MAGFILIPINO

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In this series of posts, I'll be posting about some declarative statements that can be used when talking about one's self in a conversations or during self-introductions.

2) Expressing Likes and Desires

Expressing something that you already like as a declarative sentence and expressing something that you like or want to do as an intention (not yet done) is often expressed as "gusto" in Tagalog. It can both mean like and want.

Gusto ko / ko(ng)

Usually followed by a pronoun or an action word, to express desire to do something or express fondness/liking for a certain hobby. If the action word is in contemplative aspect, then it might be expressing desire to do something. If the action word is in imperfect aspect that implies it is regularly being done, then it might be expressing fondness or liking for a hobby or an activity.

Examples:

Hanga ako sa pamumuno ni Lea. Gusto ko siya maging kaibigan. (Trans: I admire Lea's leadership. I want her to be my friend.) "siya" is a pronoun referring to Lea

Gusto kong kumain ng Jollibee Chickenjoy. (Trans: I want to eat Jollibee Chickenjoy.)

Gusto kong makita mag-perform nang live ang Blackpink. (Literal: I want to see Blackpink perform live.) Both the action words "kumain" (to eat) and "makita" (to see/watch) are in contemplative aspect, therefore the speakers express desire to do those activities.

Gusto kong namamasyal sa probinsya tuwing bakasyon. (Trans: I like visiting and going around the province every time I stay for a vacation.) The action word "namamasyal" (to visit and stroll -- visiting and strolling) is in imperfect aspect, meaning that it is still being done, in the process of being completed, or is regularly happening ("tuwing" (every time...)). When translated to english, it becomes a noun in function.

Gusto kong maging...

This phrase literally means, "I want to become..." and it can be followed by a noun with or without a modifier.

Examples:

Gusto kong maging matagumpay na negosyante. (Trans: I want to become a successful entrepreneur.) "negosyante" means entrepreneur, which is a noun and modified by the adjective "matagumpay" which means successful

Gusto kong maging oncologist, 'pag nakatapos na ko ng pag-aaral. (Literal: I want to become an oncologist when I finish my studies.) oncologist is a noun that is specific to people

Gusto kong magkaroon ng...

This is the combination of has/have and expressing like statements. It translates to "I want to have..."

Examples:

Gusto kong magkaroon ng bag na Chanel. (Trans: I want to have a Chanel bag.)

Gusto kong magkaroon ng maraming pera! (Trans: I want to have lots of money!)

Note: In actual conversations, sometimes "magkaroon" is dropped and simply use the "Gusto kong..." or "Gusto ko ng..." since both phrases expresses for things or events that are still yet to happen or will happen in the future, which is also being implied in "Gusto kong magkaroon..." sentences. Example: both sentences above can also be stated as "Gusto ko ng bag na Chanel," and "Gusto ko ng maraming pera!" Although the desire to possess both things are not explicitly stated, the speaker's meaning is left to be interpreted based on the context of conversation.

Gusto ko si ____ / ng ____

Usually followed by nouns. "Si" is followed by proper pronouns especially if a name of a person, while "ng" is usually followed by common or abstract nouns.

Examples:

Gusto ko si Ben dahil hindi siya nagsasabi ng mga birong sexist. (Literal: I like Ben because he doesn't tell sexist jokes.) "Ben" is a name of a person. "Si" becomes a marker for a proper noun.

Gusto ko ng sariling bahay para magkaroon na ko ng privacy. (Literal: I want my own house for me to have privacy.) "Bahay" is a common noun or object meaning house, while the word "sarili" is a modifer that means my own or mine.

Additional notes:

Most of the ko pronouns used can be substituted by other pronouns like mo, ninyo, niya, nila, natin, and namin.

In this series of posts, I'll be posting about some declarative statements that can be used when talking about one's self in a conversations or during self-introductions.

1. Have/Has Statement

This is a declarative statement that expresses the state of having or possessing a thing or a trait. In spoken Tagalog, it's generally all right to use these two interchangeably. It becomes stricter in written Tagalog (especially for non-formal writings) to use the correct one in a sentence.

May

When using it for written text, "may" is used if it is followed by a noun, verb, and adjective, or generally longer words.

May ___ ako... Examples:

May pusa kami sa bahay. (Literal: We have a cat at home.)

May pagkamayabang si Lea. (Literal: Lea is a bit boastful.)

Mayroon (often pronounced and sometimes written as "Meron")

"Meron" (spelled as how it is pronounced colloquially or when using casual language) or "Mayroon" (the correct spelling used for written texts and when using less casual language) is used if it is followed by short words or what we call mga kataga in Filipino like na, ba, and pronouns.

Mayroon akong... Examples:

Mayroon akong alagang pusa. (Literal: I have a pet cat.) "ako" is a pronoun

Let's start with the basic, the most common topic when talking to native speakers.

Here are some of the basic ways to introduce your self to others in Tagalog/Filipino or to start a conversation that aims to get to know other people, and a couple more of topics that I can relate with this.

