The origin of Tagalog vocabulary and its significant grammatical differences compared to English make it relatively difficult for many people to master. The Foreign Service Institute has listed Tagalog as a Category III language, making it as challenging to learn as Hebrew, Greek, and Russian. The good news is that everything should be smooth sailing once you’ve gotten past the hurdles of things like verb–pronoun relationships, verb conjugation, vocabulary, and pronunciation. And, if you’re reading this guide on advanced Tagalog phrases, it means you’ve gotten past those hurdles. It also means you’re ready to take on more challenging aspects of the Filipino language.

Don’t worry: challenging doesn’t always mean complex, and advanced doesn’t necessarily mean intimidating. In this guide, you’ll encounter words and phrases that you won’t typically hear in everyday speech. Here, you’ll be introduced to expressions reserved for things like academic writing, resume writing, and formal business meetings. Moreover, you’ll have the opportunity to express your ideas and opinions more effectively by learning advanced Filipino idioms.

Are you ready to take the challenge?

Table of Contents

1. Useful Phrases for Formal Speech and Writing
2. Power Phrases for Resumes
3. Smart Phrases for Business Meetings
4. Advanced Idioms, Sayings, and Proverbs for Everyday Usage
5. How FilipinoPod101 Can Help

1. Useful Phrases for Formal Speech and Writing

The following phrases are not something you’ll get to use or hear every day. They are often used in formal speech and writing. You may not always be given the opportunity to use them, but when the right time comes, it’s better that you have them in your arsenal of advanced Filipino phrases.

Una sa lahat – “First of all”

Una sa lahat, nais kong kilalanin… “First of all, I would like to acknowledge…”

Ayon sa / Ayon kay – “According to”

Ayon sa pananaliksik… “According to research…”

Bagkus – “On the contrary,” “Rather”

Bagkus, ang problema na ito ay maaari sanang maiwasan. The problem, rather, is supposed to be preventable.

Bukod dito – “Moreover” Literally: “Besides this”

Bukod dito, mahalagang maunawaan natin ang mga layunin ng pag-aaral na ito. “Moreover, it is vital for us to know the objectives of this study.”

Nang sa gayon – “So as to,” “In order to”

…nang sa gayon ay maisulong ang patuloy na pananaliksik ukol sa paksang ito. “…so as to promote ongoing research on this topic.”

Sa madaling salita – “In other words”

Sa madaling salita, ang proyekto ay dapat na mapondohan sa lalong madaling panahon. “In other words, the project must be funded as soon as possible.”

Ganun din – “In the same manner”

Ganun din, hindi ito nangangailangan ng espesyal na pagsasanay. “In the same manner, it doesn’t require any special training.”

Gayunpaman – “However”

Gayunpaman, marami ang hindi nakakaalam nito. “However, many are not aware of this.”

Sa kabila nito – “Nevertheless”

Sa kabila nito, hindi tayo dapat magmadali sa paggawa ng mga konklusyon. “Nevertheless, we must not be in haste to make conclusions.”

Sa kabaliktaran – “By contrast”

Sa kabaliktaran, ang mga tumanggap ng gamot ay nagpakita ng mga palatandaan ng paggaling. “By contrast, those who received the drug showed signs of recovery.”

Ayon sa pananaliksik…(“According to research…”)

➜ Find out which specific tool you can use to perfect your speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills!

2. Power Phrases for Resumes

Formal or business writing in the Philippines is primarily done using the English language. In the Philippines, having a good command of English gives one the advantage of securing a job. Being able to speak English fluently is seen as equivalent to being able to effectively interact with other cultures. That doesn’t mean you can’t write your resume in Filipino. If you’re a foreigner, being able to write a resume in fluent Tagalog is a sign of knowledge and dedication. It will show the employer that you’re serious about your application and are also creative and willing to think outside the box.

