anong

Anong is a Filipino interrogative determiner used to ask about the identity, nature, or kind of a noun. It translates roughly as "what" or "which" in English and appears in questions such as Anong oras na? (What time is it?) or Anong pangalan mo? (What is your name?).

Etymology and grammar: Anong derives from the root ano, meaning "what," plus the linking particle -ng, which attaches to modify a following noun or noun phrase. When placed before a noun, anong marks the question as to which specific item or kind is being referred to. It can modify common nouns, proper nouns, or even noun phrases.

Usage notes: Anong can be used in a variety of contexts to seek identification, specification, or description. It is commonly used when the set of possibilities is not fixed or when asking for the kind or identity of something. If the speaker intends to select from a clearly defined set, they may use alin instead, as in Alin ang gusto mo? (Which one do you want?). Anong is also employed before adjectives or verbs in informal questions, such as Anong klaseng libro ito? (What kind of book is this?) or Anong ginagawa mo? (What are you doing?).

Examples:

- Anong oras na? (What time is it?)

- Anong pangalan mo? (What is your name?)

- Anong klaseng pagkain ito? (What kind of food is this?)

- Anong kulay ng damit mo? (What color is your dress/shirt?)

Anong is a common and versatile element in Tagalog questions, functioning primarily to request identification, specification, or description of a noun.