Tagalog-English/English-Tagalog Standard Dictionary: Pilipino-Inggles, Inggles-Pilipino Talahuluganang (Hippocrene Standard Dictionaries) Paperback – 19 Dec. 2002

Very good book. My fiancé loves it. The book is helping him a lot as he is struggling to learn Tagalog.

Great book :)

1.) I decided to write this review as I read the harsh and unfair 1 star review. Let's put one thing straight. This is still one of the best dictionaries, although this also has flaws. Sometimes basic things like ito (this) can only be found in the English-Tagalog part, but overall it's not too bad and it also shows how to pronounce words (I saw other dictionaries failing to do so, so you don't know how to pronounce words properly!!!). It also has a quick grammar review to facilitate the use of the dictionary and contains the old Tagalog letters. Some advice. When looking up words you have to learn how to locate the root. It applies to all dictionaries and easier then it seems first. 2.) Unfortunately both the Tagalog language books and the dictionaries are usually of poor quality. This book though still helps you to get a grip on the firm basics of the language. What the 1 star reviewer was talking about is Taglish, which I find very annoying and has nothing to do with Tagalog itself. On the TFC tv channel they do teach proper Tagalog like paalam instead of the colloquial Taglish see you/goodbye. By the way I couldn't find a set rule when/how to mix Tagalog with English. My advice is to learn proper Tagalog, so that you can read proper books and classics and then watch TFC tv and movies or other videos to learn Taglish. As I said there are no set rules but you will hear the most common expressions like groseri/wait lang/goodbye/mall/miss etc.PS: So what to buy to learn Tagalog? 1.) The best dictionary is the Leo James English/National Bookstore dictionaries (about 1400 pages each English-Tagalog/Tagalog-English, but it's only for very serious students), although it has a somewhat poor binding. In my opinion this Galvez Rubino dictionary is good enough. 2.) For text book I simply could not find a proper one. The best are still the Tuttle books (Joi Barrios has 2 books and the Elementary Tagalog: Tara, Mag-Tagalog Tayo! Come On, Let's Speak Tagalog!), although none of these show stress/pronunciation so you have to listen to the CD and if not clear look the word up in the dictionary for guidance. 3.) For grammar book the best is Essential Tagalog Grammar by Fiona de Vos. If you find it expensive you can get the cheaper Basic Tagalog for Foreigners and Non-Tagalogs. Annoying to put Non-Tagalog instead non-Tagalog speakers.PS: Joi Barrios published a concise Tagalog dictionary which has many up-to-date words like groseri (in itself it is a very sloppy dictionary as basic words are missing!!! also Barrios is not consequent dayalogo vs diyalogo etc.). I bought it and use as a primary source it along the Rubio dictionary which has many more words (interchecking the 2 dictionaries). Rubino itself is also a bit out of date and has some flaws too (abaserya vs groseri outdated, though useful while doktor-laway is not medicine man, natives were laughing saying it is saliva doktor).

the book seems to be informative. I just received it today and did an instant peek already :D and actually it was a foreign friend who will use it.But as described,it could be so much helpful depending on use. It wont be ordered for critiscm,right? So far,this dictionary satisfy me and i am recommending it to those who's wanting a much elaborated dictio.Some words are slightly old fashioned but that helps too especially if it is to be use by a native Filipino. The phrases and stresses are well done too.Very good book!

It's very hard to use this dictionary for every day conversation. Tagalog used for everyday conversation uses many different words than the most of the words contained in this dictionary. Google translate is more helpful

Very comprehensive. In addition to the actual dictionary part, the book contains lots of useful information about the Tagalog language itself, like grammar and information about the numerous affixes and how to use them. A minor drawback is that the words in the dictionary seem to be a bit outdated and words starting with certain letters, like F, V and J are not included (even if they are not part of the official Tagalog alphabet people use them and the corresponding phonemes anyway as the language has so many loan words, think of "film" for example). All in all, I've seen many Tagalog-English (or English-Tagalog) dictionaries and this is by far the best and the most comprehensive one.

This is a comprehensive dictionary obviously compiled by someone with an excellent understanding of languages. On the down side you need a dictionary to understand this dictionary as it uses technical terms not used in every language. If you are happy to work for your knowledge of Tagalog and like studying and cross referencing this will equip with all you need to learn the language thoroughly. Recommended for the studious!

This is a very comprehensive dictionary but there's a lot of Tagalog words that aren't included in this dictionary, and many of the words that are included are either (colloquially) out of date, or so trivial that even native Filipino speakers wouldn't even know what that word means (since it's so rare to come across that particular word in day to day conversation).