Kakayahang magtrabaho nang may mataas na antas ng kawastuhan

“Ability to perform with a high degree of accuracy”

Kakayahang magkamit ng namumukod-tanging resulta sa mga proyekto

“Ability to achieve outstanding project results”

Magpakita ng positibong imahe

“Projects a positive image”

Makipag-usap nang malinaw at may kabuluhan

“Communicates clearly and concisely”

Gamitin ang buong kakayahan

“Uses ability to the fullest”

Magpakita ng malikhaing imahinasyon

“Displays creative imagination”

Kakayahang gumawa ng matatag na desisyon na may kumpyansa sa sarili

“Ability to make firm decisions with confidence”

Tunay na maaasahan at mapagkakatiwalaan sa pagtupad ng mga tungkulin

“Exceptionally reliable and trustworthy in accomplishing tasks”

Kakahayang bumuo ng makabaong diskarte at pamamaraan sa pagkumpleto ng proyekto

“Ability to develop new strategies and methods for completing a project”

Inuuna ang interes ng organisasyon bago ang personal na kaginhawaan

“Places organizational interest ahead of personal convenience”

Palagi kong ginagamit ang aking buong kakayahan.
“I always use my ability to the fullest.”

➜ Applying for a job? Here are useful job interview questions you could study prior to an interview.

3. Smart Phrases for Business Meetings

While English may be the primary means of communication in the Philippine corporate world, Tagalog steals the limelight during business meetings. Unless there are any non-Filipino speakers at the conference, everyone is free to use a mix of English and Tagalog as a medium for expressing their thoughts and opinions. That said, it’s always an advantage to know some formal Filipino words and expressions when at a meeting, as it gives the impression that you know what you’re talking about and that you’re there to do business.

Simulan ang pagpupulong – “To start the meeting”

Simulan na natin ang pagpupulong. “Let’s start the meeting.”

Talakayin ang mungkahi – “To discuss the proposal”

Nais kong talakayin natin ang iminungkahi ni Ginoong Rodriguez. “I would like us to discuss what Mr. Rodriguez has proposed.”

Isulong ang proyekto – “To promote the project”

Kailangan na nating maisulong ang proyekto sa lalong madaling panahon.  “We need to move the project forward as soon as possible.”

Makabagong estratehiya – “Innovative approach”

Sa araw na ito, mag-iisip tayo ng mas makabagong istratehiya. “Today, we will think of a more innovative approach.”

Pamunuan ang kalakaran – “To lead the trend”

Maaari nating pamunuan ang mga kalakaran sa ekonomiya sa halip na sumunod lamang.  “We can lead the trends in the economy instead of simply following.”

Matugunan ang takdang-petsa – “To meet the deadline”

Huwag kang mag-alala. Magagawa nating matugunan ang takdang-petsa.  “Don’t worry. We will be able to meet the deadline.”

Napakaraming rekisitos – “Red tape” Literally: “So many requirements”

Mahirap maiwasan ang napakaraming rekisitos, ngunit hindi ito imposible.  “It’s hard to avoid the red tape, but it’s not impossible.”

Magbigay-pugay – “To give honor”

Bago ang lahat, nais kong magbigay-pugay sa ating punong tagapamahala. “Before anything else, I would like to give honor to our chief executive.”

Tubong lugaw  – “a business enterprise with returns far exceeding the investment ”Literally: Profit from selling porridge

Subukan natin ang ideya ni Diane. Maliit man ang kita, pero tuloy-tuloy. Tubong-lugaw, ika nga. “Let’s try Diane’s idea. The income for each sale may be small, but it’s sustainable. Soon, our returns will far exceed what we’ve invested.”

Maging maagap – “To be proactive”

Maging maagap tayo sa pagpili kung paano gagamitin ang mga oras natin.  “We need to be proactive in how we use our time.”

Maaari nating pamunuan ang mga kalakaran sa ekonomiya sa halip na sumunod lamang.
“We can lead the trends in the economy instead of simply following.”

➜ Learn Filipino phrases for doing business successfully.

4. Advanced Idioms, Sayings, and Proverbs for Everyday Usage

The Filipino language has some of the most captivating idioms and proverbs. Referred to as salawikain or sawikain in Tagalog, sayings or idioms play an essential role in Filipino culture. They are passed down from one generation to another, primarily through oral tradition, and are often humorous (or even bizarre) while still offering practical wisdom from older times.

Itaga mo sa bato. – “Mark my words”  Literally: “Hack it against a rock”

Hahanapin mo din ako pag wala na ako. Itaga mo iyan sa bato.  “You will look for me when I’m gone. Mark my words.”

Maghahalo ang balat sa tinalupan. – “All hell will break loose.” Literally: “The peel will mix with the ones peeled”

Pag nalaman kong niloloko niyo ako, maghahalo ang balat sa tinalupan. “When I find out that you’re trying to fool me, all hell will break loose.”

