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ANG Personal Pronouns: Kamí and Tayo (We)

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Unlike in English, there are two words used for the personal pronoun “we” in the Filipino language, kamí and tayo.

Both of these words mean “we”, but have distinct uses because of the different focus of subjects.
Markup
Examples:
We (exclusive)
Kamí Play audio #709
We (inclusive)
Tayo Play audio #817
Markup
Examples:
We (exclusive)
Kami Play audio #709
We (inclusive)
Tayo Play audio #817
Keep In Mind:
The word “mga” is added before a noun to show the plurality.

Kamí: Exclusive "We"

Kamí includes yourself and one or more other people, but excludes the person you are speaking to.

See how the pronoun kamí is used in sentences:
Markup
Examples:
Scenario: Jane and Joe speaking to John.

We are Jane and Joe.



Kamí ay siná Jane at Joe. Play audio #2233
Kamí'y siná Jane at Joe. Play audio #2234
Scenario: Filipinos speaking to an American

We are Filipinos.



Kamì ay mga Pilipino. Play audio #2230
Kamí'y mga Pilipino. Play audio #2232
Scenario: Filipinos meeting another person for the first time.

We are pleased to meet you.



Kamí ay nagágalak na makilala ka. Play audio #2517
Kamí'y nagágalak na makilala ka. Play audio #2519
Scenario: Two friends talking to another friend passing by.

We are eating.



Kumakain kamí. Play audio #2228
Scenario: A married couple speaking to their friends.

We are happy.



Masayá kamí. Play audio #2229
Markup
Examples:
Scenario: Jane and Joe speaking to John.

We are Jane and Joe.



Kami ay sina Jane at Joe. Play audio #2233
Kami'y sina Jane at Joe. Play audio #2234
Scenario: Filipinos speaking to an American

We are Filipinos.



Kami ay mga Pilipino. Play audio #2230
Kami'y mga Pilipino. Play audio #2232
Scenario: Filipinos meeting another person for the first time.

We are pleased to meet you.



Kami ay nagagalak na makilala ka. Play audio #2517
Kami'y nagagalak na makilala ka. Play audio #2519
Scenario: Two friends talking to another friend passing by.

We are eating.



Kumakain kami. Play audio #2228
Scenario: A married couple speaking to their friends.

We are happy.



Masaya kami. Play audio #2229
Tayo: Inclusive "We"

Tayo, on the other hand, includes yourself and other people, as well as the person or people you are speaking to.
Markup
Examples:
We are Filipinos. (referring to all people in the discussion)
Tayo ay mga Pilipino. Play audio #2224
Tayo’y mga Pilipino. Play audio #2225
We are friends. (referring to all people in the discussion)
Tayo ay magkaibigan. Play audio #2226
Tayo’y magkaibigan. Play audio #2227
We are smart. (referring to all people in the discussion)
Matalino tayo. Play audio #2223
We are fast. (referring to all people in the discussion)
Mabilís tayo. Play audio #2222
Markup
Examples:
We are Filipinos. (referring to all people in the discussion)
Tayo ay mga Pilipino. Play audio #2224
Tayo’y mga Pilipino. Play audio #2225
We are friends. (referring to all people in the discussion)
Tayo ay magkaibigan. Play audio #2226
Tayo’y magkaibigan. Play audio #2227
We are smart. (referring to all people in the discussion)
Matalino tayo. Play audio #2223
We are fast. (referring to all people in the discussion)
Mabilis tayo. Play audio #2222
It can be tricky for English speakers to fluently master the use of kamí and tayo. Just remember, if the "we" you are speaking of includes the person you're speaking to, use "tayo", the inclusive version of we. Otherwise use kamí.


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