Tagalog Words For People, Parents, Family, And Friends

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On your way to meet a Filipino family or perhaps you’re part of one? Here are pronouns for calling family members, parents, and friends in Tagalog.


tao
person/human


babae
girl


lalaki
boy


pamilya
family


asawa
wife/husband


anak
child


anak na babae
daughter


anak na lalaki
son


ama
father


tatay
dad


ina
mother


nanay
mom

kapatid
sibling


kuya
elder brother


ate
elder sister


lolo
grandfather


lola
grandmother


apo
grandchild


pinsan
cousin


tita
aunt


tito
uncle


pamangkin
nephew/niece


kaibigan
friend


kakilala
acquaintance


Tagalog Words For Furniture


lamesa
table


silya
chair


upuan
seat of chair

aparador
cabinet


pinto
door


unan
pillow


kama
bed


telebisyon
television


Tagalog Alphabet

Before the Spanish colonization of the Philippines, Tagalog was written with an alphabet called “baybayin”. Sometime in the 17th century, Latin letters were introduced to the Filipino culture and Tagalog language. Latin characters have since replaced the old baybayin characters. To learn Tagalog as it is spoken now, you must learn the Modern Filipino Alphabet which is improved from the Abakada alphabet.

Abakada Alphabet

In the early 19th century, the abakada was compiled and developed as the official alphabet to represent the sounds in the Tagalog language. It is comprised of 20 letters.

A B K D E G H I L M N Ng O P R S T U W Y

A B K D E G H I L
A Ba Ka Da E Ga H I La

 

M N NG O P R S T U W Y
Ma Na Nga O Pa Ra Sa Ta U Wa Ya

 

The majority of words in the Tagalog language will be comprised of “Abakada” letters, so get to know them well and practice your pronunciation!


aso
a-so
dog


ibon
i-bon
bird

Modern Filipino Alphabet

The Modern Filipino Alphabet takes the 20 letters from Abakada and adds 8 new consonants for a total of 28 letters.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N Ñ Ng O P Q R S T U V X Y Z

8 ADDED CONSONANTS:  c, f, j, ñ, q, v, x, z

c f j ñ q v x z

Tagalog Words For Body Parts And Face Parts

Body


katawan
body


balat
skin

dugo
blood


buhok
hair


ulo
head

noo
forehead


leeg
neck


balikat
shoulder


kili-kili
armpit


likod
back

kamay
hand


daliri
fingers


dibdib
chest

suso
breast

tiyan
stomach

baywang
waist

hita
leg


tuhod
knee


paa
foot

Face


kilay
eyebrow


mata
eye

pilik-mata
eyelash


ilong
nose


tenga
ear


labi
lip

bibig
mouth


dila
tongue


Tagalog Words For Colors

There is a small number of colors with Tagalog translations. English and Spanish words are commonly used in Filipino culture. It is also common for people in the Philippines to use a Tagalog word for describing a range of shades for particular colors.


kulay
color

itim
black


puti
white


kulay-abo
grey (literally color-ash)

bughaw
blue

asul
blue (Spanish influenced)


pula
red

dilaw
yellow

luntian
green


berde
green (Spanish influenced)

rosas
pink


ginto
gold

pilak
silver

kahel
orange


kayumanggi
brown

lilà
purple, violet


Most Useful Tagalog Phrases


Oo
Yes


Hindi
No


Salamat.
Thank you.


Salamat po.
Thank you. (with respect)


Kamusta.
Hello.


Kamusta ka?
How are you?


Kamusta kayo?
How are you? (plural)


Mubiti ako.
I’m fine.

Ikaw?
How about you?

Tara na.
Let’s leave.


Ano ang pangalan mo?
What is your name?


Ang pangalan ko ay Allen.
My name is Allen.


Anong bago?
What’s new?


Magandang araw.
Good day.


Magandang umaga.
Good morning.


Magandang tanghali.
Good noon.

Magandang hapon.
Good afternoon.

Paalam.
Goodbye.


Hindi ko alam.
I don’t know.


Hindi ko naintindihan.
I didn’t understand.


Hindi kita narinig.
I didn’t hear you.


Naintindihan ko.
I understand.


Paumanhin.
Excuse me.

Patawad.
Sorry.

Gusto kita.
I like you.


Mahal kita.
I love you.


Seryoso ako.
I’m serious.

Lubayan mo ako.
Leave me alone.


Tulong!
Help!


Patulong po.
Please help me.

Sunog!
Fire!

Tigil!
Stop!

Tawagin mo ang pulis!
Call the police!

Ingat ka.
Take care.


Aalis na ako.
I’m leaving now.


Gender Words And Terms In Tagalog

There are two official pronouns in Tagalog for genders (binary) and many varying slangs for non-binary gender pronouns.


tao
human


kasarian
gender/sex


lalaki
male/man


babae
female/woman

binabae
woman-like/homosexual male

binalaki
man-like/lesbian female


pambabae
feminine

panglalaki
masculine

Gender Slang


bakla
gay


bading
homosexual/transgender male to female


Tagalog Words For Directions


deretso
straight ahead


ikot
turn around

harap
front


likod
back


kanan
right


kaliwa
left

taas
top

baba
below


ilalim
the bottom


loob
inside


labas
outside


hilaga
north


timog
south


kanluran
west


silangan
east


Tagalog Words For Foods

Food is often seen as the gateway to a country’s culture. The Philippines offers various delicious foods, dishes and local fruits.


pagkain
food

Popular Filipino foods


lechon baboy
roasted pig


balut
duck embryo


sisig
pork hash


adobo
marinated meat

chicharon
deep-friend pork crackling

kare kare
oxtail stew


sinigang
tamarind meat stew

Fruits


mangga
mango

sampalok
tamarind

langka
jackfruit

ubas
grapes

pakwan
watermelon


mansanas
apple


saging
banana

pinya
pineapple


papaya
papaya


buko
coconut

kasoy
cashew


durian
durio

atis
custard apple


kalamansi
calamondin

santol
cottonfruit


abukado
avocado

Vegetables


petsay
bokchoy

wansoy
coriander


kamatis
tomatos

labanos
radish


bawang
garlic

pipino
cucumber

upo
gourd


sibuyas
onion


kabute
mushroom


Asking Questions In Tagalog

WHAT?

Ano?
What?

Example:


Ano ang pangalan mo?
What is your name?

WHEN?


Kailan?
When?

Example:


Kailan ka natulog?
When did you sleep?

WHICH?


Alin?
Which?

Example:


Alin ang gusto mong amoy?
Which smell do you like?

WHERE?


Saan?
Where?

Example:


Saan ka matutulog?
Where will you sleep?

WHY?


Bakit?
Why?

Example:


Bakit mo siya inaway?
Why did you fight him?

HOW?


Paano?
How?

Example:


Paano ka nakauwi kagabi?
How did you get home last night?

HOW MUCH?


Magkano?
How much?

Example:


Magkano ang tubig?
How much is water?


Tagalog On The Spot

Slang Of The Day

Jowa
lover / boyfriend / girlfriend

Example:
Jowa mo ba si Juan?
Is Juan your boyfriend?