Namamangka sa dalawang ilog – “Cheating” Literally: “Rowing a boat on two rivers at the same time”

Ayan ang napapala mo sa pamamangka mo sa dalawang ilog. “That’s what you get for cheating.”

Pupulutin sa kangkungan – “End up in a dumpster” Literally: “Will be picked up from a cluster of water spinach” Note: In the Philippines, the bodies of victims of summary executions are often thrown in ponds covered by a dense growth of water spinach.

Pupulutin ka sa kangkungan kapag hindi mo inayos ang buhay mo. “You might end up in a dumpster if you don’t behave.”

Kahit lumuha ka ng dugo – “You won’t be forgiven no matter what you do” Literally: “Even if you shed tears of blood”

Hindi kita pagbibigyan kahit lumuha ka pa ng dugo.  “I will never grant your desire, not even if you shed tears of blood.”

Naghahabi ng kuwento – “Exaggerating,” “Telling a lie” Literally: “Weaving a story”

Mahilig talaga maghabi ng kwento si Joel makakuha lang ng kliyente. “Joel will do anything to attract clients, even weave a fascinating story.”

Suntok sa buwan – “A task that is next-to-impossible to accomplish” Literally: “A punch to the moon”

Ang mahulog ang loob niya sa akin ay suntok sa buwan. “To have her fall in love with me is next to impossible.”

Harangan man ng sibat – “No matter what it takes” Literally: “Even when stopped by a spear”

Hindi nila iuurong ang kaso harangan man sila ng sibat. “They will not drop the case no matter what happens.”

Maghanap ng karayom sa gitna ng dayami – “To do a seemingly impossible task” Literally: “To look for a needle in the middle of a haystack”

Sa sitwasyong iyan ay parang naghahanap lamang siya ng karayom sa gitna ng dayami. “The way things are going, it seems that he’s just wasting his time on something that’s impossible to accomplish.”

Magdildil ng asin – “Be so poor that you have to eat salt (with rice) for meals,” “To be poor as a rat” Literally: “Bunch up salt with one’s fingers”

Mag-aral ka nang mabuti kung ayaw mong magdildil ng asin habangbuhay. “Study hard if you don’t want to end up poor as a rat.”

Maghahalo ang balat sa tinalupan.
“All hell will break loose.”

➜ Access this lesson to learn more common Filipino idioms.

5. How FilipinoPod101 Can Help

Congratulations! With these advanced Filipino phrases, you’ll be able to communicate in Tagalog more fluently and more confidently! Are there other advanced Tagalog words and phrases you wish we had  included on this list? Let us know in the comments. 

That said, you know that the phrases on this list are not all there is. Here at FilipinoPod101, you can further enhance your skills with lessons from our archives and other free resources. You can rest assured that there’s a lesson tailored to your needs, whether it’s about vocabulary, key Filipino phrases, or grammar.

And speaking of tailored lessons, if you wish to take a more personalized approach to learning Filipino, you can do just that with MyTeacher. This service is included with a Premium PLUS subscription, and it gives you access to exclusive lessons and lets you enjoy 1-on-1 coaching with a professional Filipino teacher. With this approach, you’ll be able to track your progress in real time and have someone guide you in choosing the most appropriate learning path based on your needs. 

Sign up with FilipinoPod101 now to enjoy all these features and more!

The fact that you’re here to master advanced Tagalog words is proof that you’re ready to be as fluent in Filipino as you are in your mother tongue. It also means you’ve been studying Filipino for about a thousand hours already! Yes, according to the Foreign Service Institute, a language like Filipino takes approximately 1100 hours to learn.

What does this step forward mean for you? It means that you’ll be more comfortable producing well-structured sentences regardless of the subject matter. You’ll also have an easier time understanding texts with implicit meaning. Most importantly, you’ll be more confident expressing your ideas spontaneously because you won’t have to grasp for the right words anymore.

In this article, we’ve prepared a list of advanced Tagalog vocabulary words that you can use in the academic field, the business field, the medical field, and even the legal field. Also, we’ve put together a small collection of alternative words you can use to make your writing more vivid and to express yourself better in various situations.

Express yourself with more confidence by learning advanced Tagalog words.

Table of Contents

1. Advanced Academic Words
2. Advanced Business Words
3. Advanced Medical Words
4. Advanced Legal Words
5. Alternative Words to Make an Impression
6. Learn More Advanced Tagalog Words with FilipinoPod101!

