“Man (human being)” in every Philippine language
Man (human being) across 9 languages, and what the differences tell you.
Last updated
Side by side
| Language | Man (human being) |
|---|---|
| English | Man (human being) |
| Tagalog | tao |
| Ilocano | tao |
| Cebuano | tawo |
| Hiligaynon | tawo |
| Waray | tawo |
| Bikol | tawo |
| Kapampangan | tau |
| Pangasinan | too |
What the pattern shows
Tao and tawo are one word: the Visayan languages and Bikol keep the w, Tagalog and Ilocano drop it. Pangasinan too and Kapampangan tau are the same again with their own vowels.
Where they agree
- tawo — Cebuano, Hiligaynon, Waray, Bikol
- tao — Tagalog, Ilocano
Standing alone: Kapampangan (tau) and Pangasinan (too).
In a phrase
From the Ilocano to Tagalog phrasebook, where every row was checked against published references:
Is there someone here who speaks English?
Ilocano Adda kadi tao ditoy nga agsasao iti Inggles?
Tagalog May tao ba rito na marunong mag-Ingles?
How many people can ride?
Ilocano Manu nga tao ti mabalin nga sumakay?
Tagalog Ilang tao ang puwedeng sumakay?
How much is a room for one?
Ilocano Manu ti kuarto para maysa nga tao?
Tagalog Magkano ang kuwarto para sa isang tao?
More family & people
The whole category as a word list: Ilocano Family and People Words · Tagalog Family and People Words
Where this comes from
This row is one of 161 concept pages drawn from a parallel set of everyday vocabulary held across nine languages. You can browse all of them, download the whole set under CC BY-SA 4.0, or paste text to find out which language it is.
Compiled from published general reference and pending review by native speakers. If something here is wrong in a language you speak, please tell us.