kami / namin / amin

Exclusive We Forms

Level 1

Filipino distinguishes between two types of 'we'. The exclusive forms (kami, namin, amin) mean 'we, but not you.' Use these when talking to someone about a group you belong to that they are not part of.

How It Works

The exclusive 'we' is used when the speaker is part of a group that does not include the listener. This contrasts directly with the inclusive 'we' forms (tayo, natin, atin), which include the person you are talking to.

1. The Three Forms:

  • kami: The focused form. Used as the subject of the sentence (e.g., 'Aalis kami' - We are leaving).
  • namin: The non-focused form. Used as a possessor after a noun ('bahay namin' - our house) or as the actor in non-actor focus verbs (e.g., 'Kinain namin ang mansanas' - We ate the apple).
  • amin: The oblique form. Used after 'sa' to mean 'to/for us', or as a predicate to mean 'ours' (e.g., 'Amin ang kotseng ito' - This car is ours). It is also highly frequent in the phrase 'sa amin' to mean 'at our house', 'in our hometown', or 'in our country' (e.g., 'Pumunta sila sa amin' - They went to our house).

2. Word Order:
When following a predicate, kami and namin (when used as a non-focused actor) act as enclitic words. They generally jump to the second position of the clause, following the first word of the predicate, such as a verb, adjective, noun, or negator (e.g., 'Hindi kami aalis' - We will not leave, 'Pagod kami' - We are tired, 'Estudyante kami' - We are students). However, because they are disyllabic (two syllables), they yield to monosyllabic (one-syllable) enclitics and pronouns, often appearing in the third or fourth position. Unlike kami and namin, the oblique form amin is not an enclitic and does not follow these second-position word order rules. Kami does not act as an enclitic when it is fronted for emphasis (e.g., 'Kami ang kumain' - We are the ones who ate) or used in formal ay inversion sentences (e.g., 'Kami ay aalis' - We will leave), where it occupies the first position as an independent pronoun.

Note: If a monosyllabic pronoun (like mo or ka) appears with a disyllabic pronoun like kami or namin, the shorter one always comes first (e.g., 'Nakita mo kami' - You saw us, or 'Nakita ka namin' - We saw you).

3. Formal vs. Casual Possession:
To say 'our house', you can use the casual post-posed form (bahay namin). For a more formal style, you can use the pre-posed form aming (amin + linker). Note that for simple possession, only amin can move before the noun. While namin stays after the noun, it frequently takes the -ng linker to become naming when the noun phrase is followed by an adjective or modifier (e.g., 'ang bahay namin' vs. 'ang bahay naming malaki' - our big house).

Examples (6)

  1. Kami ang kakain ng pansit.

    We (not you) are the ones who will eat the noodles.

    Word by Word: We the-one-who-will-eat of-the noodles.

    Here, 'kami' is the focus of the sentence, identifying the specific group eating.

  2. Nawawala ang aso namin.

    Our (not your) dog is missing.

    Word by Word: Is-missing the dog of-us.

    'Namin' follows the noun 'aso' to show possession in a standard, casual way.

  3. Sa amin ang pulang kotse.

    The red car is ours (not yours).

    Word by Word: To us the red car.

    'Sa amin' indicates ownership, excluding the person being spoken to.

  4. Hindi namin nakita ang bata.

    We (not you) didn't see the child.

    Word by Word: Not by-us saw the child.

    Notice how 'namin' moves to the second position, immediately following the negative 'hindi'.

  5. Kami ay aalis bukas.

    We (not you) will leave tomorrow.

    Word by Word: We [ay] will-leave tomorrow.

    In formal sentences using 'ay' inversion, 'kami' occupies the first position and does not act as an enclitic.

  6. Malaki ang bahay naming bago.

    Our (not your) new house is big.

    Word by Word: Big the house our new.

    When followed by a modifier like 'bago', 'namin' takes the '-ng' linker to become 'naming'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the inclusive 'tayo' when you mean to exclude the listener.

    Different MeaningKumain tayo kagabi.
    Kumain kami kagabi.

    If you say 'tayo' to someone who wasn't part of the event, it sounds like you are mistakenly including them in the memory. Use 'kami' to exclude the person you are talking to.

  • Misplacing 'namin' when it acts as an actor pronoun.

    Hindi nakita namin ang bata.
    Hindi namin nakita ang bata.

    When used as an actor pronoun, 'namin' acts as an enclitic and must jump to the second position in the sentence, usually right after the first word like 'hindi'. However, remember that when used as a possessive, it simply follows the noun it modifies (e.g., 'ang bahay namin').

  • Forgetting the linker when using the pre-posed possessive 'amin'.

    Amin bahay ito.
    Aming bahay ito.

    When 'amin' comes before the noun it modifies, it must be attached to the linker -ng. Note that as a simple possessive, 'namin' cannot move to this front position (it only appears before a noun when acting as an actor in a relative clause, e.g., 'ang binili naming bahay').

How It Connects

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kami / namin / aminLevel 1Exclusive We Forms

Learn This First

To learn the exclusive 'we' forms, you must first understand the three-case pronoun system (Ang, Ng, and Sa) and the conceptual difference between including or excluding the listener when saying 'we'. Familiarity with the singular 'I' forms provides a helpful structural parallel.

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naminaminamin