1. Advanced Academic Words

The following is a list of advanced Tagalog academic words. The words here are generally acceptable for academic use in the Philippines and may come in handy if you wish to apply to a university in the country. Many of these are high-frequency vocabulary words, which means they don’t have multiple meanings as regular Filipino words do. Others are considered part of a “rich vocabulary,” which means they are finer forms of familiar Tagalog words that may have more than one meaning. And finally, there are some words here that are specific and often found in textbooks and other forms of informational texts.

akademya (noun)	Meaning	Nakapagtapos siya sa akademya noong isang taon.
academy	A place of study in a special field	He graduated from the academy last year.

pangangalap (noun)	Meaning	Mahirap ang kalagayan ng pangangalap ngayong panahon ng pandemya.
recruitment	The act of finding new people to join an organization	The situation of recruitment is difficult during this time of pandemic.

kontrobersiya (noun)	Meaning	Napapaligiran tayo ng mga hamon at kontrobersiya.
controversy	A public discussion involving strong disagreement	Challenges and controversies surround us.

magkaugnay (adjective)	Meaning	Ang isip at ang puso ay lubhang magkaugnay.
related	Belonging to the same group or family	The mind and the heart are closely related.

magkawing (adjective)	Meaning	Ang dalawang ideya na ito ay magkawing.
interlocked / linked	Two things interconnected or locked together	These two ideas are linked together.

pangkalahatan (adverb)	Meaning	Ang mga kasamahan niya sa pangkalahatan ay maaasahan.
generally	In a general manner	His colleagues are generally dependable.

ulat (noun)	Meaning	Huwag basta-basta maniniwala sa mga ulat nila.
report	A written or spoken account regarding an event	Do not easily believe their report.

pahayag (noun)	Meaning	Ito ang nakasulat sa kanyang pahayag.
article	A piece of writing included in publications	This is what was written in her article.

paksa (noun)	Meaning	Iyon daw ang pinakamagandang na nabasa ni Lisa hinggil sa paksa.
topic	The matter being dealt with in a text or discourse	It was the best Lisa had read on the subject, according to her.

sanhi (noun)	Meaning	Ano ang sanhi ng kanyang biglaang pagkamatay?
cause	A person or thing that gives rise to a certain condition	What was the cause of his sudden demise?

kataliwasan (noun)	Meaning	Lahat ng tuntunin ay may kataliwasan.
exception	Something that is not included	All rules have an exception.

unibersidad (noun)	Meaning	Nagtapos siya sa isang prestihiyosong unibersidad.
university	An institution of higher learning	He graduated from a prestigious university.

pagpipilian (noun)	Meaning	Maraming pwedeng pagpilian sa mga produkto niya.
option	Something that may be chosen	There are many options from (among) her products.

dalas (noun)	Meaning	Pinahalagahan ni Ted ang dalas ng pagdalaw ni Diane.
frequency	The rate at which something occurs	Ted appreciated the frequency of Diane’s visits.

porsyento (noun)	Meaning	Malaking porsyento ang nabawas sa kita niya.
percent / percentage	An amount that is the proportion of a larger whole	A large percentage was deducted from his income.

Nagtapos siya sa isang prestihiyosong unibersidad. (“He graduated from a prestigious university.”)

→ Be sure to check our list of Essential Vocabulary for Talking About Education in Filipino.

halimbawa (noun)	Meaning	Kaunti lang ang naibigay niya na mga halimbawa.
example	A written exercise for illustrating a rule	She was only able to give a few examples.

taya (noun)	Meaning	Ayon sa taya ng mga dalubhasa, ang krisis na ito ay hindi magtatapos sa lalong madaling panahon.
estimate	An approximate calculation of the value of something	According to the estimates of experts, this crisis is not going to end soon.

suma (noun)	Meaning	Nagulat siya sa suma ng kanyang dapat bayaran.
sum	The total resulting from the addition of two or more numbers	He was surprised at the sum of the amount he had to pay.

saklaw (noun)	Meaning	Limitado ang saklaw ng kanilang artikulo.
range / scope	The extent included or covered	Their article was limited in scope.

larangan (noun)	Meaning	Sabik si Sheldon gumawa ng pangalan para sa kanyang sarili sa larangan ng pisika.
domain / field	A field of knowledge	Sheldon was eager to make a name for himself in the field of physics.

mungkahi (noun)	Meaning	Nakinig siya sa mungkahi ng kanyang guro.
recommendation / suggestion	An idea put forth for consideration	She listened to her teacher’s suggestion.

