Many Filipino language learners wonder when to use din instead of rin, and daw instead of raw.

These words are common enclitic particles that you’ll hear every day in the Philippines.

The good news is that the rule for choosing between them is incredibly simple.

It all depends on the very last letter of the word that comes directly before it.

I’ll break down exactly what these words mean and how to choose the right letter.

What do din, rin, daw, and raw mean?

The words din and rin both mean the exact same thing.

They translate directly to “also” or “too” in English.

The words daw and raw also share the exact same meaning.

They’re used for reported speech, translating to “reportedly,” “he said,” or “they said.”

You use daw and raw when you’re passing on information that you heard from someone else.

The basic rule for d and r

In Filipino, the choice between starting a particle with the letter D or the letter R is purely based on sound.

You only need to look at the last letter of the word immediately preceding the particle.

If the previous word ends in a vowel, you use the R version.

If the previous word ends in a consonant, you use the D version.

There’s just one small exception regarding the letters W and Y.

When to use rin and raw (vowels)

You must use rin and raw if the preceding word ends in a vowel.

These vowels are A, E, I, O, and U.

You also use rin and raw if the word ends in the semivowels W or Y.

This is because W and Y sound like vowels at the end of Filipino words.

Here are some examples of using rin:

Notice how the words masaya and pupunta end in the letter A, so we use rin.

Here are examples using raw:

The word gwapo ends in O, while tuloy ends in the semivowel Y, so we use the R form for both.

When to use din and daw (consonants)

You must use din and daw if the preceding word ends in a consonant.

This applies to all consonants except for the semivowels W and Y.

If the word ends in letters like B, K, D, G, N, P, S, or T, you use the D version.

Here are examples using din:

The word gutom ends in M and mahirap ends in P, so din is strictly required.

Here are examples using daw:

The word umuulan ends in N and galit ends in T, making daw the correct choice.

Summary of the rules

Here’s a quick reference table to help you remember these grammar rules.