Learn the question "Where are you from?" in Filipino and how to answer it
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Jason: In each lesson of this 25 part series, you'll master a common question for Filipino learners, and then learn how to answer it like a native. You'll learn how these key phrases work by breaking them down into each component. Then through repetition and new vocabulary, you'll expand your understanding of the question, its answers, and any variations. |
Lesson focus |
|---|
| Jason: In this lesson, you'll learn how to respond to the common question Where are you from? In Filipino this is |
| Mayumi: Taga saan ka ba? |
| Jason: The first word in the question is |
| Mayumi: Taga |
| Jason: meaning something like come from in English. |
| Mayumi: (Slow, by syllable) Taga |
| Jason: Listen again and repeat. |
| Mayumi: Taga |
| {Pause} |
| Jason: This pattern of first introducing a word at natural speed, providing the translation, breaking it down, and then giving it again at natural speed will be repeated throughout the series. Try to speak aloud as often as possible. The next word in the question is |
| Mayumi: saan |
| Jason: meaning where. |
| Mayumi: (Slow, by syllable) saan |
| Jason: Now repeat. |
| Mayumi: saan |
| {Pause} |
| Jason: Listen to the the first 2 words of the question and repeat. |
| Mayumi: Taga saan |
| {pause} |
| Jason: And next |
| Mayumi: ka |
| Jason: meaning you. |
| Mayumi: (Slow, by syllable) ka |
| Jason: Now repeat. |
| Mayumi: ka |
| {Pause} |
| Jason: Listen to the the first 3 words of the question and repeat. |
| Mayumi: Taga saan ka |
| {pause} |
| Jason: Next is |
| Mayumi: ba |
| Jason: The question marking particle. |
| Mayumi: (Slow, by syllable) ba |
| Jason: Now repeat. |
| Mayumi: ba |
| {Pause} |
| Jason: Listen to the entire question and repeat. |
| Mayumi: Taga saan ka ba |
| {pause} |
| Jason: You will hear this common question again and again throughout your studies. Master the following pattern and responses to the question Where are you from?? |
| Mayumi: Taga Amerika ako. |
| Jason: ""I'm from the U.S.. Again, slowly. Repeat the phrase. |
| Mayumi: (Slow) Taga Amerika ako. |
| {pause} |
| Jason: Let's break it down from the beginning. The first word: |
| Mayumi: Taga |
| Jason: means something like from. |
| Mayumi: (Slow, by syllable) Taga |
| Jason: Now repeat |
| Mayumi: Taga |
| {Pause} |
| Jason: And next |
| Mayumi: Amerika |
| Jason: which is the U.S.. |
| Mayumi: (Slow, by syllable) Amerika |
| Jason: Now repeat. |
| Mayumi: Amerika |
| {Pause} |
| Jason: And next |
| Mayumi: ako |
| Jason: meaning ‘I’ or ‘I am’ |
| Mayumi: (Slow, by syllable) ako |
| Jason: Now repeat. |
| Mayumi: ako |
| Jason: Listen to the speaker say, I'm from the U.S., and then repeat. |
| Mayumi: Taga Amerika ako. |
| {pause} |
| Jason: To expand on the pattern, replace the U.S. with China. |
| Mayumi: Tsina |
| Jason: China |
| Mayumi: (slow) Tsina (regular) Tsina |
| Jason: Listen to the phrase again, this time with China |
| Mayumi: Taga Tsina ako. |
| Jason: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace the U.S.. Say I'm from China |
| {pause} |
| Mayumi: Taga Tsina ako. |
| Jason: To use a different phrase, replace China with Australia. |
| Mayumi: Australya |
| Jason: Australia |
| Mayumi: (slow) Australya (regular) Australya |
| Jason: Listen to the phrase again, this time with Australia |
| Mayumi: Taga Australya ako. |
| Jason: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace China. Say I'm from Australia |
| {pause} |
| Mayumi: Taga Australya ako. |
| Jason: To use a different phrase, replace Australia with Canada. |
| Mayumi: Canada |
| Jason: Canada |
| Mayumi: (slow) Canada (regular) Canada |
| Jason: Listen to the phrase again, this time with Canada |
| Mayumi: Taga Canada ako. |
| Jason: It mostly stays the same. Simply replace Australia. Say I'm from Canada |
| {pause} |
| Mayumi: Taga Canada ako. |
| QUIZ |
| Jason: Now it's time for a quiz. Imagine you are visiting Philippines and someone asks you where you're from. You're from the U.S.. Respond to the question. |
| Mayumi: Taga saan ka? (five seconds) Taga Amerika ako. |
| Jason: Now, imagine you're from China Respond to the question. |
| Mayumi: Taga saan ka ba? (five seconds) Taga Tsina ako. |
| Jason: Now, imagine you're from Australia. . Answer the speaker's question. |
| Mayumi: Taga saan ka ba? (five seconds) Taga Australya ako. |
| Jason: Imagine you're from Canada. Respond to the question. |
| Mayumi: Taga saan ka ba? (five seconds) Taga Canada ako. |
| Jason: Now you want to ask that person where they're from. Ask the question |
| (5 seconds) |
| Mayumi: Taga saan ka ba? |
Outro |
| Jason: This is the end of Lesson 2 |
Comments
HidePlease give your answer to the question below!
