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Kamusta? That’s “How are you?” in Tagalog, the Philippines’ most widely spoken language!
Tagalog is the basis of the Philippines’ national language, Filipino — which is also what you call this country’s famously warm, hospitable people. That’s interesting wordplay right there, but enough of the fun facts; you’re here to learn Tagalog after all.
Top picks
So, what’s the best way to pick up the most spoken language in the Philippines? All you have to do is download these best apps to learn Tagalog:
- For beginners, the fun and interactive exercises on Mondly set the bar high.
- Grow your Tagalog vocabulary and listening skills with Glossika
- Also, we highly recommend the Italki and Preply apps to find affordable Tagalog tutors for conversation practice and lessons.
Let’s not beat around the bush any longer — tara! That means, “Let’s go!”
Best apps to learn Tagalog
1. Mondly
It’s difficult to say which Tagalog learning app is best for iPhone (or even Android, for the matter), but we have to admit Mondly comes pretty close. Instead of bombarding you with a gazillion words to memorize, Mondly goes the practical route. It lets users test their aptitude for the language by diving right into conversations.
The methodology was developed by taking into consideration how we actually pick up languages in real life, as opposed to how we were taught languages in school. The Mondly experience boasts a combination of the best practices in linguistics, studies in neural science, and the latest technological trends.
The cherry on top, though, is how its exercises are so quick and fun, users can squeeze them in the busiest of schedules.
Find out more about Mondly with this review.
Why you should try Mondly:
- Learn Tagalog daily for as short as 10 minutes per session
- Wide range of topics, from shopping to bank transactions to must-know phrases for emergencies
- Customized modules based on your progress
- Practice conversing in Tagalog with the unique mondlyVR feature
- Learn Tagalog from your native language, not just English
Pricing: The initial download is FREE and this comes with a seven-day trial. For full access, get Mondly Premium starting at $9.99/month. Or check out the latest Mondly promo here.
Devices: iOS and Android
2. Pimsleur
Try Pimsleur Tagalog absolutely FREE today
More than just a digital tool for picking up key phrases and words, Pimsleur is a well-known language method that’s backed by science.
You see, the method was developed by Dr. Paul Pimsleur, a celebrated researcher, teacher, and foreign languages expert. His foolproof way of learning a new language is the backbone of Pimsleur, and this is why it’s also considered among the best apps to learn Tagalog!
Although some may consider it a tad aggressive, Pimsleur believes that they would be a perfect fit for you if “you’ve tried other methods like Rosetta Stone and weren’t impressed”.
Want to know more? Check out this review of Pimsleur!
Why you should try Pimsleur:
- 30-minute listening sessions from native Tagalog speakers
- Improves vocabulary, grammar, speaking skills, and reading comprehension
- Perfectly-timed repetitions of core words and Tagalog grammar rules for long-term recall
Pricing: Pimsleur subscription is $14.95/month for Audio-Only; $19.95/month for Premium (with Bonus Materials), or $20.95/month for All Access. Start your full access, 7-day free trial.
Devices: iOS and Android
3. Preply
Find affordable Tagalog tutors on Preply
With more than 100 native-speaking Tagalog tutors, Preply is a surefire way to get started in Tagalog. If you’re way past the beginner stage, getting coaching from native speakers is also a great way to advance in your studies.
Experienced tutors on Preply offer customized private lessons. The first lesson is spent on assessing your skill level and needs to make sure the course is fit for you. And if you end up dissatisfied with the first lesson, Preply can replace your tutor at no additional cost.
Tagalog lessons on Preply are also very affordable. You can find a tutor for as low as $6 and there are even discounted trial lessons. All in all, a cost-efficient tool for achieving Tagalog fluency.
Why you should try Preply:
- Wide selection of experienced Tagalog tutors to choose from
- Affordable classes
- Customized or structured lessons based on your needs and proficiency
Pricing: Sign-up is free. You can find Tagalog tutors for as low as $6 or even lower with Preply’s latest promos.
