Tagalog Question Words: Complete 5W1H Guide with Examples

Q: What is Ano?

**Ano** (ah-noh) = **What?** The most fundamental question word in Tagalog. **Common Usage:**

Q: What is Sino?

**Sino** (see-noh) = **Who?** Use this when asking about people. **Common Usage:**

Q: What is Saan?

**Saan** (sah-ahn) = **Where?** Use this when asking about locations. **Common Usage:**

Q: What is Kailan?

**Kailan** (kye-lahn) = **When?** Use this when asking about time. **Common Usage:**

Q: What is Bakit?

**Bakit** (bah-keet) = **Why?** Use this when asking for reasons. **Common Usage:**

Q: What is Paano?

**Paano** (pah-ah-noh) = **How?** Use this when asking about methods or ways. **Common Usage:**

Q: What is Magkano?

**Magkano** (mahg-kah-noh) = **How much?** While not part of the traditional 5W1H, this is an essential question word for asking about prices. **Common Usage:**

Master essential Tagalog question words to unlock better conversations. Learning the 5W1H questions will help you communicate more effectively with Filipino speakers.

What is Ano?

Ano (ah-noh) = What?

The most fundamental question word in Tagalog.

Common Usage:

Phrase	Meaning
Ano ito?	What is this?
Ano iyan?	What is that?
Ano ang pangalan mo?	What is your name?
Ano ang gagawin mo?	What will you do?
Ano ang gusto mo?	What do you want?

Conversation Examples:

A: Ano ito? (What is this?) B: Mangga ito. (This is a mango.)

A: Ano ang trabaho mo? (What is your job?) B: Teacher ako. (I'm a teacher.)

What is Sino?

Sino (see-noh) = Who?

Use this when asking about people.

Common Usage:

Phrase	Meaning
Sino ka?	Who are you?
Sino siya?	Who is he/she?
Sino ang kasama mo?	Who is with you?
Sino ang pumunta?	Who went?
Sino ang nanalo?	Who won?

Conversation Examples:

A: Sino ang boyfriend mo? (Who is your boyfriend?) B: Si Mark. (Mark.)

A: Sino ang nag-aral ng Japanese? (Who studies Japanese?) B: Ako! (Me!)

What is Saan?

Saan (sah-ahn) = Where?

Use this when asking about locations.

Common Usage:

Phrase	Meaning
Saan ka pupunta?	Where are you going?
Saan ka nakatira?	Where do you live?
Saan ang CR?	Where is the restroom?
Saan tayo magkikita?	Where shall we meet?
Saan ka galing?	Where are you from?

Conversation Examples:

A: Saan ka pupunta? (Where are you going?) B: Sa mall. (To the mall.)

A: Saan ang nearest na LRT station? (Where is the nearest LRT station?) B: Doon sa kanto. (Over there at the corner.)

What is Kailan?

Kailan (kye-lahn) = When?

Use this when asking about time.

Common Usage:

Phrase	Meaning
Kailan ka pupunta?	When will you go?
Kailan ang birthday mo?	When is your birthday?
Kailan tayo magkikita?	When shall we meet?
Kailan ka babalik?	When will you return?
Kailan ka dumating?	When did you arrive?

Conversation Examples:

A: Kailan ang flight mo? (When is your flight?) B: Bukas ng umaga. (Tomorrow morning.)

A: Kailan ka libre? (When are you free?) B: Sa Sabado. (On Saturday.)

What is Bakit?

Bakit (bah-keet) = Why?

Use this when asking for reasons.

Common Usage:

Phrase	Meaning
Bakit?	Why?
Bakit ka nalungkot?	Why are you sad?
Bakit ka late?	Why are you late?
Bakit hindi ka pumunta?	Why didn't you go?
Bakit mo gusto?	Why do you like it?

Conversation Examples:

A: Hindi ako pupunta sa party. (I'm not going to the party.) B: Bakit? (Why?) A: Pagod ako. (I'm tired.)

A: Bakit ka umiiyak? (Why are you crying?) B: Nawala ang wallet ko. (I lost my wallet.)

What is Paano?

Paano (pah-ah-noh) = How?

Use this when asking about methods or ways.

Common Usage:

Phrase	Meaning
Paano?	How?
Paano pumunta sa...?	How to get to...?
Paano mo ginawa?	How did you do it?
Paano ka nakarating?	How did you get here?
Paano kung...	What if...

Conversation Examples:

A: Paano pumunta sa Makati? (How do I get to Makati?) B: Sumakay ng MRT. (Take the MRT.)

A: Paano mo nalaman? (How did you know?) B: Sinabi sa'kin ni Ana. (Ana told me.)

What is Magkano?

Magkano (mahg-kah-noh) = How much?

While not part of the traditional 5W1H, this is an essential question word for asking about prices.

Common Usage:

Phrase	Meaning
Magkano ito?	How much is this?
Magkano iyan?	How much is that?
Magkano ang pamasahe?	How much is the fare?
Magkano lahat?	How much in total?
Magkano ang bayad?	How much is the payment?

Conversation Examples:

A: Magkano ang mangga? (How much is the mango?) B: Singkwenta pesos per kilo. (Fifty pesos per kilo.)

A: Magkano ang pamasahe papuntang airport? (How much is the fare to the airport?) B: Mga tatlong daan. (Around three hundred.)

Combining Question Words

You can combine question words to ask more detailed questions.

Phrase	Meaning
Saan ka pupunta at kailan?	Where are you going and when?
Sino ang kasama mo at saan kayo pupunta?	Who is with you and where are you going?
Ano ang gagawin mo at paano?	What will you do and how?
Bakit ka pupunta at kailan ka babalik?	Why are you going and when will you return?

Asking Questions Politely

Add "po" or "ho" to make your questions more polite and respectful.

Casual	Polite
Ano ang pangalan mo?	Ano po ang pangalan ninyo?
Saan ka pupunta?	Saan po kayo pupunta?
Kailan ka darating?	Kailan po kayo darating?

Adding "Excuse me" or "Pwede magtanong?" (May I ask?) makes it even more polite.

Examples:

Excuse me, saan po ang bangko? (Excuse me, where is the bank?)
Pwede po magtanong? Paano po pumunta sa mall? (May I ask? How do I get to the mall?)

Useful Question Phrases

Phrase	Meaning
Ano ang ibig sabihin nito?	What does this mean?
Paano mo sinabi sa Tagalog?	How do you say this in Tagalog?
Saan ang pinakamalapit na...?	Where is the nearest...?
Kailan bukas ang...?	When is... open?
Bakit ganyan?	Why is it like that?
Sino ang may-ari nito?	Who owns this?
Magkano ang total?	How much is the total?

Practice Exercises

Try forming questions in Tagalog:

What is this?
Who are you?
Where is the restroom?
When is your birthday?
Why are you late?
How do I get to the mall?
How much is this?

Answers:

Ano po ito?
Sino po kayo?
Saan po ang CR?
Kailan po ang birthday ninyo?
Bakit ka late?
Paano pumunta sa mall?
Magkano po ito?

Practice using question words in conversations with the Pinya app!