Hi Errol Lovegrove,
Good job, mate! Salamat sa iyong komento, Errol Lovegrove. Keep practicing with us through the comments section of each lesson. Salamat!
Betsey
Team FilipinoPod101.com
Taga Australya ako mate :)
Hi Sarah!
Good question. Speaking formally can still include the word ba when asking questions. In this case, you would rephrase your question as "Taga saan po ba kayo?". The word "ba" will usually come after "po". Salamat!
Cheers,
Betsey
Team FilipinoPod101.com
Kumusta!
When speaking formally to someone older, would I say "Taga saan po kayo?"? And if I were to add "ba", would it still go at the end?
Salamat po!
Hi Laura,
We just borrow the word as a whole so we just use Denmark. Salamat!
Betsey
Team FilipinoPod101.com
How do you say Denmark in Filipino?
Hi Me,
Ikinagagalak ka namin makilala. Thank you for practicing wih us! Keep it up.
Betsey
Team FilipinoPod101.com
Taga Canada ako. 👍
Ikrom,
Good job practicing with us! Salamat!
Betsey
Team FilipinoPod101.com
Taga Indonesia ako
Hi Bartosz,
Ikinagagalak ka naming makilala. Thank you for sharing that with us. If you ever have any questions, feel free to ask us through the comments section. Salamat!
Betsey
Team FilipinoPod101.com
Mabuhay. Taga Polonya ako. Aking asawa ay Pilipina.
Hi hanie pija,
Great question. Saying "ba" directly states that you are asking a question. However, the tone of voice as well as the structure of a sentence can imply asking a question even without the word ba. Salamat! If you ever have any questions, feel free to leave us a comment.
Betsey
Team FilipinoPod101.com
Sorry, if we want to say,we have to said 'ba' or not? Because the audio didn't said 'ba'. Just asking.
Maraming salamat.
Hi Joel!
It's best to say: Kamusta po kayo! Taga Chicago ako. Pero taga (sa) Hilltop, Batangas City ang pamilya ko. Great job!!
Salamat!
Betsey
Team FilipinoPod101.com
Kamusta po kayo! Taga Chicago ako. Pero taga sa Hilltop, Batangas City ang familia ko. Is this correct?
Hi Julia Mendez,
Thank you for your feedback and good job practicing what you learned! If you ever have any questions, feel free to ask.
Salamat!
Betsey
Team FilipinoPod101.com
Hi Murrell,
You can use the interchangeably.
Galing ako sa California ikaw?' This literally means, "I'm from California, you?" On the other hand, 'Taga California ako, taga saan ka ba?' means "I'm from California, where are you from?" Salamat!
Betsey
Team FilipinoPod101.com
Hi Miguel,
Using "ba", the question particle will make your sentence more clear. However, you can ask even without the "ba" but Filipinos will read into the context and intonation of how it's asked. To be sure, use "ba" at the end. Salamat!
Betsey
Team FilipinoPod101.com
It was nice to start here: Taga Bolivia ako