Tagalog is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.  Although it originated in the Philippines, it contains traces of other languages, such as English and Spanish. In the United States alone, it is one of the most common languages aside from English with an estimated 1.69 million speakers. Find out why this widely known language is so important, and why it should be on your radar. What Is Tagalog? Tagalog is a language that originated in the Philippine islands. It is the first language of most Filipinos and the second language of most others. More than 50 million Filipinos speak Tagalog in the Philippines, and 24 million people speak the language worldwide. The direct translation of the word Tagalog means, “from the river.” It combines language influences from China, Malaysia, Spain and America. It is the result of the occupation of the Philippines by several other nations. The origins of this language date back to more than 1,000 years ago. Interestingly, Tagalog has changed throughout the years as various countries have influenced the Philippines.