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ann 🪷@desi_magiliw · Sep 7, 2026

How I learned Tagalog as a non-filipino: a thread 🧵

20 tweets2 min read♥ 2.4Koriginal

Summary

A non-Filipino learner shares their journey to fluency in Tagalog by starting with pronouns and grammar fundamentals via YouTube, practicing consistently on Twitter and with online communities, learning vocabulary through flashcards, and building speaking skills through Twitter Spaces and Filipino media. The key strategy was consistent practice, embracing mistakes, and using social media communities for real-world application and positive reinforcement.

Summarized by ThreadOut AI from the full thread. May miss nuance — read the thread below.

  1. #1

    How I learned Tagalog as a non-filipino: a thread 🧵

    ann 🪷@desi_magiliw · Sep 6, 2026

    is it time i make a thread on how i learned tagalog 😅?

  2. #2

    I started off by learning the subject pronouns: ako, ikaw, siya, kayo, kami/tayo, sila As well as the possessive pronouns: ko, mo, niya, niyo, namin/natin, nila and how to use them in a sentence - I am American -> American ako - You all are women -> Women kayo

  3. #3

    *note: I started off learning Taglish to get the grammar down, but as time went on I learned the proper vocabulary for things (women = babae)

  4. #4

    I then learned fun and useful phrases that I could use consistently on stan twitter, some of these being: Kinikilig aq -> I have butterflies in my stomach Miss ko na siya -> I miss him/her/them Ang pogi siya -> He/she/they are so handsome As you can see, I am very yearnful

  5. #5

    I then knew I had to learn verb conjugations if I want to talk about actions. For this, the YouTube channel “Tagalog Time with Pat” came in so handy; she has a series where she teaches the different tense conjugations: past present and future

  6. #6

    Here are the videos! I took very very extensive notes, as if I was in class. She gives amazing examples as well: Present Tense: youtu.be/Q4yRe7Bk1Uo Past & Future Tense: youtu.be/8UEHsTNLNhY

  7. #7

    The biggest thing is PRACTICE. I practiced by tweeting in Tagalog and Filipinos are so nice, they will respectfully correct you and compliment you when you get it correct! That’s how I was able to get better, I was given positive reinforcement from the compliments

  8. #8

    Next was vocabulary. I wanted to learn more words to be more descriptive in my sentences. What I did was search up videos like “Top 200 used adjectives/verbs in Tagalog”, note down all the words and translations into a flashcard website, and practice those flashcards on my phone

  9. #9

    Like this!

    ann 🪷@desi_magiliw · Oct 18, 2024

    mag-aral para ng mga exam ko sa susunod na linggo: ❌ mag-aral mga tagalog na pandiwa (its been a minute 🥲): ✅

  10. #10

    And then again, practice writing sentences with friends dito, get constructive criticism/feedback, learn about variations in words, etc.

  11. #11

    Once I did a lot of flashcards and conjugation practice, I started watching Filipino shows and movies with English subs! Because by this time I knew general grammar structure, I was able to catch onto new words from watching, or new phrases.

  12. #12

    Shows/movies I watched were Ang Mutya ng Section E, Diary ng Panget, She’s Dating the Gangster, and I forgot what else but it had Joshua Garcia in it.

  13. #13

    I think generally just being on filotwt and translating tweets to learn more words and learn grammatical structure helped as well. I was consistent and over time I just kept picking up things.

  14. #14

    Now, How I Learned to Talk One of the fandoms I was in hosted Twitter Spaces often, so there I learned how people would talk in day-to-day conversations. I started trying to join these Spaces to talk in and that’s how I started to practice speaking!!

  15. #15

    I would also try and recite lines from TikTok or memes in order to practice getting into the Tagalog Speaker Mentality 😂 I would also try just talking to myself based on the Tagalog I already knew, and then talk with my friends via voice messages so that I can redo my messages

  16. #16

    Conclusion: All in all, I learned a lot of grammar thru YouTube and by taking extensive notes. I would learn extra information on Twitter where I can see the info I learn being applied. I additionally learned watched Filipino media to help with comprehension, and practiced-

  17. #17

    - talking on Twitter Spaces or with online Filipino friends to learn how to have conversations. The main thing is to not be shy to mess up! I have not met a single person who pushed me away for messing up or for asking for help; I initially did cold DM’s to people on X to ask-

  18. #18

    -for Tagalog help within the fandoms I am a part of. From there, consistency is very key, and it gets rewarding when you can finally understand the lyrics of your favorite Tagalog song or you could read and understand a tweet!

  19. #19

    🧵 End of thread, if you have any more questions on how I learned, feel free to reply or DM me!

  20. #20

    More resources: 100 Most Common Tagalog Adjectives: youtu.be/AmeARkHV-38 Actually all the videos from this video’s channel is so so useful for more in-depth grammar tips 🥹