How to study: Listen to the conversation while reading each translation. Then explore the expressions, practise them with your own family members' names, and answer the questions before revealing the explanations.

- Looking at a family photograph

Ana shows Ben a photograph of her family.

Ben Sino sila, Ana?

Who are they, Ana?

Ana Pamilya ko sila.

They're my family.

Ben Sino siya?

Who is that person?

Ana Nanay ko siya.

She's my mother.

Ben At siya?

And that person?

Ana Tatay ko siya.

He's my father.

Ben May kapatid ka ba?

Do you have a brother or sister?

Ana Oo, may isang kapatid ako.

Yes, I have one sibling.

Tip

Notice how often ko appears. You've seen it before in pangalan ko (my name). Now you can use the same pattern to talk about your family.

- Understand each expression

- 1. Sino sila, Ana?

Sino sila, Ana?

What does sino mean? Is Ben asking about one person or several people?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- 2. Pamilya ko sila.

Pamilya ko sila.

What does pamilya ko mean? Which word refers to several people?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- 3. Sino siya?

Sino siya?

How does this question differ from Sino sila??

Reveal Suggested Answer

- 4. Nanay ko siya.

Nanay ko siya.

Which word means mother? How do you say my mother?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- 5. At siya?

At siya?

What does Ben mean when he points to another person and asks At siya??

Reveal Suggested Answer

- 6. Tatay ko siya.

Tatay ko siya.

What does tatay ko mean?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- 7. May kapatid ka ba?

May kapatid ka ba?

What is Ben asking? What does kapatid mean?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- 8. Oo, may isang kapatid ako.

Oo, may isang kapatid ako.

How many siblings does Ana have? Which word means one?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- Three useful family patterns

- Pattern A — Ask who someone is

Sino? — Who?

Sino siya? — Who is he or she?

Sino sila? — Who are they?

Use siya for one person and sila for more than one.

- Pattern B — Say whose family member it is

Nanay ko. — My mother.

Tatay ko. — My father.

Kapatid ko. — My sibling.

Pamilya ko. — My family.

Change ko to mo to talk about someone else's family member:

nanay mo — your mother
tatay mo — your father
kapatid mo — your sibling

- Pattern C — Ask and answer about siblings

May kapatid ka ba? — Do you have a sibling?

May isang kapatid ako. — I have one sibling.

You can also answer simply Oo (yes) or Wala (none / I don't have any).

Tip

Remember the difference between ako (I), ka (you), siya (he/she) and sila (they). These small words help you understand who is being discussed.

- Review what you already know

From Lesson 01:

Ako si Ana. — I'm Ana.

Now add a family member:

Siya ang nanay ko. — She's my mother.

Together, these expressions help you introduce yourself and someone in your family.

- Essential vocabulary

Tagalog	English
pamilya	family
nanay	mother / mum
tatay	father / dad
kapatid	sibling
sino	who
siya	he / she
sila	they
ko	my (in this construction)
mo	your (in this construction)
may	there is / have
ba	yes-or-no question particle
isang	one (before a noun)
at	and
oo	yes
wala	none / not have

- Your turn

1. How do you ask Who is he or she?

Reveal Suggested Answer

2. How do you say my mother and my father?

Reveal Suggested Answer

3. What is the difference between siya and sila?

Reveal Suggested Answer

4. How do you ask Do you have a sibling?

Reveal Suggested Answer

5. Say I have one sibling in Tagalog.

Reveal Suggested Answer

6. Translate Pamilya ko sila.

Reveal Suggested Answer

- Practise together

Find a family photograph or imagine one.

Point to different people and practise saying:

Nanay ko siya.
Tatay ko siya.
Kapatid ko siya.

Then ask someone Sino siya? and let them answer.

One-minute challenge: Introduce yourself, identify two family members, and ask someone whether they have a sibling—all in Tagalog.

- Next lesson

In Lesson 06 [ID:1792732130407], Ana, Ben and Rosa will share a meal. You'll learn how to say Kain tayo! (Let's eat!), express what you'd like, and politely ask for water.