The 5 Basic Tagalog Greetings
The Tagalog wordmag and a means ‘beautiful’ but it is used as the equivalent of the English ‘good’ in greetings. It is common for Filipinos to greet each other with the phrase “Beautiful Day!”
Magandang araw. Beautiful day.
Magandang umaga. Good morning.
Magandang tanghali. Good noon.
Magandang hapon. Good afternoon.
Magandang gabi. Good evening.
*There is no exact equivalent for the English phrase ‘Good Night’ in Tagalog.
*The Tagalog wordar aw can mean both ‘day’ and ‘sun.
Top 10 Basic Tagalog Phrases to Know
Make an effort to learn at least a few basic phrases in Tagalog!
1.Magandang araw! = Beautiful day!
This is how Filipinos would say hello. It’s the equivalent of “Good morning!” though you can use it in the early afternoon too.
2. Mahal kita. = I love you.
This is the most common way of saying ‘I Love You.’ This phrase can be used with anyone, from your wife to your grandfather.
3. Sarap nito. = This is delicious. / This feels good.
The Tagalog word for ‘delicious’ is also used for something that feels good.
4. Maligayang Bati. = Happy Wishes.
This is how Filipinos would say Happy Birthday.
5. Ayaw ko. = I don’t want. / I don’t like. / I don’t want to.
This Tagalog phrases is often shortened to one word:A yoko.
6. Gusto ko ‘to. = I like this. / I want this.
The Tagalog wordgus t o can mean ‘want’ or ‘ like.’
7. Sandali lang. = Just a moment. (Wait. Hold on a sec.)
8. Ingat ka. = Take care.
9. Aalis na ako.
I’m leaving now. (A phrase Filipinos use when they’d like to say goodbye.)
10. Pasensya ka na. = Sorry, bear with me.
Use this phrase when you’ve done something that inconveniences a Filipino.
Meron ka bang… ? = Do you have…?
Meron ka bang… = Do you happen to have…
Meron ka bang lapis?
Do you have a pencil?
Meron ka bang bolpen?
Do you have a pen?
Meron ka bang papel?
Do you have paper?
Meron ka bang pera?
Do you have money?
Meron ka bang asawa?
Do you have a spouse?
(=You married?)
Meron akong kendi!
I have candy!
Meron akong gagawin.
I have something to do.
Wala akong libro.
I don’t have a book.
Wala akong dala.
I have nothing with me.
Wala ka bang telepono?
Don’t you have a telephone?
*Meron is a shortened form ofMayr oo n.
The polite form is Meron po ba kayong…?
Ako ay = I am
Ako ay…
I am…
Ako ay tao.
I am a person.
Ako ay lalaki.
I am a man.
Ako ay babae.
I am a woman
Ako’y duktor.
I’m a doctor.
*Uses i before your name.
Ako si Pedro.
I am Peter.
Ako si Ana.
I am Anne.
Notice that you can do away with theay when inverting the sentence.
Tao ako.
I am a person.
Lalaki ako.
I am a man.
Nars ako.
I am a nurse.
Mukha kang = You look like
mukha
face
Mukha kang…
You look like…
Mukha kang anghel.
You look like an angel.
Mukha kang demonyo.
You look like a devil.
Mukha kang baliw.
You look demented.
Mukha kang luka-luka.
You look like a crazy woman.
Mukha kang mataba sa litrato.
You look fat in the picture.
Mukha kang pato.
You look like a duck.
Mukha siyang…
He/She looks like…
Mukha siyang aso.
He/She looks like a dog.
Mukha silang…
They look like…
Mukha silang magnanakaw.
They look like thieves.
Kamukha mo si (pangalan ng tao).
You look like (name of person).
Kamukha mo si Tom Cruise.
You look like Tom Cruise.
Kamukha ko si Brad Pitt.
I look like Brad Pitt.
*The Tagalog word for ‘to look’ ist ingin
Miscellaneous Phrases
This page is for colloquial Filipino phrases that are asked on this website but cannot be neatly
included in the online dictionary.
diba (Hindi ba?)
Ain’t that right?
kana (…ka na?)
Ilang taon ka na?
How old are you now?
Kana(s e e Kano)
American chick
Wala akong ma say(T a glis h)
There’s nothing I can say.
Ikaw ay mayroong… ?
You have… ?
Ambilis. (Ang bilis.)
So fast.
Korek ka jan. (Correct ka diyan.)