Devices: iOS and Android
4. Ling
Mastering any new language should be simple, easy, and fun. That’s what Learn Tagalog With Master Ling is all about. It makes use of a game interface that lets you polish your skills with dialogue sessions and exercises for beginners and advanced learners.
Compared to all the other apps on this list, Learn Tagalog With Master Ling is probably the one that will take up the least amount of time in your day. Much like Duolingo, its sessions may last only 10 minutes, depending on your skills and reading comprehension.
If you’re looking for a supplementary app that will force you to have fun in Tagalog, then this is a must-download.
Why you should try Ling:
- Learn Tagalog basics through puzzles, flashcards, and fun quizzes
- Plenty of writing exercises and pronunciation assessment
- Short and gamified lessons that strengthen Tagalog listening and speaking skills
Pricing: Free access to beginner units. Upgrade to the Pro version for more lessons. It costs $4/month on the yearly plan.
Devices: iOS and Android
5. Italki
Italki is an app where you can search for Tagalog tutors and have 1-on-1 lessons based on your goals and interests, starting from as little as $4 per hour.
Many community tutors offer conversation classes where you practice your speaking and listening skills. Others offer structured lessons and homework. There are also professional teachers on Italki that are highly skilled to ensure you will acquire the language through the best methods.
If you don’t want to spend any money, join the Italki community and search the forum for language exchange partners – this is completely free! New users can also avail themselves of trial lessons at discounted rates.
Here’s a review of italki, if you want to know more.
Why you should try Italki:
- Learn Tagalog from over 200 native speakers from the Philippines
- Choose from 30-, 45-, 60-, or 90-minute sessions
- Improve conversational skills through custom or structured lessons via Zoom or Skype
- Comprehensive tutor introduction profiles
Pricing: Most community Tagalog tutors and professional teachers on Italki charge $10 per hour on average, although it can go as low as $4 or $5.
Devices: iOS and Android
6. Glossika
If you want to learn Tagalog but not bore yourself with long vocabulary lists, try Glossika. This platform helps you learn languages through natural sentences and audio recordings. Here, you can practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, and learn how to use Tagalog in real-life situations!
Glossika offers a comprehensive Tagalog course that covers a wide range of topics, from greetings and introductions to travel and business. But instead of learning individual words, you learn full sentences to get complete context.
Learning Tagalog with Glossika involves different learning modes, such as mass sentences, dictation, fill-in-the-blanks, and multiple choice. You can also customize your learning preferences, such as the speed of the audio. And you can listen on the go with the hands-free mode!
Why you should try Glossika:
- Learn thousands of full Tagalog sentences
- Hear audio from native speakers
- Natural acquisition of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation
Pricing: Starts at $16.99/month. But you can try it for free first! If you’d like to support Learn Languages From Home, make sure to complete your purchase through the Glossika website (not the mobile app). You can sign up and use whatever platform you want, but if you make the purchase using the website, I make a small commission. Thanks!
Devices: iOS and Android
7. Learn Tagalog by Dalubhasa
Download the Learn Tagalog by Dalubhasa app
Learn Tagalog by Dalubhasa was developed by the Dalubhasa Review Center, a learning center with the primary focus of preparing students for college entrance exams of the Philippines’ top universities.
The app features five pillars or stages: The Basics 1, The Basics 2, Advanced, Expat, and Native. Since it was designed by educators and reviewers, you can expect a school-like setting, where you’re somehow forced to absorb the basics rather than just parroting phrases.
Learn Tagalog by Dalubhasa kickstarts its program by enriching your vocabulary, then progressing into different rules of the language. Along the way, you’ll develop more confidence in speaking Tagalog.
Trivia: the Filipino word “dalubhasa” translates to “expert” in English! Perhaps that’s what you’ll be after you finish their Tagalong learning course. *wink*
Why you should try Learn Tagalog by Dalubhasa:
- Structured lessons that build vocabulary and help develop a natural conversational tone
- Various themes including colors, numbers, time, pronouns, conjunctions, basic phrases, and useful sentences
- Grammar lessons cover the basics and gradually transitions to the colloquial setting
Pricing: The initial download is FREE and this comes with access to 21 categories under Basics 1 and Basics 2. Get access to the entire program, which includes practice exams, for a one-time payment of $15.
