We use numbers in every aspect of our lives. We use them to tell the time, count our money, check the date, measure objects, and find out how many calories were in that last piece of cake we ate. When learning a new language, its number system is always one of the first things we study since numbers have so much impact on our daily lives. 

The great thing about Tagalog numbers is that they’re as simple as they can get. All you need to do is memorize the first nine numbers, and the rest should be as easy as 1-2-3. No pun intended! And no, that is not an exaggeration. 

Why don’t we begin so you can see what we’re talking about?

Learning Filipino numbers is as important as learning the Filipino alphabet.

Table of Contents

1. Filipino Numbers 1-9
2. Filipino Numbers 10-100
3. Filling in the Gaps
4. Counting in the Hundreds and Thousands
5. How to Give Your Phone Number
6. Saying Prices
7. Using Numbers When Shopping
8. Learn More Than Just Tagalog Numbers with FilipinoPod101

1. Filipino Numbers 1-9 

There are two sets of numbers used in the Filipino number system. The first set includes those of Malay origin, also known as Tagalog numbers. The second set includes those of Spanish origin. Tagalog numbers are used primarily for counting and measuring. Spanish numbers, on the other hand, are used for telling the time (although they’re also used for counting money). 

It’s important to note that other Filipino dialects have their own number system apart from Spanish numbers, although the similarity in their pronunciation and spelling remains. In some Visayan dialects, for instance, dalawa (“two”) is spoken as either duha or duwa, and tatlo (“three”) is tulo. 

That said, here are the numbers from 1 to 9 in both the Tagalog and Spanish number systems.

1 – Tagalog Numbers 1-9

1	isa
2	dalawa
3	tatlo
4	apat
5	lima
6	anim
7	pito
8	walo
9	siyam

2 – Spanish Numbers 1-9

1	uno
2	dos
3	tres
4	kwatro
5	singko
6	sais
7	syete
8	otso
9	nuwebe

Learning numbers in Filipino is pretty straightforward.

➜ Supplement your learning with our vocabulary review lesson Simple Numbers in Filipino.

Note: The modern Filipino number system doesn’t have an equivalent for “zero.” It’s rarely (if ever) used in literature or in conversations. However, a long time ago, Filipinos would use a term that referred to nothingness. It’s the word kopong, which is an Austronesian word meaning “empty” or “nothing.” You’ll find a short explanation in this article.

2. Filipino Numbers 10-100

In this section, you’ll learn how to count from 10 to 100 in Filipino. 

There is a pattern used for counting from 11 to 19 in Tagalog. In English, we use “teen” for the numbers 13 to 19; in Tagalog, however, we use labi for the numbers 11 to 19. The term labi is Filipino for “remnant” or “excess,” that is, excess from ten. For instance, 11 is labing-isa in Tagalog, which means it is ten plus an excess of one.

1 – Tagalog Numbers 10-19

10	sampu
11	labing-isa
12	labindalawa
13	labintatlo
14	labing-apat
15	labinlima
16	labing-anim
17	labimpito
18	labingwalo
19	labinsiyam

2 – Spanish Numbers 10-19

10	diyes
11	onse
12	dose
13	trese
14	katorse
15	kinse
16	disisais
17	disisyete
18	disiotso
19	disinuwebe

3 – Tagalog Numbers 20-29

In our entry on intermediate Tagalog words, we mentioned the formula for counting beyond the “teen” numbers: add the suffix -pu to the end of the numbers in the tens place. The suffix -pu, by the way, is short for sampu (“ten”). Let’s see how that works.

A- Tagalog

20	dalawampu
30	tatlumpu
40	apatnapu
50	limampu
60	animnapu
70	pitumpu
80	walumpu
90	siyamnapu
100	isang daan

Notice how the linkers were used in these numbers. For dalawampu (“20”), the linker ng was replaced by “m” with the suffix -pu attached right after it. The same is true for the numbers tatlumpu (“30”), limampu (“50”), pitumpu (“70”), and walumpu (“80”). For numbers ending in a consonant, the linker na was used instead.

You can check out our blog entry on Filipino word order to review how the linkers na and ng are used.

B- Spanish

20	bente
30	trenta
40	kwarenta
50	singkwenta
60	sesenta
70	setenta
80	otsenta
90	nobenta
100	siyen

➜ Learn how to say the numbers 1-100 in Filipino in this audio lesson.

3. Filling in the Gaps

This time, let’s find out how to write numbers between 20 and 30, 30 and 40, and so on. The formula is rather simple. You simply write the word for the number in the tens place and attach the word for the number in the ones place after it. In this case, we will use the contraction of the linker at (“and”). Check this out:

1 – Tagalog Numbers

21	dalawpu’t isa
22	dalawampu’t dalawa
23	dalawampu’t tatlo
24	dalawampu’t apat
25	dalawampu’t lima
26	dalawampu’t anim
27	dalawampu’t pito
28	dalawampu’t walo
29	dalawampu’t siyam

The same rule applies to the rest of the numbers from 30 to 90. Here are some examples:

31	tatlumpu’t isa
42	apatnapu’t dalawa
53	limampu’t tatlo
64	animnapu’t apat
75	pitumpu’t lima
86	walumpu’t anim
97	siyamnapu’t pito
108	isang daan at walo

2 – Spanish Numbers

The rule for the Spanish numbers works in the same way, except that the linker used is also in Spanish: y (“and”). Also, the use of the linker excludes the numbers from 21 to 29 and all numbers from 100 and beyond. Let’s see how it works:

21	bente uno
22	bente dos
23	bente kwatro
28	bente otso
29	bente nuwebe

31	trenta y uno
42	kwarenta y dos
53	singkwenta y tres
64	sisenta y kwatro
75	sitenta y singko
86	otsenta y sais
97	nobenta y syete
108	siyento otso

Trivia: Did you know that Filipinos used to follow a different system for counting? It was way more complicated than the one we use today! This article talks about it in detail.

