Tagalog Greetings
Basic Greetings in Tagalog I love the way Tagalog speakers say "good morning". The phrase magandang umaga, literally means "beautiful morning". The word maganda means beautiful. The letters 'ng' are appended to the end as as a sort of linker to the word umaga (which means morning). Thus we have beautiful+ng morning (magandang umaga). Maganda beautiful Umaga morning Maganda ng umaga Beautiful ng morning Magandang umaga Beautiful morning As a sign of respect to elders or those in positions of authority (even if the person is younger than you), the word po is always used. For example,even if your doctor is younger than you, the word po would still be used as a sign of respect. In the last phrase below the word araw is used. It can mean 'sun' or 'day'. (Doubling araw as araw-araw means "everyday"). Magandang umaga (po) Good morning Magandang tanghali (po) Good day (noon) Magandang hapon (po) Good afternoon Magandang gabi (po) Good evening Gandang umaga. Good morning. (relaxed)Magandang araw (po) Good day! Adding the Words "to you" or "to you all" In the following phrases the additional words "to you" are added. There is a distinction made between singular and plural. The words "sa iyo" means to you (singular). The plural form is "sa inyo" (to you all). The words "sa iyo" are typically contracted to simply "sa'yo". In addition, the plural form "sa inyo"is also used when addressing an elder or a person of authority. In the following sentences, you can substitute umaga, tanghali, hapon or gabi depending on the time of day. Magandang umaga sa iyo Good morning to you. Magandang umaga sa'yo Good morning to you. Magandang umaga po sa inyo Good morning to you. (formal) Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat Good afternoon to you all. Magandang gabi sa inyong lahat. Good evening to you all (plural, formal). Replies to Basic Greetings in Tagalog Keep in mind, you could also use "sa inyo" in the replies below. Use "sa inyo" if replying to a group, or to an elder orperson of authority. In the examples below, I've used umaga (morning), but you can substitute any other times of day, such as tanghali, hapon, or gabi. The words din and rin mean "also" or "too". You may hear rin used in the following sentences, instead of din. Magandang umaga din Good morning also. Magandang umaga din sa iyo Good morning also to you. Magandang umaga din sa'yo. Good morning also to you. Magandang umaga din po. Good morning din po. (formal) How are you? The tagalog phrase for how are you? is kumusta? The word comes from the Spanish phrase Como esta? (How are you?). Spain ruled the Philippines for about 400 years, therefore its only natural that many words in Tagalog are borrowed from Spanish. Usually the new word is given a Tagalog "twist". Kumusta (po)? How are you? Kumusta po kayo? How are you (all)? Kumusta ka? How are you? Kumusta kana? How are you now? Musta (na)? How are you now? (slang) Replies to "How are you"? Naman as used below can mean"Quite", but be aware that "it" has several meanings in Tagalog. Good. Fine. Good. Quite fine. I am good. I am quite fine. Okay (just) Just ok (so - so) Saying Goodbye Goodbye. Goodbye. Goodbye. Goodbye. Bye. Bye. Go to (first). Bye. Take care Take care Other Greetings and Goodbyes Here are some phrases that one might hear along with the preceding phrases on this page, or in place of them. What's New? What's new? (= What what, new = new) Nothing has you leaving already? Are you going to leave now? Yes, I'm leaving? Yes, I am going to leave now. I am going home. I'm going home now. Good! Thank you. Fine, thank you. (Respectful) good po naman kayo po? Quite fine thank. You? (Respectful) Introducing Yourself I (am) Alan. I am Alan. My name is (I) is Alan. My name is Alan. (The name is Alan-me) Alan (i) the name. Alan is my name. (The name of Alan-me)