You’re right about that.
muztah na ikaw pare (Kamusta na ikaw, pare?)
=> Kamusta ka na, Pare?
How’ve you been, Dude?
musta kana (Kamusta ka na?)
How are you now? How’ve you been?
sayo (sa iyo)
to you
Etong sayo. (Heto ang sa iyo.)
This is for you. (crude and impolite expression)
Sayo ba to? (Sa iyo ba ito?)
Is this yours?
Pangako sa yo.(Pangako sa iyo.)
Promise to you.
In lab ako sayo.(T a glis h)
I’m in love with you.
In lab ako.(T a glis h)
I’m in love.
andun( na ndoon)
is there
koto (ko ito)
has to be part of a sentence to make sense
Lapis ko ito.
This is my pencil.
Mahal ko ito.
I love this.
ebil
evil
wakekekek
(laughing sound)
bkt kea? (Bakit kaya?)
I wonder why.
kajjan (ka diyan)
… you there
rtw
ready-to-wear
Isay
a girl’s name
Bisi ka ba?
Are you busy?
na saan kana (Nasaan ka na?)
Where are you now?
Ang sarap nong pansit.
The noodles were delicious.
Ang kyut nung beybi.
The baby was cute.
Nong pumutok ang balita tungkol sa eskandalo…
When the news exploded about the scandal…
Sabagay (kung sa bagay)
~ Anyway…
“Well, if you think about it, that makes sense…”
Ngayon ko lang nagets ang sinabi mo.
It’s only now that I got what you said
‘Do You Understand?’ in Tagalog
The English word ‘understand’ can be translated into Tagalog in at least two ways:
intindi
understand
unawa
comprehend
Naiintindihan mo ba?
Do you understand (it)?
Naiintindihan mo ba ako?
Do you understand me? (use with people your own age or younger)
Naiintindihanpo ba ninyo ako?
Do you understand me? (use with older people)
Naiintindihan kita.
I understand you. (casual)
Naiintindihan kopokayo.
I understand you. (to older people)
Hindi ko naiintindihan.
I don’t understand.
Hindi ko naiintindihan ang sinasabi mo.
I don’t understand what you’re saying.
Nagkakaintindihan ba tayo?
Do we understand each other?
Nauunawaan po ba ninyo ang nilalaman ng dokumentong ito?
Do you understand the contents of this document? (to older people)
Do You Know How To…
Marunong ka bang…
Do you know how to…
Marunong ka bangmag-tenis?
Do you know to play tennis?
Marunong ka bang mag-basketbol?
Do you know how to play basketball?
Marunong ka bang mag-piyano?
Do you know to play the piano?
Marunong ka bang magluto?
Do you know how to cook?
Marunong ka bang mag-Tagalog?
Do you know how to speak Tagalog?
Marunong ka bang mag-Ingles?
Do you know how to speak English?
Marunong ka bang magsalita ng Tagalog?
Do you know how to speak Tagalog?
Marunong ka bang magsulat ng Ingles?
Do you know how to write in English?
Oo, marunong ako.
Yes, I know how to.
Hindi ako marunong…
I don’t know how to…
Hindi ako marunong magsinungaling.
I don’t know how to lie.
‘What’s Your Name’ in Tagalog
Ano ang pangalan mo?
Combine the first two words in conversation:
Anong pangalan mo?
What’s your name? (casual)
When addressing an older person, insert the respectful wordpo.
Ano po ang pangalan n’yo?
= Ano pong pangalan n’yo?
What’s your name? (polite)
This second-person plural form is the most common way of asking the name of someone older than you. *n’yo is an abbreviation ofni nyo.
Ano po ang pangalan nila?
What’s your name? (very formal)
This third-person plural form is an extremely polite version.
The Tagalog word for ‘name’ ispang al an.
‘What Do You Want?’ in Tagalog
Anong gusto mo?
What do you want?
Alin ang gusto mo?
Which do you want?
Ito ang gusto ko.
This is what I want.
The wordgus t o can mean both ‘want’ and ‘like.’
Gusto mo ba ito?
Do you want this? = Do you like this?
Oo, gusto ko ‘yan.
Yes, I want that. = Yes, I like it.
Gusto kita.
I like you.
Hindi ‘yan ang gusto ko.
That’s not what I want. = That’s not what I like.
Gusto ko ito.
I want this. = I like this.
Gusto ko ng_______.
I want________.
I like________.
Gusto ko ng tinapay.
I want bread. = I like bread.
