Scripted in History—Baybayin Words You’ll Love
Long before modern alphabets, Filipino ancestors wrote using Baybayin—a graceful, curvy script that looks like art on paper. Though it’s no longer used for everyday writing, Baybayin is making a comeback in schools, books, and even tattoos! For kids learning Tagalog, it’s a fun way to connect with the past and understand how language grows.
Baybayin has 17 characters 14 consonants and 3 vowels. Unlike English, where each consonant and vowel is written separately, Baybayin builds syllables like little blocks. For example, the word “Araw” (sun) in Baybayin looks like just two symbols: one for “A” and one for “Raw.”
Here are some beginner-friendly words in Tagalog that kids can try writing in Baybayin:
Araw – Sun
Buwan – Moon or month
Gabi – Night
Puso – Heart
Bayan – Town or nation
These words are meaningful, often found in songs and stories, and easy to sound out. Kids can start by tracing symbols or using printable guides from books or learning platforms.
Modern programs like Dinolingo focus on fun, spoken Tagalog but they also help spark interest in heritage topics like Baybayin by encouraging curiosity and cultural pride. A child who learns the word puso in Tagalog might later ask how it was written long ago!
Try These Fun Activities
Baybayin Name Art
Help your child write their name in Baybayin using a printed chart. Decorate it with colors or glitter and hang it on the wall!
Word-of-the-Day Poster
Choose a Tagalog word each day and learn how to say and write it in Baybayin. Add pictures to make it visual and fun.
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