Here's the breakdown:
* Tagalog is a regional language spoken primarily in the central Luzon region of the Philippines.
* Filipino is the national language of the Philippines, which is based on Tagalog.
Think of it this way:
* Tagalog is like a dialect within a broader language family.
* Filipino is like the standard language that draws heavily from Tagalog but also incorporates words and influences from other Philippine languages.
Here are some key differences:
* Vocabulary: Filipino incorporates words from other Philippine languages, making it more diverse than Tagalog.
* Grammar: Filipino grammar is slightly more standardized than Tagalog.
* Pronunciation: There are slight variations in pronunciation between the two.
While many Filipinos use the terms interchangeably, it's important to understand the distinction.
In summary: Tagalog is a foundation for Filipino, but they are distinct languages. Filipinos will likely understand both languages, but Tagalog speakers may not necessarily understand all aspects of Filipino.