Meet the Filipino Alphabet: Easy Learning for Children

Did you know that the Philippines has two official languages? Filipino and English are both used in everyday life, but Filipino is the national language. It’s spoken in schools, on TV, in books, and by families all around the country. Filipino is based on the Tagalog language, which is one of the native languages of the Philippines.

If your child is learning Tagalog, it can be fun to explore the language’s alphabet, sounds, and how it has changed over time. Let’s take a closer look!

A Language with Many Influences

The Filipino language is very special because it blends different cultures and words. It is mostly based on Tagalog, but it also includes words from Spanish, English, and other Filipino languages. This mix creates something unique that children often hear as “Taglish”—a fun blend of Tagalog and English. For example, someone might say, “Maglalaro tayo later!” (Let’s play later!)

Over time, Filipino keeps changing and growing. New words from science, pop culture, and technology are added regularly. This means your child is learning a language that’s alive and always adapting!

The Filipino Alphabet

The Filipino alphabet has changed a few times in history. The latest version was created in 1987. Some older letters like ch, ll, and rr were removed to make it easier to learn.

The modern Filipino alphabet has 28 letters:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N Ñ Ng O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Some of these letters—like C, F, J, Ñ, Q, V, X, and Z—aren’t used much in everyday Tagalog words. But they are important in scientific terms, foreign names, and some words from other Filipino languages.

Learning how to say and spell words using this alphabet helps children get better at reading, writing, and speaking Tagalog.

How to Practice Filipino at Home

If your child is learning Filipino or Tagalog, there are many simple and fun ways to help them:

• Practice saying each letter of the alphabet out loud

• Sing the Tagalog alphabet song

• Play word games using simple Filipino words

• Read children’s books written in Filipino or with some Taglish

• Watch Filipino cartoons and listen to Tagalog songs

These activities help your child get used to how the language sounds and feels.

Dinolingo Makes Tagalog Fun and Easy

For kids ages 2 to 14 who want to learn Filipino, Dinolingo offers a fun way to practice with songs, cartoons, games, books, and flashcards. You can access it on the web, iOS, or Android. It works both online and offline and includes a parent dashboard to track progress. One subscription works for up to 6 users, which makes it perfect for families.

Your child can start learning words, sentences, and even the Filipino alphabet through Dinolingo, while earning cute rewards and enjoying interactive lessons every day.

A Language That Grows with You

The Filipino language is always changing and growing, just like the kids who speak it! Learning it helps children feel more connected to Filipino culture and family traditions. Whether they live in the Philippines or anywhere in the world, kids who speak Tagalog or Filipino are part of a rich and exciting language community.

Let’s keep learning, one letter at a time!