palabaybayan (noun)	Meaning	Mahina si Raul sa palabaybayan.
spelling	The accepted forming of words from letters	Raul is not that good at spelling.

proyekto (noun)	Meaning	Natapos ang proyekto makalipas lamang ang tatlong buwan.
project	A planned undertaking designed for achieving a particular goal	The project was completed after only three months.

tagumpay (noun)	Meaning	Nakamit niya ang matagal nang inaasam na tagumpay.
success	The desired outcome of an undertaking or accomplishment of a purpose	He finally achieved the long-awaited success.

punong-guro (noun)	Meaning	Binisita ni Dan ang punong-guro na si Mrs. Zamora.
head teacher / principal	The chief executive officer or director of an educational institution	Dan visited Mrs. Zamora, the principal.

kwalipikado (adjective)	Meaning	Hindi siya kwalipikadong magtrabaho.
qualified	A person recognized as having the quality to perform a particular job	He was not qualified to work.

talata (noun)	Meaning	Basahing mabuti ang talata bago sagutin ang mga katanungan.
paragraph	A series of sentences dealing with a topic	Read the paragraph carefully before answering the questions.

talaan (noun)	Meaning	Hindi mahanap ni Elsa ang talaan ng mga kailangan niyang gawin.
list / record	A piece of paper used for recordkeeping	Elsa could not find the list of things she needed to do.

paraan (noun)	Meaning	Wala nang mas mainam na paraan kaysa dito.
method	A systematic procedure for accomplishing something	There is no better method than this.

ranggo (noun)	Meaning	Mataas na ang ranggo niya sa hukbo.
rank	A position in a hierarchy, especially of the armed forces	He had a high rank in the army.

lagda (noun)	Meaning	Kailangan ang iyong lagda sa mga papeles na ito.
signature	A person’s name written with his or her own hand	Your signature is needed on these papers.

takdang-aralin (noun)	Meaning	Ayaw niyang gawin ang kanyang takdang-aralin.
homework	Schoolwork required to be done at home	He doesn’t want to do his homework.

pananaliksik (noun)	Meaning	Ang pananaliksik ay pinamunuan ni Dr. Gomez.
research	A systematic investigation aimed at the establishment of facts	The research was headed by Dr. Gomez.

pagsusulit (noun)	Meaning	Kailangan nilang makapasa sa pagsusulit.
exam	A formal test of a person’s knowledge regarding a particular subject	They need to pass the exam.

Nakinig siya sa mungkahi ng kaniyang doktor. (“She listened to her doctor’s recommendation.”)

→ Don’t miss this list of Tagalog Words and Expressions to Help You in an Emergency.

asignatura (noun)	Meaning	Kalaunan, naging malinaw ang mga mahihirap na asignatura para kay Alfonso.
subject	A branch of knowledge taught in academic institutions	The difficult subjects eventually became clearer to Alfonso.

kaalaman (noun)	Meaning	Ang pag-aalaga ng mga bata ay nangangailangan ng higit pa sa iyong sariling kaalaman.
knowledge	Information acquired by an individual through education or experience	Rearing children needs more than your own knowledge.

talakayan (noun)	Meaning	Ang koponan ay nagkaroon ng isang mahabang talakayan.
discussion	A conversation regarding a certain topic	The team had a lengthy discussion.

paglilinang (noun)	Meaning	Ang lupa ay sumailalim sa isang mahirap na proseso ng paglilinang.
cultivation	The act of cultivating	The land underwent a difficult process of cultivation.

pagsasalaysay (noun)	Meaning	Walang nakinig sa kaniyang pagsasalaysay.
narration	The process of narrating a story	No one listened to his narration.

dalubhasa (noun)	Meaning	Siya ay dalubhasa sa usapin ng politika.
expert	A person who has authoritative knowledge and skill in a particular area	He was an expert in matters of politics.

