Filipino · Family & People
tao
Person; people
Beginnernoun
Definition
A human being.
Example
Maraming tao sa palengke.
There are many people at the market.
Etymology
'Tao' comes from the Proto-Austronesian *tao, meaning person or human being. It has always been central in defining human existence in Filipino culture.
How & Where It’s Used
'Tao' is used in both formal and informal contexts in spoken and written Filipino to refer to people. The term is universally understood across the Philippines.