Speak Filipino: Reading Vowels

Here is a guideline on reading the 'vowels' in Filipino language. Vowel 'u' is added at the bottom of the post.

i.e.


Vowel 'a'

'a' =  should be READ as the short 'a' sound in the word 'art'

a-ko = (pronoun 'I' in the English language)  NOT  read as 'ey-ko' as in 'a' in  the word 'ace'

Ta-yo =  ( pronoun 'us' in English) NOT read as 'tey-yo' as in the word 'table'

Halika = (verb 'come' in English) NOT read as 'hey-li-key'  

Sounding 'a' as 'ey' is incorrect in the spoken Filipino language.


Vowel 'e'

'e' =  should be READ as the short 'e' in the word 'earth'  or 'bet'

peke = ('fake' in English) should NOT be read as 'pi-ki'  as  long 'e'  sound as in the English pronoun  'we'

palengke = ('market' in English) should NOT be read as 'pa-ling-ki' 


Vowel 'i' 

'i' = should be READ as short 'i'  sound in the word 'tip' 

piso = ('peso' in English) should NOT be read as 'i' in the word 'light'

ligo = ('bathe' in English) should NOT be read as 'i' in 'mind'


Vowel 'o'

'o' = should be READ as  short 'o' sound in the word 'corn' / 'oblong' / short

boto = ('vote' in English) should NOT be read as 'o'  as in the noun 'rose' , there it sounds like 'ow' .

Sounding 'o' as in 'ow' in Filipino language obviously shows your not a native speaker...



Vowel 'u' 

'u' = should be READ as 'oo' in the word 'cool' / 'boo'

bukas  = (can mean 'open' or 'tomorrow' depending on where you put the 'stress' on each syllable)

It is wrong to read it as 'byoo-kas' like 'oo' sound in the word 'cue'


I hope I have given a little knowledge how to speak the vowels in my native language. Come back for more. Thanks for reading.