Vocabulary
Tagalog Words of Love, Affection and Family
8 min read
Plenty of people start learning Tagalog for one specific person. If that is you, these are the words that matter most, along with the cultural notes that keep you from saying something sweet in a way that lands oddly.
Saying I Love You
Mahal kita.
I love you.
The standard phrase. Mahal also means expensive, so context matters.
Mahal na mahal kita.
I love you very much.
Iniibig kita.
I love you.
Deeper and more poetic. Used in songs and vows, rarely in daily life.
Gusto kita.
I like you.
Romantic interest, not friendship. Say gusto ko siya about someone else.
Miss na kita.
I miss you already.
Ikaw lang.
Only you.
Terms Of Endearment
Mahal ko
My love
Warm and universally understood.
Sinta
Beloved
Old-fashioned and romantic, common in songs.
Irog
Darling
Classical and poetic. Charming from a learner.
Langga
Dear
Visayan, but used affectionately all over the country.
Bhe
Babe
Modern, texted constantly by young couples.
Filipinos also use English pet names freely. Babe, love and honey are all completely normal inside an otherwise Tagalog sentence, so do not feel you have to translate everything.
Family Words You Will Need Immediately
Nanay / Inay / Mama
Mother
Tatay / Itay / Papa
Father
Lola
Grandmother
Lolo
Grandfather
Kuya
Older brother
Also used for any older man near your age.
Ate
Older sister
Pronounced ah-teh. Used for any slightly older woman.
Tito / Tita
Uncle / Aunt
Also used for close family friends of your parents' age.
Pamangkin
Niece or nephew
Pinsan
Cousin
Biyenan
Parent-in-law
Manugang
Son-in-law or daughter-in-law
Notice that age matters more than blood. You call someone kuya or ate because they are older than you, not because you share parents. Using a first name where a title is expected is the most common way foreigners accidentally sound rude.
Meeting The Parents
This is the moment people practise for. Keep it simple, use po in every sentence, and let warmth do the rest.
Magandang hapon po.
Good afternoon (respectfully).
Ako po si Sarah.
I am Sarah.
Ikinagagalak ko po kayong makilala.
I am pleased to meet you.
Salamat po sa pagtanggap sa akin.
Thank you for welcoming me.
Ang sarap po ng luto ninyo.
Your cooking is delicious.
Never skip this one.
Mano po.
May I take your hand?
Said while lightly touching an elder's hand to your forehead. A gesture of deep respect.
Po Is Not Optional
With anyone older than you, po and opo are the difference between sweet and disrespectful. When in doubt, use them. Nobody has ever been criticised for being too polite to a Filipino elder.
Start Learning FreeEveryday Affection
Ingat ka.
Take care.
Kumain ka na ba?
Have you eaten?
In Filipino families this is how love is expressed. It is not small talk.
Salamat sa lahat.
Thank you for everything.
Nandito lang ako.
I'm right here for you.
Proud ako sa'yo.
I'm proud of you.
Say It Out Loud Before You Say It To Them
FiliLearn lets you practise these phrases with real Filipino voices and check your own pronunciation, so the first time you say mahal kita out loud is not in front of the family.
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