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How: Gaano and Paano

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“How” also translates into two types of Filipino question words. These are "paano" and "gaano."

Paano

"Paano" is used when asking "how," as in what way something is done. ( How do you get to the mall? )

Gaano

"Gaano" is used when asking "how," and expects a response explaining the degree or quality of something. ( How large? How small? How sweet?, etc. )
Markup
Examples:
How will you open this?
Paano mo itó búbuksan? Play audio #5727
How did you know?
Paano mo nalaman? Play audio #5366
How will you go there?
Paano ka magpúpunta roón? Play audio #5367
How will you cook this?
Paano mo iluluto itó? Play audio #5688
How big is Asia?
Gaano kalakí ang Asya? Play audio #5364
How deep is the sea?
Gaano kalalim ang dagat? Play audio #5687
How delicious is the food?
Gaano kasaráp ang pagkain? Play audio #5686
How strong is the typhoon?
Gaano kalakás ang bagyó? Play audio #5726
Markup
Examples:
How will you open this?
Paano mo ito bubuksan? Play audio #5727
How did you know?
Paano mo nalaman? Play audio #5366
How will you go there?
Paano ka magpupunta roon? Play audio #5367
How will you cook this?
Paano mo iluluto ito? Play audio #5688
How big is Asia?
Gaano kalaki ang Asya? Play audio #5364
How deep is the sea?
Gaano kalalim ang dagat? Play audio #5687
How delicious is the food?
Gaano kasarap ang pagkain? Play audio #5686
How strong is the typhoon?
Gaano kalakas ang bagyo? Play audio #5726
It is also correct to use "gaanong" (with ng) + adjective in normal usage.

Some people may pronounce these question words by cutting these short to two syllables. In casual conversations, you would often hear people pronounce "paano" as "pa-no." Same goes for "gaano" as others would pronounce it as "ga-no."
This is a casual / slang pronunciation only, and these question words have 3 syllables and are correctly pronounced as "pa-a-no" and "ga-a-no".
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Filipino Words to Use When Asking Questions