Learn how to write the 17 characters of Baybayin
- Feb 11
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 19
Learn how to write the 17 characters of Baybayin
and change the sounds from A to E/I and O/U by adding a dot/kudlit on the top or the bottom of the character.
If you've ever wanted to learn Baybayin from scratch, this is the place to start. In this video, we walk through all 17 characters of Baybayin — teaching you how to write each one and how to change its vowel sound by adding a kudlit, the small mark that transforms any character from its default "A" sound to "E/I" or "O/U."
Baybayin is a pre-colonial Tagalog ancient script from the Philippines. It is often incorrectly referred to as Alibata — a misnomer coined in the early 20th century with no historical basis. The correct name is Baybayin. The script is written syllabically, meaning every character represents a complete syllable sound, not a single letter like in the Latin alphabet. Once that clicks, the entire system opens up.
This lesson is designed for absolute beginners and covers everything you need to start reading and writing the script with confidence.
What You'll Learn in This Video
How to write all 17 core Baybayin characters from scratch
The difference between the 3 standalone vowel characters: A, E/I, and O/U
How to use the kudlit to change any consonant's vowel sound from A to E/I (kudlit above) or O/U (kudlit below)
How to use the virama (pamudpod) to cancel a vowel sound — essential for consonant-ending syllables
How to apply these rules to every one of the 14 consonant characters, step by step
Video Chapters
Jump to any character or section using the timestamps below:
Timestamp | Chapter |
00:00 – 00:15 | Intro — Overview of the lesson and what makes Baybayin unique as a syllabic script |
00:16 – 00:36 | Writing A, E/I, O/U — The three standalone vowel characters that form the foundation of the script |
00:37 – 01:23 | Writing BA, KA, DA, GA, HA, LA, MA — First set of consonant characters, each with an inherent "A" vowel |
01:24 – 02:43 | Writing NA, NGA, PA, SA, TA, WA, YA — Second set of consonant characters, completing all 17 |
02:44 – 03:04 | BA + kudlit & virama — BA becomes BI/BE (kudlit above) or BO/BU (kudlit below) |
03:05 – 03:38 | KA + kudlit & virama — KA becomes KI/KE or KO/KU |
03:39 – 04:21 | DA + kudlit & virama — DA/RA becomes DI/RI or DO/RO |
04:22 – 04:56 | GA + kudlit & virama — GA becomes GI/GE or GO/GU |
04:57 – 05:13 | HA + kudlit & virama — HA becomes HI/HE or HO/HU |
05:14 – 05:47 | LA + kudlit & virama — LA becomes LI/LE or LO/LU |
05:48 – 06:09 | MA + kudlit & virama — MA becomes MI/ME or MO/MU |
06:10 – 06:34 | NA + kudlit & virama — NA becomes NI/NE or NO/NU |
06:35 – 07:03 | NGA + kudlit & virama — NGA becomes NGI/NGE or NGO/NGU |
07:04 – 07:25 | PA + kudlit & virama — PA becomes PI/PE or PO/PU |
07:26 – 07:51 | SA + kudlit & virama — SA becomes SI/SE or SO/SU |
07:52 – 08:14 | TA + kudlit & virama — TA becomes TI/TE or TO/TU |
08:15 – 08:35 | WA + kudlit & virama — WA becomes WI/WE or WO/WU |
08:36 – 08:56 | YA + kudlit & virama — YA becomes YI/YE or YO/YU |
Understanding the System
Learn how to write the 17 characters of Baybayin at a Glance
Baybayin uses just 17 characters — 3 vowels and 14 consonants. Here's the complete set:
A Vowel - E / I Vowel - O / U Vowel
Consonants:
BA, KA, DA / RA, GA, HA, LA, MA, NA, NGA, PA, SA, TA, WA, YA
The Kudlit
The kudlit is the engine of Baybayin's vowel system. Place it above a consonant character to shift the vowel to "E" or "I." Place it below to shift to "O" or "U." Leave it off and you get the default "A." This simple rule applies consistently across all 14 consonant characters — learn it once and it works everywhere.
The Virama (Pamudpod) — Canceling the Vowel
The virama, also known as the pamudpod, cancels the inherent vowel from a consonant character entirely, leaving a pure consonant sound. This is essential when a syllable ends in a consonant — for example, the final "N" in the word "alon" (wave). Without the virama, that consonant would carry an unwanted vowel sound.
💡 Beginner tip: Start by learning the shape of all 17 characters before practicing the kudlit. Once the base characters feel natural in your hand, the kudlit system clicks quickly because the rule is identical for every single consonant. Consistency is one of Baybayin's greatest strengths as a writing system.
See the Script in Our Custom Baybayin Fonts
Once you know the 17 characters, you'll start noticing how the same script can look completely different depending on the artistic style it's drawn in. At Ugat Clothing, we've created a growing series of original custom Baybayin fonts — each a distinct visual interpretation of these same 17 characters. The Block font brings bold geometry, BOLO brings expressive fluidity, and the Jeep font channels the energy of the iconic Filipino jeepney. Every design is rooted in the exact characters this video teaches.
Practice with the Baybayin Translator
The best way to lock in what you've learned is to use it immediately. Our Baybayin Translator lets you type any Tagalog word or name and instantly see it rendered in Baybayin. After watching this video, try typing a word you know — predict how it should look using the characters and kudlit you've learned, then check your answer with the translator.
Keep Practicing — Join Our Weekly Baybayin Workshop
This video gives you the foundation — our Weekly Baybayin Workshops help you build on it. Each session is a live, hands-on space to practice writing, ask questions in real time, and learn alongside a community of people who are just as committed to keeping this script alive.
All levels are welcome — from first-timers who just watched this video to returning students deepening their practice. We learn together.
Every character you practice is a step toward reclaiming something that belongs to us. Baybayin is not just history — it's a living script, and you're part of its revival. Feel free to like, comment, share, and subscribe to keep up with new lessons and let us know how your practice is going.
Let's learn Baybayin together. Salamat — and keep rooting back. 🌿
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