Tagalog Question Words: Overview
The following question words are used in Tagalog. The plural forms may be used when a plural answer is expected.
|
singular or plural |
plural |
meaning |
|---|---|---|
|
ano |
anu-ano |
what |
|
alin |
alin-alin |
which |
|
kailan (kelan) |
kai-kailan |
when |
|
bakit |
- |
why |
|
sino |
sinu-sino |
who(m), which (person/s) |
|
nino |
ninu-nino |
whose, who(m) |
|
kanino |
kani-kanino |
whose, who(m) |
|
na kanino |
na kani-kanino |
with whom (in whose possession, at whose place/s) |
|
saan (san) |
saan-saan |
where, which (place/s), what |
|
nasaan (nasan, asan) |
- |
where (is/are/was/were), which (place/s) (is/are/was/were) |
|
paano (pano) |
paa-paano |
how (manner, means) |
|
kumusta / kamusta (musta) |
- |
how (is/are/was/were) (quality, condition) |
|
gaano (gano) |
gaa-gaano |
how (extent, degree, quantity) |
|
ilan |
ilan-ilan |
how many |
|
magkano |
magka-magkano |
how much (price) |
singular or plural |
ano |
plural |
anu-ano |
meaning |
what |
singular or plural |
alin |
plural |
alin-alin |
meaning |
which |
singular or plural |
kailan (kelan) |
plural |
kai-kailan |
meaning |
when |
singular or plural |
bakit |
plural |
- |
meaning |
why |
singular or plural |
sino |
plural |
sinu-sino |
meaning |
who(m), which (person/s) |
singular or plural |
nino |
plural |
ninu-nino |
meaning |
whose, who(m) |
singular or plural |
kanino |
plural |
kani-kanino |
meaning |
whose, who(m) |
singular or plural |
na kanino |
plural |
na kani-kanino |
meaning |
with whom (in whose possession, at whose place/s) |
singular or plural |
saan (san) |
plural |
saan-saan |
meaning |
where, which (place/s), what |
singular or plural |
nasaan (nasan, asan) |
plural |
- |
meaning |
where (is/are/was/were), which (place/s) (is/are/was/were) |
singular or plural |
paano (pano) |
plural |
paa-paano |
meaning |
how (manner, means) |
singular or plural |
kumusta / kamusta (musta) |
plural |
- |
meaning |
how (is/are/was/were) (quality, condition) |
singular or plural |
gaano (gano) |
plural |
gaa-gaano |
meaning |
how (extent, degree, quantity) |
singular or plural |
ilan |
plural |
ilan-ilan |
meaning |
how many |
singular or plural |
magkano |
plural |
magka-magkano |
meaning |
how much (price) |
Ba may be used in questions using question words.
|
Saan (ba) pumunta si Fred? |
Where did Fred go? |
See also: Ba (p. 325)
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See notes on Terminology and Pronunciation Marks
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From Essential Tagalog Grammar: A Reference for Learners of Tagalog, Second Edition
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