Frequently Asked Questions

Tarsier is a gamified Tagalog learning app for iPhone. It teaches Tagalog through roots, affixes, and real cultural context instead of just flashcards. Lessons are structured like a language course with teaching first, then quizzes.

Yes, Tarsier is free to download and use. Free users have an energy system that refills over time. Super Tarsier removes energy limits and ads for $4.99/month or $29.99/year.

Tagalog is the regional language from the Tagalog regions of the Philippines. Filipino is the national language based on Tagalog with additions from other Philippine languages, Spanish, and English. In everyday conversation, they are nearly identical. Tarsier teaches both interchangeably, including Taglish (Tagalog-English mixing) which is how most Filipinos actually speak.

Absolutely. Tarsier was built for heritage learners - people who grew up hearing Tagalog but never learned to speak it fluently. The app starts with cultural basics like po and opo (respect words) and builds from there. You'll recognize words your family uses and finally understand the grammar behind them.

Most language apps don't teach Tagalog at all. Tarsier teaches how Tagalog actually works - the root-and-affix system that lets you build hundreds of words from a single root. Tarsier also includes Filipino cultural context, Taglish examples, and is designed specifically for Tagalog rather than being a generic language platform.

Tagalog words are built by adding prefixes and suffixes (affixes) to root words. For example, the root "luto" (cook) becomes "nagluto" (cooked), "magluluto" (will cook), or "lutuin" (to be cooked). Once you learn the affix patterns, you can understand and create hundreds of words. This is Tarsier's core teaching approach.

Tarsier launches with 10 chapters covering greetings, family, food, emotions, daily routines, places, numbers, time, and word building. Each chapter has multiple lessons with teaching slides, quizzes, and cultural notes. More chapters are added regularly.

Yes. All lessons, quizzes, and vocabulary are stored on your device. You can learn Tagalog without an internet connection.

No. Every lesson, every word and your whole streak work without signing in, and they always will. An account does two things: it lets you get your progress back if you lose your phone, and it puts you on the leaderboard. You can start learning today and add an account later from Settings, without losing anything.

Yes. Tarsier backs your progress up to your own iCloud automatically, free for everyone, and it does not require an account. The backup is tied to the Apple Account signed into your iPhone, so as long as you are signed into iCloud it is running quietly in the background. You can check when it last ran, or back up on demand, under Settings, Account and Subscriptions.

Install Tarsier on the new phone and sign in with the same Apple Account. If a backup is found, Tarsier offers to restore it and takes you straight to your lessons, so you do not answer the setup questions again. If you also have a Tarsier account, signing in brings your handle and your Super subscription across at the same time.

Everyone gets a handle the first time they open Tarsier, something like BlueTarsier2967, with no sign up needed. It is how you appear on the leaderboard. Once you have an account you can change it from Edit Profile. Changes are limited to once a week, and your old handle is held for four hours in case you change your mind.

Settings, then Account and Subscriptions, then Delete Account. It removes your handle and your leaderboard entry, erases your progress on the device, and clears your iCloud backup. None of it can be brought back, so it is worth being sure. Deleting your account does not cancel a Super subscription: that is billed by Apple, and you cancel it in your Apple Account settings.

Ignore it. A sign-in link does nothing unless someone opens it, and it expires after an hour. Tarsier only ever emails you a link because someone typed your address into the app, and having your address is not enough for anyone to reach your account. Our emails always come from tarsierlang.com. If something looks wrong, write to support@tarsierlang.com and we will check it.

Tarsier is currently iPhone only (iOS). An Android version is being considered based on demand.

Yes. Tarsier plans to add Cebuano, Ilocano, and Hiligaynon (Ilonggo) in future updates. These are the most widely spoken Philippine languages after Tagalog, and there are very few apps dedicated to teaching them.

The tarsier is a tiny primate native to the Philippines, known for its huge curious eyes. Our mascot Tarso is a tarsier who guides you through lessons. The name reflects the app's Filipino roots.