Gusto mo ba ng_______ ?
Do you want________?
= Would you like________?
Gusto mo ba ng tsa?
Do you want some tea?
Do you like tea?
= Would you like some tea?
Anong gusto mong gawin?
What would you like to do? = What do you want to do?
Gusto kong lumabas.
I’d like to go out.
Anong gusto mong kainin?
What would you like to eat? = What do you want to eat?
Gusto kong kumain ng hamburger.
I’d like to eat a hamburger. = I want to eat a hamburger.
Anong gusto mong inumin?
What would you like to drink? = What do you want to drink?
Gusto kong uminom ng tubig.
I’d like to drink water. = I want to drink water.
Anong gusto mong panoorin?
What would you like to watch? = What do you want to watch?
Gusto kong manood ng laro.
I’d like to watch a game. = I want to watch a game.
With older people, remember to add the respectful wordpo.
How to Swear in Tagalog
The Tagalog wordp uta literally means ‘whore’ but is used as an expletive to express anger or frustration like
‘fuck’ in English.
Anak ng puta!
Son of a bitch!
- sounds more extreme in Tagalog than in English
Putang ina mo!
Your mother’s a whore!
- contraction of puta ang ina mo
- the strongest way to express anger at someone
- something like ‘Fuck you!’
Tangina!
- contraction of Putang ina mo, but different usage
- this is more like an expletive like ‘Damn’ or ‘Fuck’
Tangina mo!
Fuck you!
Anak ng pating.
Son of a shark.
- cute euphemism for anak ng puta
- sort of like saying ‘son of a gun’
Anak ng tipaklong.
Son of a grasshopper.
- another euphemism for anak ng puta
- used to express frustration
Anak ng tupa.
Son of sheep.
- another euphemism for anak ng puta
- used to express frustration
Anak ka ng puta!
You’re the son of a whore!
You’re the son of a bitch!
You’re a sonovabitch!
‘I Want’ in Tagalog
The Tagalog for ‘to want to do something’ isgus t o.
gusto
to want
Gusto ko ng…
I want…
Gusto ko ng tinapay.
I want bread.
Gusto ko ng kanin.
I want rice.
Gusto ko ng tubig.
I want water.
Gusto ko ng kiss.
I want a kiss.
Gusto kong…
I want to…
Gusto kong mag-tenis.
I want to play tennis.
Gusto kong mag-aral.
I want to study.
Gusto kongmag-shopping.
I want to go shopping.
Gusto kong maglaro.
I want to play.
Gusto kong mamatay.
I want to die.
Gusto kong malaman.
I want to know.
Gusto kong malaman kung ano ito.
I want to know what this is.
Gusto also means ‘to like’ and as a noun ‘acr us h.’
Gusto kita.
I like you.
Gusto mo ba ako?
Do you like me?
Gusto ko siya.
I like him / her.
Gusto ko ang ate mo.
I like your older sister.
Gusto rin kita.
I like you to.
Gusto ko ang kaibigan mo.
I like your friend.
May gusto ako sa iyo.
I have a crush on you.
May gusto ka sa akin, no?
You have a crush on me, don’t you?
‘I Don’t Want’ in Tagalog
The Tagalog word for “do not want” isay aw.
ayaw
to dislike
Ayaw ko.
=Ayoko.
I don’t want to.
Ayoko nito.
I don’t want this.
Ayoko niyan.
=Ayoko n’yan.
I don’t want that.
Bakit ayaw mo?
Why don’t you want (it)?
Why don’t you want (to)?
Bakit ayaw mo akong kausapin?
Why don’t you want to talk to me?
Bakit ayaw mong pumunta doon?
Why don’t you want to go there?
Bakit ayaw mong umalis?
Why don’t you want to leave?
Bakit ayaw mo akong samahan?
Why don’t you want to go with me?
Ayoko ng_______.
I don’t want________.
Ayoko ng tinapay.
I don’t want bread.
Ayoko ng kanin.
I don’t want rice.
Ayoko ng tubig.
I don’t water.
Ayaw kita.
I don’t like you.
Ayokong mag-aral.
I don’t want to study.
Ayokong kumain.
I don’t want to eat.
Ayokong uminom.
I don’t want to drink.
Ayokong maglaro.
I don’t want to play.
Ayokong mag-seks.
I don’t want to have sex.
Talagang ayaw mo?
You really don’t want to?
Ayoko sabi.
I said I don’t want to.
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