ako
/ʔaˈko/
The Tagalog word for "I" is ako.
ako is the personal pronoun used to refer to oneself. In more formal contexts, you may encounter the phrase Sa aking pananaw to mean "In my opinion", which is a way to formally express your perspective.
Meaning: personal pronoun (pron)
Which one should you use?
ako is used when the pronoun is the focus of the sentence, while ko is used for possessive or oblique roles.
How does it change in a sentence?
The pronoun ako is used as the subject of a sentence when the subject is the topic of the sentence or when it is the focus (actor focus).
How do you pronounce it?
/ʔaˈko/
Did you know?
- The word ako can function as a verb meaning 'to accept responsibility' or 'to claim' something. In this context, it is used to admit fault or take ownership of a task.
- In very traditional or humble speech, speakers may avoid using ako entirely by using passive sentence structures. This shifts the focus away from the 'I' to show politeness and modesty.
- In Tagalog, ako can appear at the end of a sentence, whereas in English 'I' almost always starts the sentence. This flexibility is due to the language's non-rigid word order.
Examples in context
- May asno po ako.I have a donkey.This sentence is useful for showing how to express possession using ako.Tatoeba #11726947 by qwertzu, translation #7538261 by CK
- Ako ay Lin Feng.I am called Lin Feng.This sentence is useful for introducing yourself using ako.Tatoeba #12710051 by thegalogue, translation #7782966 by sharris123
- May lente po ako.I have a flashlight.This sentence is useful for expressing possession of an object using ako.Tatoeba #11804437 by qwertzu, translation #8833808 by CK
- Magandang araw po! Ako po si Juan.Good day! I am Juan.
- Gusto kong ipaalam sa inyo na ako ang nagwagi.I want to inform you that I won.
- Ang proyekto ay akin.The project is mine.
- Sa aking pananaw, ang edukasyon ay mahalaga.In my opinion, education is important.
- Ako'y lalaki.I am a man.
- Nag-enjoy ako kasi ako'y ako.I had fun because I am myself.
- Ako ay Bisaya.I am a Bisaya.
- 3050 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Jasmine and Ricardo are meeting at a cafe.
- JasmineAko si Jasmine.I am Jasmine.
- RicardoAko naman si Ricardo.I am Ricardo.
- JasmineMasaya ako na makilala ka.I am happy to meet you.
- RicardoAko rin.Me too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I” translations and entries ako, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ako, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
