Kailangan ko ng tulong
/kaʔiˈlaŋan ko ˌʔen ˈdji ˈtuloŋ/word by word
In the Philippines, to say "I need help" in Tagalog, say Kailangan ko ng tulong.
Use it to ask for assistance of any kind, from carrying bags to an emergency.
What does it mean word for word?
Kailangan means need, ko means I or my, ng links the object and tulong means help.
How does it change in a sentence?
Tagalog puts the verb or predicate first, so Kailangan opens the sentence and ko follows it. The short word ng is spelled with two letters but said as a full syllable.
How do you pronounce it?
The stress falls on the third syllable of Kailangan and the first of tulong. The little word ng is said as a full syllable.
Did you know?
- In the Philippines, asking for tulong can sometimes be a social gesture called bayanihan, where an entire village helps a neighbor move their whole house on their shoulders.
- While Kailangan ko ng tulong is the standard way to ask for help, in a life-threatening emergency, Filipinos often shout Saklolo! instead.
- The spelling of the small word ng was a casualty of the American occupation. Because English typewriters could not easily type the Spanish-style tilde used for nasal sounds, the spelling was simplified to just two letters.
Examples in context
- Kailangan ko ng tulong.I need help.This is the full sentence as you would say it when asking someone for help.Tatoeba #8681467 by England, translation #582309 by CM
- Kailangan ko ng tulong sa trabaho.I need help with work.
- Kailangan ko ng tulong para sa proyekto.I need help for the project.
Example conversation
Juan is struggling to carry a heavy box.
- JuanKailangan ko ng tulong dito.I need help here.
- MariaSige, tutulungan kita, Juan.Okay, I will help you, Juan.
- JuanSalamat, Maria.Thank you, Maria.
- MariaWalang anuman.You're welcome.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (kailangan, ko, ng, tulong) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kailangan, ko, ng, tulong, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