8. Rosetta Stone
Learn Tagalog with Rosetta Stone
Google “learning Tagalog grammar” and you’re likely to come across Rosetta Stone. They’ve been in the business of teaching languages for over 25 years, so it does make sense that they have one of the best apps to learn Tagalog.
But its longstanding status isn’t the only thing going for Rosetta Stone. They’ve stayed among the top options for mastering languages all these years because they’re known for championing literacy.
Rosetta Stone doesn’t only teach you a few basic phrases to use for one trip to the Philippines. Their Tagalog program aims to sharpen reading comprehension, writing, and conversation skills through fun exercises, speech recognition, live lectures, and live coaching!
If a learn Tagalog podcast is more your thing, you can also use the app’s built-in “audio companion”. Give your eyes a break; listen to your daily module instead of being glued to the screen.
Why you should try Rosetta Stone:
- Strengthen your speaking skills with its patented speech recognition and copyrighted conversation simulator
- User-friendly interface and fun games
- Live lectures and coaching from native speakers
- Audio companion feature
- Works offline
Pricing: Starts at $7.99/month. Find the latest Rosetta Stone Tagalog promo here.
Devices: iOS and Android
9. Drops
Built on the premise that language learning need not be boring, Drops is an addictive, immersive, and beautifully designed app that lets you master Tagalog in just five minutes a day.
Drops focuses on the most important part of the language – words. Every day, you’ll get free five minutes of beautifully illustrated and effective lessons that will beef up your vocabulary. Through visual associations, you’ll learn over 2,000 Tagalog words covering a diverse range of topics.
Basic grammar structures are also taught in the Travel Talk category. High-quality audio recordings help with listening comprehension practice. You can even choose which words you want to learn so that you can focus on the material that matters most. Not bad, right?
Why you should try Drops:
- Extensive focus on Tagalog vocabulary
- Short but fun learning sessions perfect for busy learners
- Engaging and aesthetically pleasing lessons
- Summary of learning stats to keep you motivated
Pricing: Free for five minutes a day. Upgrade for unlimited playtime.
Devices: iOS and Android
10. Simply Learn Tagalog
Learn the basics on Simply Learn Tagalog
If you’re after a user-friendly, clutter-free app, look no further. The aptly named Simply Learn Tagalog is beautifully designed and easy to navigate but it doesn’t skimp on good content.
For one, this app teaches over 1,000 useful Tagalog words in 32 categories like eating out, emergencies, romance, hobbies, and more. And you have intelligent flashcards to aid recall, as well as fun quizzes to test what you’ve learned.
You don’t have to worry about mispronouncing words either; the high-quality audio recordings in this app feature a native speaker. The best part? You can even slow down the audio to get a better understanding of the words!
Why you should try Simply Learn Czech:
- Rich and practical word bank
- High-quality audio from a native Tagalog speaker
- Ability to slow down audio
- Simple and clutter-free design
- Save your favorite words and phrases for later
Pricing: The free version comes with 300+ Tagalog phrases and words. Unlock all content for $9.99 monthly.
Devices: iOS and Android
11. Tandem
One of the most effective ways to practice your skills is by talking to native speakers. These days, you don’t have to travel to do that — you can put your Tagalog knowledge to the test by finding a language exchange partner on Tandem.
Part social networking, part language-learning app, Tandem works by letting you pair up with a fellow language learner. Together, you can learn each other’s language and culture. You can communicate via text, voice note, or audio or video call and use language tools for correction and translation.
Tandem is great if you want a non-linear, casual path to learning Tagalog. Plus, it’s free!
Why you should try Tandem:
- Social way of learning a new language
- Various messaging features and language learning tools
- Wide selection of Tagalog speakers to choose from
Pricing: Free to download and use. Advanced features are available on Tandem Pro for $6.99/month.