Linkers play an important role in the Filipino number system.

4. Counting in the Hundreds and Thousands

You already had a glimpse of what it’s like to count in the hundreds in Filipino. With Tagalog numbers, this simply means attaching the word for the numbers in the ones and tens place to the number in the hundreds place. We do that with the help of the linker at (“and”). 

1 – Tagalog Numbers

Let’s take a look at how we use this linker to form larger numbers in Filipino:

101	isang daan at isa
102	isang daan at dalawa
109	isang daan at siyam
112	isang daan at labingdalawa
120	isang daan at dalawampu
125	isang daan at dalawampu’t lima
130	isang daan at tatlumpu
137	isang daan at tatlumpu’t pito
140	isang daan at apatnapu
144	isang daan at apatnapu’t apat
179	isang daan at pitumpu’t siyam
186	isang daan at walumpu’t anim
193	isang daan at siyamnapu’t tatlo
200	dalawang daan
300	tatlong daan
400	apat na daan
500	limang daan
600	anim na daan
700	pitong daan
800	walong daan
900	siyam na daan

Counting in the thousands is just as easy. All you need to do is replace the word daan (“hundred”) with libo (“thousand”) and apply the rules you’ve learned.

1000	isang libo
1001	isang libo’t isa
1020	isang libo’t dalawampu
1035	isang libo’t tatlumpu’t lima
1100	isang libo’t isang daan
1109	isang libo’t isang daan at siyam
1120	isang libo’t isang daan at dalawampu
1155	isang libo’t isang daan at limampu’t lima
2000	dalawang libo
3000	tatlong libo
4000	apat na libo
5000	limang libo
10000	sampung libo

The Filipino term for “thousand” is libo.

2 – Spanish Numbers

Once again, the same formula applies when counting using Spanish numbers. Just take note that there’s a difference in when the linker is used for numbers in Spanish.

101	siyento uno
102	siyento dos
109	siyento nuwebe
112	siyento dose
120	siyento bente
130	siyento trenta
137	siyento trenta y siyete
140	siyento kwarenta
144	siyento kwarenta y kwatro
193	siyento nobenta y tres

And for counting in the thousands, we simply replace siyento (“hundred”) with mil (“thousand”).

1000	mil
1001	mil uno
1020	mil bente
1035	mil trenta y singko
1100	mil siyen
1109	mil siyento nwebe
1120	mil siyento bente
1155	mil siyento singkwenta y singko
2000	dos mil
3000	tres mil
4000	kwatro mil
5000	singko mil
10000	diyes mil

By now, you’ve probably realized how easy it is to write numbers in Filipino, both in the Tagalog format and the Spanish format. As long as you follow the formula and know which linker to use (and when to use it), there’s very little chance for you to make a mistake.

5. How to Give Your Phone Number

The interesting thing about numbers in Filipino is that even though Filipinos use two number systems, we always give phone numbers using the English language. In the Philippines, it would be awkward to give your phone number using Tagalog or Spanish. Here’s an example scenario:

• Pwede ko bang mahingi ang numero mo? (“Can I have your number?”)
  Sige. Ang numero ko ay 0947 7651036. (“Sure. My number is 0947 7651036.”)

Just like in English, the number “zero” is either spoken as “zero” or as the letter “O.”

➜ Speaking of phone numbers, don’t forget to view this list of useful Tagalog phone call phrases.

6. Saying Prices

When it comes to reading prices, Filipinos often use English. However, when shopping at the public market (or any place besides malls), people often use a mixture of Tagalog and Spanish numbers. The same is true when it comes to jeepney, bus, or taxi fares.

• Singkwenta lang ang kilo. (“It’s fifty per kilo.”)
• Kwarenta y singko lang lahat ang babayaran mo. (“You only have to pay forty-five pesos for everything.”)
• Kuya, kulang ng sampu ang pamasahe mo. (“Sir, you’re ten pesos short.”)
• Kinse pesos lang po ang isang piraso. (“It’s only fifteen pesos apiece.”)

Keep in mind that you don’t need to mention the currency all the time when saying prices or when counting money.

Kwarenta y singko lang lahat ang babayaran mo. (“You only have to pay forty-five pesos for everything.”)

7. Using Numbers When Shopping

As mentioned, Filipinos use a mixture of Tagalog and Spanish numbers when saying prices. Unless you’re shopping at some classy mall, you don’t have to use English at all. 

• Kukuha ako ng dalawa nito. (“I’m taking two of these.”)
• Bigyan mo ako ng tatlo niyan. (“Give me three of those.”)
• Susukatin ko muna ang isang ito. (“Let me try this one in the fitting room first.”)
• Pabili po ng limang kilong bigas. (“I’d like to buy five kilos of rice.”)
• Pitong pares ang kailangan ko. (“I need seven pairs of these.”)

➜ Shop more confidently in the Philippines with this list of useful Tagalog words used for shopping.

8. Learn More Than Just Tagalog Numbers with FilipinoPod101

In this guide, you learned the basics of Filipino numbers and how to use them in certain situations, such as shopping and handing out your phone number. Are there any other circumstances where you think a mastery of Tagalog numbers would come in handy? Let us know in the comments!

If you wish to further improve not only your skills in using Filipino numbers but also your Filipino grammar skills in general, FilipinoPod101 is always here for you. Here at FilipinoPod101.com, you can enjoy a wide range of free learning resources, from blog entries like this one to more advanced audio and video lessons. Create your free lifetime account to get started!

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