In Tagalog, vowels are called mga patinig. These are the basic sounds of the Filipino alphabet, and they form the foundation of reading and pronunciation. The five Tagalog vowels are:
A, E, I, O, U
In this post, you’ll learn common Tagalog words that begin with each vowel, along with simple examples to help beginners and young learners practice.
Mga Patinig: Words That Start With A, E, I, O, and U
Below are sample Tagalog words that begin with each vowel.
Letrang A (A‑words)
Ahas – snake
Araw – sun/day
Agila – eagle
Apat – four
Aso – dog
Anim – six
Apoy – fire
Abokado – avocado
Aklat – book
Alimango – crab
Letrang E (E‑words)
Elepante – elephant
Ekis – X mark
Elisi – propeller
Eroplano – airplane
Espada – sword
Empanada – empanada
Ensaymada – ensaymada
Estatwa – statue
Eskoba – broom
Espasol – espasol (rice cake)
Letrang I (I‑words)
Isa – one
Ibon – bird
Ilong – nose
Ipis – cockroach
Isda – fish
Itlog – egg
Ilaw – light
Itik – duck
Inakay – chick / young animal
Ina – mother
Letrang O (O‑words)
Oso – bear
Orasan – clock
Okra – okra
Oto – car (informal)
Obispo – bishop
Otap – otap (pastry)
Okoy – shrimp fritter
Ospital – hospital
Oktagono – octagon
Ostiya – communion host
Letrang U (U‑words)
Ubas – grapes
Usa – deer
Ulap – cloud
Ulan – rain
Ulo – head
Upuan – chair
Unggoy – monkey
Uling – charcoal
Upo – bottle gourd
Unan – pillow
Final Thoughts
Learning mga patinig is one of the first steps in reading and speaking Tagalog. Practicing words that begin with each vowel helps children and beginners recognize sounds, improve pronunciation, and build vocabulary naturally.