Best way to learn Tagalog
You have the app (or apps), but what else can you do to speed up the learning process? While methods like Mondly, Rosetta Stone, and Pimsleur are sure to ingrain you with the solid foundation you need to speak and understand Tagalog like a local, there are other ways to ensure a firm grasp of the language.
1. Visit websites to further sharpen your Tagalog skills
Like I said, it’s great that you’re armed with the best apps to learn Tagalog, but having supplemental materials won’t hurt. Aside from apps, there are many Tagalog learning websites that serve as rich resources.
Some websites lead you to Youtube accounts that offer an archive of video tutorials. Others boast of their own Tagalog course, while some highlight their very own Learn Tagalog podcast.
You should also consider finding affordable Tagalog tutors and conversation buddies online with websites such as italki or Preply!
Keep these websites bookmarked if you’re on a mission to master Tagalog:
- FilipinoPod101.com
- TagalogLessons
- Fluent in 3 Months with Benny the Irish Polyglot
- Udemy
- Learning Tagalog
2. Watch Tagalog, read Tagalog books, listen to Tagalog songs
While studying cultural heritage research and documentation at university, my professor gave us homework that surprised me: “Watch a Spanish telenovela”.
So for the entire semester, I was to get hooked on any Spanish show and finish it from start to end like a true-blue fanatic. He asked us to do this so that we would acclimatize to the Spanish language, which was very prominent in the Philippines’ historical documents.
I know this tactic works because I can now understand a few Korean words after months of being on a steady diet of Korean dramas! Don’t believe me? This Filipino entertainment website is a treasure trove of Tagalog shows. Take your pick and let us know how it goes
If you’re more of a bookworm, be my guest and buy a Tagalog learning book instead. And if music suits your groove better, put on a Tagalog song or two!
3. Invest in a Tagalog dictionary
If you like to kick it off old-school, go for a printed edition of any Tagalog dictionary of your choice. But if you’re a penny-saver like me, there are a lot of digital dictionaries that you can access online free of charge. The Tagalog Dictionary, for example.
4. Make Filipino friends, if you haven’t yet
You can learn all the Filipino words you want with the best apps to learn Tagalog, but if you don’t practice it regularly, then your efforts will all go to waste. Think of it as a muscle; you have to keep working on it to build it. Eventually, you’ll get enough definition to flex it anywhere you go.
So how do you practice a language? Use it in actual conversations. Yes, that means you have to make friends with Filipinos, if you haven’t yet. Among the top tips to learn Tagalog, this is probably my favorite because it bridges communication gaps quite nicely.
We can all benefit from being a little more human in our day-to-day interactions, especially when we face our computer and phone screens most hours of the day. A lot of people say that Filipinos are among the friendliest and warmest people they come across, too. But I’ll leave that to you to find out for yourself!
5. Never go a day without opening one of the best apps to learn Tagalog
To cap these top tips for learning Tagalog, here’s a reminder: Don’t let your Tagalog apps go unused, especially if you paid for them!
Make the most out of every buck you spent by maximizing the learning experience and opening the app as often as you can. Make it a part of your routine! If you opted for one that’s free, then just keep in mind that every app you don’t use is wasted storage space on your gadget.
Ready to learn Tagalog today? Tara! If you can’t remember that we already discussed what that means, you better work on your word retention. Good luck!
Hello! Thank you for the post; i will look further into Tagalog by Dalubhasa. However i would like to point out that Ling isn’t “absolutely free”; much like Memrise, you only get access to basic lessons for free and must pay for the whole package.
Is this a blog series? If not, it should be. I would love to read the next installment on this subject about online tutorial philippines. https://www.virtualassistancetutorialprogram.com/
Thanks for the great list and helpful tips. I wish to add one more though. If you plan to hire a native tutor, you may find one here: https://www.justlearn.com/
Yes this was absolutely a great list very thorough and helpful. I loved that you not only gave thr apps but Aldo had 4 additional steps that to some would be logical but were worth reiterating and sharing as ways to best learn the Tagalog language and immerse yourself. Great job. I bookmarked this and may add this to my kids list of activities.
Sorry for my typos. 🙈