If you’ve ever wondered whether Filipino and Tagalog are the same language, you’re not alone. This question pops up constantly in language forums, classrooms, and even among Filipinos themselves. The two words are used so interchangeably that Continue reading
Language Features
Hello in Spanish, and other Spanish Greetings
If you’re traveling in one of the world’s many Spanish-speaking countries, or meeting a Spanish speaker anywhere for that matter, you need to Continue reading
Basic Greetings in Arabic
Arabic is one of the world’s major languages, spoken throughout North Africa, much of the Middle East, and beyond. And across that huge geographic area Continue reading
50 Essential Japanese Words and Phrases
Japanese has a reputation for being a difficult language to learn, in particular for English speakers. That’s partly because kanji (ideographic Chinese characters) make reading and writing Japanese a challenge. Continue reading
Spanish Vocabulary in Tagalog (Filipino)
In my recent video comparing Indonesian and Tagalog, I mentioned that Spanish has had a big impact on Tagalog vocabulary, since the Philippines was controlled by Spain for hundreds of years. An estimated 20% -33% of Tagalog vocabulary is of Spanish origin. This vocabulary is deeply Continue reading





