HAPPY BIRTHDAY

The Tagalog word for ‘birthday’ is kaarawan.

The traditional way of greeting a Filipino a happy birthday is to say:

Maligayang Bati

Maligayang Bati
Maligayang Bati

This means “Happy Wishes” or “Joyful Greetings” but it’s understood to be referring to one’s birthday.

With the influence of English, most Filipinos translate the phrase “Happy Birthday” literally and these days say…

Maligayang Kaarawan!
Happy Birthday!

Maligayang Bati sa Iyong Kaarawan!
Happy Wishes on Your Birthday!

Continue reading “HAPPY BIRTHDAY”

10 Basic Tagalog Words to Know

If you need to learn just ten basic Tagalog words to get by, here’s a list of useful phrases to impress your Filipino friends with. Opo. Salamat. Kamusta. Oo…

Get started learning Tagalog with a few basic words!

Salamat. = Thank you.

Kamusta? = How are you?

Oo. = Yes.

Hindi. = No. Not.
Continue reading “10 Basic Tagalog Words to Know”

Spanish Numbers in Tagalog

Tagalog numbers can be a mouthful, even for Filipinos. Compare the folow two for the word twenty-two (22):

dalawampu’t dalawa (7 syllables)
bente-dos (3 syllables)

There are many situations where Filipinos prefer to use Spanish-derived numbers. The most common are when saying one’s age and telling time. Continue reading “Spanish Numbers in Tagalog”

Days of the Week

Mga Araw ng Linggo / Days of the Week

The Tagalog word linggo means both “week” and “Sunday” — in the latter case, it is written capitalized.

Use sa to say ‘on’ a certain day.

 

Lunes
Monday

 

Martes
Tuesday

 

Miyerkules
Wednesday

 

Huwebes
Thursday

 

Biyernes
Friday

 

Sabado
Saturday

 

Linggo
Sunday

 

Sa Lunes
On Monday

  

Sa Martes
On Tuesday

  

Sa Miyerkules
On Wednesday

  

Sa Huwebes
On Thursday
  

Sa Biyernes
On Friday

  

Sa Sabado
On Saturday

  

Sa Linggo
On Sunday