How's your Tagalog? Do you struggle telling time in Tagalog? Tell me about it.

As far as I'm concerned, your progress in Tagalog would slow down a bit if you're worried about how to say "12 PM" in Tagalog and generally speaking it's tricky to teach Numbers in Tagalog. Locals simply say "12 PM" or "2 AM" or "2:30", for example, and others say "alás dose" or "alás dos" or "alás dos i-medya". And you should be able to carry on very well. Surprise! Surprise! But why not!?

It's alright to use Spanish when telling time in Tagalog

The Philippines was colonized by western societies in the past and that was Spain and then America. If you're a Spanish speaking person, good for you! A lot of Tagalog words are Spanish sounding or perhaps I could be right if I say that:

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Colonialism resulted to a diminished functionality of the native language.

You will least likely hear "ikalabíndalawá ng hapon" or "ikalawá ng umaga" or "ikalawá't kalahatì" from a random person in the Philippines speaking in their "primary language" unless you're in a sort of formal setting where some archaic Tagalog words may be used. I am one of those who believe that language is evolving and I am aware that some words are no longer being used in the mainstream. However, if we have the chance to use them frequently why shy away from our pure Tagalog words? The language is beautiful. I volunteered myself to stay in this language space so let's practice the "deep" Tagalog way or let's study them in our own terms.

It seems to me that the numeral words like isá, dalawá or tatló are not colonial but native anyway. Smaller numbers, especially when talking about money/finances are still being used though. My tip for you is to remember the Tagalog numbers from 1 to 20 but please do not limit yourself by over simplification. The functionality of most number words has become lesser and lesser along time because of the shift in modern trends and exposure to foreign culture. There is also nothing wrong with that. On both cases, I have a sure job to do and that is to deliver to you my lessons.

You'll most likely hear Filipinos tell time in English

Flashback 4 decades ago (more or less). Globalization was the name of the game enhanced by the Internet; English has become our international language. Hence, the use of Taglish among natives in the Philippines especially in the big cities and in mainstream media. An example of Taglish could be:

"Nag-text ako sa kanyá kanina around 9 AM. Siguro busy sya? Wait ko pa ang reply nya."

If you're a beginner in Tagalog I discourage you to use Taglish for the mean time. Taglish is for Advanced Tagalog speaker. Don't worry about many Filipinos laughing at you when you speak Tagalog like an old school.

Why do I need to tell time in pure Tagalog language?

You're here to understand the language and my goal for you is to be able to construct Tagalog phrases while I expect you to mentally take note of its pattern. The pattern is your tool in speaking the language fluently. Most of all, I help you build your Tagalog vocabulary. Therefore, don't bother when others say like: "locals don't speak like that". You just have to be empathetic when they can't stand your style nor can't carry the conversation with you.

Let's begin by learning how to say the numbers in Tagalog.

Mga Bilang Numbers
Isá One
Dalawá Two
Tatló Three
Apat Four
Limá Five
Anim Five
Pitó Seven
Waló Eight
Siyám Nine
Sampû Ten
Labíng-isá Eleven
Labíndalawá Twelve

Discussion: Telling Time In Pure Tagalog

When telling time in Tagalog, we want to use the prefix "iká". Here's how you'll say the round the clock time:

  • ikaisa (1:00); ikaisá ng umaga (1:00 AM); ikaisá ng hapon (1:00 PM)
  • ikadalawá (2:00); ikadalawá ng umaga (2:00 AM); ikadalawá ng hapon (2:00 PM)
  • ikatatló (3:00); ikatatló ng umaga (3:00 AM); ikatatló ng hapon (3:00 PM)
  • ikaapat (4:00); ikaapat ng umaga (4:00 AM); ikaapat ng hapon (4:00 PM)
  • ikalimá (5:00); ikalimá ng umaga (5:00 AM); ikalimá ng hapon (5:00 PM)
  • ikaanim (6:00); ikaanim ng umaga (6:00 AM); ikaanim ng hapon (6:00 PM)
  • ikapitó (7:00); ikapitó ng umaga (7:00 AM); ikapitó ng gabí (7:00 PM)
  • ikawaló (8:00); ikawaló ng umaga (8:00 AM); ikawaló ng gabí (8:00 PM)
  • ikasiyám (9:00); ikasiyám ng umaga (9:00 AM); ikasiyám ng gabí (9:00 PM)
  • ikasampû (10:00); ikasampû ng umaga (10:00 AM); ikasampû ng gabí (10:00 PM)
  • ikalabíng-isá (11:00); ikalabíng-isá ng umaga (11:00 AM); ikalabíng-isá ng gabí (11:00 PM)
  • ikalabindalawá (12:00); ikalabindalawá ng umaga (12:00 AM); ikalabindalawá ng tanghalì (12:00 PM)