1. Telling your name

Ako si (your name).

"I am (your name)."

(Your full name) ang buo kong pangalan. / Ang buong pangalan ko ay (your full name).

"My full name is (your name)."

pangalan = name

buo(ng) = full

ko = my

ay = (can be translated as a linking verb)

ang = (pananda or a noun marker in English, a bit similar to the article "the")

Tawagin ninyo na lang akong (your nickname or the name you want to be called).

"Just call me ___."

Tawag(in) = to call

lang = just/only

Ang palayaw ko ay (your nickname).

"My nickname is ___."

palayaw = nickname

Here is a sample script of introducing one's self using the examples above.

Ako si Ana. Ana Maria Carmela C. Reyes ang buo kong pangalan. Carmi ang palayaw ko sa aming bahay, pero tawagin ninyo na lang akong "Ana." (Carmi is my nickname at home but you may call me "Ana."

2. Asking about others

Anong pangalan mo?

"What is your name?"

Ano(ng) = what    affix -ng = (pang-angkop / linker between words)

mo = your

Sino ka? "Who are you?" (But sounds too direct / in their face.)

Sino po sila? "Who are they?"

Used when talking to someone unfamiliar or older, even if it's just a single person. Use the plural form of pronouns to express politeness. It's like adding distance between you and the one you're talking to or so you wouldn't sound too direct/"in their face."

Sino ito / 'to? "Who is this?"

Commonly used when speaking on the phone or when the person you're talking to is not in front of you.

Sino = Who

ka = you (singular, 2nd POV personal pronoun)

sila = they (plural, 3rd POV personal pronoun)

ito = this (pronoun for objects)

Anong gusto mong itawag sa iyo/'yo?

literally "What name do you want to be called?" "How do you want to be called?"

gusto = want/like

mo = you

sa iyo = to you

3.  KILALA vs ALAM

alam = to know (something) / knowledge with small 'k'

kilala = to know (someone) Use kilala when talking about people. It may both mean knowing about and knowing of. So the person you are talking to might clarify not to know the person you're talking about personally, or you may want to clarify with the person you're talking to.

Example convo in Taglish/Filipino: A: "Kilala mo ba si Manny Pacquiao?" B: "Oo, kilala ko siya." A: "As in kilala mo siya personally? Wow!" B: "Ah, hindi. Kilala ko lang siya dahil bata pa lang ako napapanood ko na mga laban niya sa TV."

The word KILALA

So kilala is a root word that means knowing someone. But if you add various affixes to this word, it becomes an entirely different word that still relates to its root meaning. Here are some words you might want to familiarize yourself with.

magkakilala = two people who know each other

magkakakilala = three or more people who know each other

kakilala = somebody I/you know

kilalanin = get to know

nagkakilala = have gotten to know each other / have met each other

pakikipagkilala = introducing one's self

pagkakakilanlan = identity

4. Some Naming Observations

There is a noticeable naming conventions that I noticed for my grandparents, parents, and same-age Filipinos that I just want to share. Over the years, I think there's been a decline with these conventions, and people have moved to relatively "sophisticated" names, some more interesting than the other. Still, I think my observations are still identifiable today. Knowing this context may help you understand some humor in names that are often portrayed in the media, or help you with naming your Filipino characters. Hope it informs you or helps you in any way.

4.1. Having two or more first names by

combining mom's, dad's, tito and tita's, or grandparent's names

by adding Maria, Marie, Joy, Ann/Anne, May, etc. to the names of a baby girl; or Mark/c, John, Christian for baby boys.

4.2. Combining the words from a common phrase or group of words like "Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao" into Luzviminda (a bit of a common name for an elderly woman), "Jesus, Joseph, and Mary" into Jejomar (a high ranking politician's name), or "Philippine Revolution" for Philip Revo (my cousin's husband's name)

4.3. Adding the letter 'h' to bizarre places among the letters in the name, often with names starting in letter J such as Jhona, Jhon-jhon, or Nesthlene, Vhong, Ruphert, etc.

4.4. Adding -lyn (in various spelling) to female names for variation "Jhonalyn," "Donnalyn," "Edna Lyn," "Carol Lynne," etc.

4.5. Nicknames inding in "-ng"

commonly for older people "Aling Teresing" (Teresa), "Lola Viring" (Veronica), "Manong Carding" (Ricardo), "Lolo Domeng" (Domingo), etc.

single syllable Ding, Jing, Cong, Mong, Leng, Dang, etc.

4.6. Playful repeated single syllable nicknames Joy-joy, Kat-kat, Mac-mac, Lelei, Ton-ton, Yan-yan, etc.

These are just some top-of-the head naming trends that I remember, which were more common for the older generations (I'm a young-ish millennial, btw). Here is an article giving a bit of an explanation for some of the naming trends among Filipinos and here is a more recent feature of some of the funny ways Filipino parents name their kids. And another one from a few years ago.