magkano

In Filipino, the most direct and common way to ask for the cost of something is by using the word magkano.

1. Basic Usage
The most common way to use it is in the pattern: Magkano + ang + [Noun]? (e.g., "Magkano ang sapatos?"). Note that ang is mandatory before regular nouns. However, if you are pointing to something using a demonstrative pronoun like ito (this), iyan (that), or iyon (that over there), you drop the ang: Magkano + [Pronoun]? (e.g., "Magkano ito?"). For a more natural sound, include the question particle ba (e.g., "Magkano ba ito?"). To be polite to elders or shopkeepers, add po.

2. Fares and Services
Since magkano is an essential survival word, you will frequently use it for transportation. You can ask Magkano ang pamasahe? (How much is the fare?) or Magkano papuntang [Place]? (How much to go to [Place]?).

3. The Linker and Contractions
You will often see magkano written as magkanong. This can happen in two ways: it is either a contraction of magkano ang (e.g., "Magkanong sukli?" for "How much change?")—though formal grammar resources prefer writing this contraction with an apostrophe as magkano'ng to visually distinguish it from the linker—or it uses the linker to connect directly to a noun to ask for a monetary value's worth of that item (e.g., "Magkanong bigas?" for "How much worth of rice?").

4. Distributive vs. Total
If you want to ask for the price of individual items in a group, you can use reduplication or specific prefixes:

• Magkakano / Tigmagkano: "How much for each one?" or "How much apiece?" (Distributive). Both are interchangeable question words used to elicit a unit price answer.
• Tig-: You may also hear the prefix tig- used with numbers to show unit pricing. Standard Tagalog orthography dictates that the hyphen is only used when tig- attaches to a vowel. Separately, this prefix has irregular morphological features with certain numbers, causing dropped letters or reduplication (e.g., tigalawa for "two each", tiglilima for "five each"). For "one peso each", the traditional term mamiso is also used alongside tigpiso.
• Magkano lahat: "How much for everything?" (Total)

5. Past Purchases
To ask how much someone paid for an item they already own, use patterns like Magkano mo binili ito? (How much did you buy this for?) or Magkano ang bili mo rito?.

6. Salaries and Estimates
Beyond shopping, magkano is also used to ask about salary or income (e.g., Magkano ang sweldo mo? or Magkano ang sahod mo? for "How much is your salary?") and for estimates or running totals (e.g., Magkano ang aabutin? for "How much will it cost/reach?").

7. Important Distinction
Do not confuse magkano with paano (how to do something), gaano karami, or ilan (how many). Use magkano for currency. Use gaano karami for uncountable quantity, weight, or volume (e.g., "How much sugar?"). For countable items, you must use ilan (e.g., "Ilang tao?" for "How many people?").

8. Understanding the Answer (Spanish Numbers)
When vendors answer your magkano question, they will overwhelmingly use Spanish-derived numbers (e.g., bente for 20, singkuwenta for 50, siyento for 100) rather than native Tagalog numbers. It is highly recommended to become confident with these Spanish numbers for shopping.

9. Haggling (Tawad)
Since magkano is a core shopping word, you should also know how to ask for a discount. You can ask Puwede bang tumawad? (Can I haggle/get a discount?) or Wala bang tawad? (Is there no discount?).