Next you'll need the following additional vocabulary in telling time:

umaga (morning)
hapon (afternoon)
gabí (evening)
tanghalì (noon)
kalahatì (half)
ikasiyám at kalahatì (9:30)
ikasiyám at dalawampû (9:20)
ikaapat at kalahatì (4:30)
ikaapat at apatnapút limá (4:45)
minuto (minute)
walóng minuto (8 minutes)
oras (hour)
dalawampú't apat na oras (24 hours)
bago (before)
bago mag-ikalawá ng hapon (before 2PM)
dalawáng minuto bago mag-ikalimá (2 minutes until 5:00)
labíng apat na minuto bago mag-ikaanim ng umaga (14 minutes until 6AM)
pagkalipas, makalipas (past)
pagkalipas ng isáng minuto (after 1 minute)
limáng minuto makalipas ang ikapitó ng gabí (5 minutes past 7PM)
tapát (exact)
labindalawá ng tanghaling tapát (exactly 12 noon)
tapát na ikatatló ng hapon (exactly 3PM)

You understand that numbers are infinite so our vocabulary list for now is quite incomplete. But the good news is that I will be able to write other more lessons that will guide you how to say numbers in pure Tagalog. Just leave me your e-mail so you'll get my lessons straight from your inbox.

Tagalog Conversation: About His/her Study Schedule (Tungkól sa Kanyáng Oras ng Pag-aaral)

At this point you have essential components and terminologies that you will use in telling time. Regardless if you're a beginner or not, I prepared a sample conversation wherein time is expressed in pure Tagalog format.

Tagalog Conversation

English Interpretation

A: Gustó kong mag-aral ng Tagalog araw-araw.

I want to study Tagalog Everyday.

B: Ayos ‘yan. Dapat lang mag-aral ka palagi ng Tagalog.

That’s good. You should always study Tagalog.

A: Oo, mag-aaral ako tuwíng ikaanim ng umaga. Pwede mo ba akóng turuan?

Yes, I will study every 6 o’clock in the morning. Will you be able to teach me?

B: Gustó kitáng turuan pero hindî akó pwede sa oras na ikaanim. Naghahandâ ako ng almusal sa ganyáng oras.

I want to teach you but I’m not available at 6 o’clock. I’m making breakfast during that time.

A: Ay pasensya. Eh sa oras na ikasampû, libre ka na?

Oh sorry. How about 10 o’clock, are you free?

B: Oo, libre na ang oras ko sa bandáng ikasampû ng umaga.

Yes, I’m free around 10 o’clock in the morning.

A: Haaay salamat. Isang oras kada araw ang gustó kong ilaán para makapág-aral.

Alright thanks. I want to set 1 hour a day to be able to study.

B: Pero hahatiin natin ang oras mo sa pag-aaral.

But we will split your study time.

A: Hahatiin? Paano?

Split? How?

B: Sa unang bahagi, gagabayán kitá sa pag-aaral at sa pangalawá namán eh bibigyán kitá ng worksheet para gawín mo mag-isá.

With the 1st part, I will guide your studies and with the 2nd part I shall give you a worksheet so you’ll work on it alone.

A: Sige, ikaw ang bahala. Sa oras na ikasampû tuturuan mo akó, tapós sa oras na ikasampú’t kalahati ay sasagután ko ang worksheet.

Alight, it’s up to you. At 10 o’clock you’ll teach me, and then at 10:30 I’ll answer the worksheet.

If you can, find a language partner and practice the conversation presented above but if you want the best guidance that you desire, try my Saturday Coaching Calls online via Jitsi Meet. Happens regularly at 11:00 AM (ikalabíng-isá ng umaga) East Coast time. That is free of charge forever in our community.

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