Numbers

1. Isa, dalawa, tatlo

   One, two, three

   Usage

   Basic Tagalog numbers. Spanish numbers (uno, dos, tres) are also commonly used.

   Grammar Note

   Tagalog has two number systems: native (isa, dalawa, tatlo) and Spanish-derived (uno, dos, tres). Spanish numbers are used for time ("alas-dos" = 2 o'clock) and prices in many contexts.

2. Apat, lima, anim

   Four, five, six

   Grammar Note

   Tagalog numbers share Austronesian roots: "lima" (5) is the same in Malay and Indonesian. This shows the shared heritage of Austronesian languages across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

3. Pito, walo, siyam, sampu

   Seven, eight, nine, ten

   Grammar Note

   Complete 1–10 Tagalog numbers: isa, dalawa, tatlo, apat, lima, anim, pito, walo, siyam, sampu. For 11+: "labing-isa" (11), "labindalawa" (12). "Labing-" = "and ten +" (plus ten).

4. Labinlima

   Fifteen

   Usage

   "Labing-" is the prefix for numbers 11 through 19.

   Grammar Note

   Teens: "labing- + single digit": labing-isa (11), labindalawa (12), labintatlo (13), labing-apat (14), labinlima (15), labing-anim (16), labimpito (17), labingwalo (18), labinsiyam (19).

5. Dalawampu, tatlumpu

   Twenty, thirty

   Grammar Note

   Tens: "[number] + -mpu/-napu": dalawampu (20), tatlumpu (30), apatnapu (40), limampu (50), animnapu (60), pitumpu (70), walumpu (80), siyamnapu (90). "Isang daan" = 100.

6. Isang daan, isang libo

   One hundred, one thousand

   Grammar Note

   Large numbers: isang daan (100), dalawang daan (200), isang libo (1,000), sampung libo (10,000), isang milyon (1,000,000). Philippine currency is Piso — most prices are in hundreds or thousands.

7. Alas-otso ng umaga

   8 in the morning

   Usage

   Spanish-derived numbers are used for telling time.

   Grammar Note

   Time in Filipino uses Spanish "a las": alas-uno (1:00), alas-dos (2:00), alas-tres (3:00), alas-kwatro (4:00). "Ng umaga" (AM), "ng hapon" (PM afternoon), "ng gabi" (PM evening).

8. Tatlong araw

   Three days

   Grammar Note

   Numbers take "-ng" linker before a noun: isang (1), dalawang (2), tatlong (3), apat na (4), limang (5). "Araw" = day/sun. Reduplication: "araw-araw" = every day.

9. Ikalima

   Fifth

   Grammar Note

   The "ika" prefix creates ordinals: una (1st, irregular), ikalawa (2nd), ikatlo (3rd), ikaapat (4th), ikalima (5th). Used for floors: "ikalimang palapag" (5th floor). Also for dates: "ikasampu ng Enero" (January 10th).

10. Kalahati

    Half

    Grammar Note

    Fractions: kalahati (½), ikatlo (⅓), ikaapat (¼). Use in context: "kalahating oras" (half an hour), "kalahating kilo" (half a kilo). "Hati" as a verb means to divide/split.

11. Marami / Kaunti

    Many / A little

    Grammar Note

    "Marami" and "kaunti" modify nouns: "maraming tao" (many people), "kaunting tubig" (a little water). Key antonym pairs: marami/kaunti (many/few), malaki/maliit (big/small), mabilis/mabagal (fast/slow).

12. Dalawampu't pitong taong gulang na po ako

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    How to answer "Ilang taon na po kayo?" (how old are you?). Filipinos also often use the Spanish-derived numerals: "Beynte siyete anyos na po ako"

    Grammar Note

    Numbers 21–29 are "dalawampu" (20) + "'t" + the unit, where "'t" is a contraction of the conjunction "at" (and). The linker "-ng" joins "taon" (year) to "gulang" (age), giving "taong gulang" (years old); the whole predicate comes before "ako" (I).

13. Dalawampu't walong taong gulang na po ako ngayong taon

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Adding "ngayong taon" (this year) at the end is enough to mean "I turn … this year"

    Grammar Note

    "Ngayon" (now) takes the linker "-ng" to modify "taon" (year), giving "ngayong taon" (this year); the same shape gives "ngayong linggo" (this week) and "ngayong buwan" (this month). Time expressions sit naturally at the end, and the age phrase itself is unchanged.

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