# Learn Filipino with NativePal > Learn Filipino with NativePal: levelled reading, vocabulary with spaced repetition, and pronunciation coaching. Free app for iOS and Android. ## Quick facts - Native name: Filipino - Speakers: 100+ million speakers worldwide - Spoken in: the Philippines, with large communities worldwide - Writing system: Latin alphabet, 28 letters - FSI difficulty category: III - Estimated study to professional working proficiency: 1100 hours (about 44 weeks full-time, per the US Foreign Service Institute) - Proficiency framework: CEFR (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2) ## What English speakers find hardest about Filipino - **The verb focus system**: The verb changes to show which participant the sentence is about, whether the doer, the thing done, the location or the beneficiary. This is the single hardest feature and has no English parallel. - **Affixes instead of conjugation**: Verbs are built with mag-, um-, -in and i-, which combine aspect and focus, so a single root can produce a long list of related verb forms. - **The verb comes first**: The normal order puts the predicate at the start of the sentence, so statements open with the action rather than the subject. - **The markers ang, ng, and sa**: These short words label which noun is in focus, which is the actor or object, and which is a location. They carry the grammar that English handles with word order. - **Heavy Spanish and English borrowing**: Centuries of Spanish and decades of English mean a large share of the vocabulary is already familiar, and code-switching with English is completely normal. ## How you practise Filipino in NativePal - [Reading Lessons](https://nativepal.app/features/reading-lessons/): Filipino stories generated for your level, every word tappable for a translation, comprehension quiz at the end. - [Vocabulary & Dictionary](https://nativepal.app/features/vocabulary-and-dictionary/): themed Filipino vocabulary lessons plus a personal dictionary feeding spaced-repetition flashcards. - [Speaking Practice](https://nativepal.app/features/speaking-practice/): read Filipino aloud on a teleprompter and get scored on individual sounds, prosody, fluency, and connected speech. - [Daily Challenges](https://nativepal.app/features/daily-challenges/): 60 seconds of freeform Filipino every day, analysed for grammar, vocabulary, and phrasing. - [Learning Scenarios](https://nativepal.app/features/learning-scenarios/): structured Filipino lessons from the alphabet for absolute beginners. ## FAQ ### How long does it take to learn Filipino? The US Foreign Service Institute puts Filipino at roughly 1100 hours of instruction — about 44 weeks full-time — to reach professional working proficiency. Holding a simple conversation comes much sooner: most learners manage it inside the first few months. NativePal shortens the part you control: reading at your level every day, vocabulary that returns before you forget it, and speaking practice that scores your pronunciation instead of just ticking a box. ### What is hardest about Filipino grammar? The verb focus system: The verb changes to show which participant the sentence is about, whether the doer, the thing done, the location or the beneficiary. This is the single hardest feature and has no English parallel. Affixes instead of conjugation: Verbs are built with mag-, um-, -in and i-, which combine aspect and focus, so a single root can produce a long list of related verb forms. The verb comes first: The normal order puts the predicate at the start of the sentence, so statements open with the action rather than the subject. The markers ang, ng, and sa: These short words label which noun is in focus, which is the actor or object, and which is a location. They carry the grammar that English handles with word order. Heavy Spanish and English borrowing: Centuries of Spanish and decades of English mean a large share of the vocabulary is already familiar, and code-switching with English is completely normal. ### Is Filipino hard for English speakers? Moderate — familiar vocabulary, unfamiliar sentence logic. The English alphabet plus ñ and ng. Spelling is regular and there is nothing new to decode. ### What proficiency levels does NativePal use for Filipino? NativePal levels your Filipino practice with CEFR, so reading lessons, vocabulary, and speaking prompts are generated for the level you select rather than a generic average. The ladder runs A1 through to C2. ### Where is Filipino spoken? Filipino is spoken in the Philippines, with large communities worldwide, with 100+ million speakers worldwide. ### Can I learn Filipino as a complete beginner? Yes. NativePal's Learning Scenarios start from the alphabet, numbers, greetings, and how to introduce yourself, with no prior Filipino assumed. Once those land, reading lessons and vocabulary packs pick up from wherever you are. ### Does NativePal correct my Filipino pronunciation? Yes. You read Filipino aloud on a teleprompter and get scored on individual vowels and consonants, stress, rhythm and intonation, fluency, and connected speech — not just a pass or fail. The 60-second daily speaking challenge adds freeform practice on top. ### Can I practise speaking Filipino, not just reading it? Yes, and it is the most-used part of the app. Speaking Practice is a teleprompter you read aloud for scored pronunciation feedback, the daily challenge gives you 60 seconds of freeform talk, and you can reply with your voice in any chat or roleplay scenario. ### Is NativePal free for learning Filipino? NativePal is free to start, with a daily allowance across reading, vocabulary, speaking practice, and chats. A premium subscription removes the daily limits and unlocks the longer formats. Prices are set in the App Store and Google Play and vary by region. ### Do I need an account to start learning Filipino? No. NativePal uses anonymous sign-in, so you can start practising Filipino without an email address or social login. ## More - [All supported languages](https://nativepal.app/languages.html) - [All features](https://nativepal.app/features/) - [Compare NativePal with other apps](https://nativepal.app/compare/) - [llms.txt](https://nativepal.app/llms.txt)