. How do you ask What's your name??

Reveal Suggested Answer

3. Introduce yourself using ako.

Reveal Suggested Answer

4. Translate pangalan ko and pangalan mo.

Reveal Suggested Answer

5. Someone asks how you are. Reply: I'm fine, thank you. And you?

Reveal Suggested Answer

6. How would you say I'm happy to meet you too?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- Practise together

With a friend or family member, take the roles of Ana and Ben. Read the seven-line conversation aloud, then replace their names with your own.

On your second attempt, try speaking without looking at the screen. On the third, exchange roles.

One-minute challenge: Say Kumusta ka?, answer with Mabuti naman, salamat. Ikaw?, and introduce yourself with Ako si ... without reading.

- Next lesson

In Lesson 02 [ID:1792732047575], we'll learn how to speak politely when visiting someone, say thank you, respond to thanks, and use po and opo naturally. You'll continue using the greetings and introductions you've learned here.