2. Advanced Business Words

As you become more advanced in Tagalog, you might start considering a job or career in the Philippines. The words below will help you make a solid impression and succeed in your chosen field, wherever your dreams take you. 

negosyo (noun)	Meaning	Nakapagsimula siya ng sariling negosyo sa murang edad na dalawampu’t apat.
business	A commercial operation	He was able to start his own business at the young age of twenty-four.

salapi (noun)	Meaning	Ang proyekto ay nangangailangan ng malaking halaga ng salapi.
money	A medium of exchange used for payment	The project requires a large amount of money.

tubo (noun)	Meaning	Hindi niya inasahan ang ganoon kalaking tubo.
profit	A financial gain	He didn’t expect such a huge profit.

buwis (noun)	Meaning	Palagi niyang binabayaran ang kanyang buwis.
tax	An obligatory contribution to state revenue	He paid his taxes regularly.

samahan (noun)	Meaning	Si Arnel na ang bagong pinuno ng kanilang samahan.
organization	An organized body of people with a specific aim or purpose	Arnel is the new leader of their organization.

propesyon (noun)	Meaning	Tanong ni Dan, “Ano ang pinakamahusay na propesyon para sa akin?”
profession	A paid occupation	Dan asked, “What is the best profession for me?”

propesyonal (noun)	Meaning	Isa nang propesyonal na basketbolista si Marlou.
professional	A person engaged in a learned profession	Marlou is now a professional basketball player.

kumpanya (noun)	Meaning	Ipinamana sa akin ni Papa ang kanyang kumpanya.
company	A commercial organization	Dad bequeathed his company to me.

dokumento (noun)	Meaning	Nabigo siyang isumite ang mga dokumento.
document	A piece of writing conveying important information	He failed to submit the documents.

papeles (noun)	Meaning	Natambakan si Karla ng mga papeles sa opisina.
paperwork	Routine recordkeeping work involving documents	Karla was overwhelmed with paperwork in the office.

tagapamahala (noun)	Meaning	Nawalan sila ng magaling na tagapamahala.
supervisor	An administrative officer in charge of a business operation	They lost a great supervisor.

pagpupulong (noun)	Meaning	Dumalo silang lahat sa pagpupulong.
meeting	An assembly of organization members for discussion	They all attended the meeting.

promosyon (noun)	Meaning	Nakuha ni Roger ang promosyon noong nakaraang linggo.
promotion	The act of being raised in rank or position	Roger got the promotion last week.

Natambakan si Ben ng mga papeles sa opisina. (“He was overwhelmed with paperwork in the office.”)

→ Have you seen our list of the most common Office-Related Words in Filipino?

pag-aari (noun)	Meaning	Ibinenta niya ang lahat ng kanyang pag-aari at bumalik sa sariling bansa.
asset	The property of a person	He sold all his assets and returned to his country.

nalugi (verb)	Meaning	Muntik na siyang malugi.
bankrupt / suffered loss	To be reduced to bankruptcy	He almost went bankrupt.

kita (noun)	Meaning	Malaki ang kita sa negosyong ito.
earning	Money obtained in return for offering a product or service	The profit in this business is considerable.

diskarte (noun)	Meaning	Anong diskarte ang ginamit mo para sa pagpapaunlad ng iyong kumpanya?
strategy	A careful method or plan	What strategy did you use for growing your company?

kasunduan (noun)	Meaning	Naging matagumpay ang nangyaring kasunduan.
negotiation	A discussion aimed at reaching an agreement	The negotiations were successful.

ahente (noun)	Meaning	Si Joey ay mapagkakatiwalaang ahente.
agent	One authorized to act in the place of another	Joey is a trustworthy agent.

kontrata (noun)	Meaning	Pumirma siya ng bagong kontrata sa kumpanya.
contract	A binding agreement between two or more parties	He signed a new contract with the company.

kalakal (noun)	Meaning	Hindi madali ang paghakot ng mga kalakal sa ganitong panahon.
goods	Commodities sold in a business	Transporting goods is not easy during these times.

produkto (noun)	Meaning	Natatangi ang kanilang mga produkto.
product	Anything manufactured for sale	Their products are unique.

taghirap (noun)	Meaning	Ngayon ay panahon ng taghirap para sa maraming tao.
economic difficulty	A period of economic decline	These are difficult times for a lot of people.

industriya (noun)	Meaning	Nasa isang dekada na sila sa industriya.
industry	A group of profit-making enterprises	They have been in the industry for a decade now.

puhunan (noun)	Meaning	Ang negosyong ito ay nangangailangan ng isang malaking puhunan.
capital	Money used for starting a business	This business requires huge capital.

→ Don’t forget to familiarize yourself with these Must-Know Business Words and Phrases in Tagalog.

3. Advanced Medical Words

Below are several medical words in Filipino for advanced learners. You’ll find these terms useful whether you plan to study medicine in the Philippines or have an upcoming doctor’s appointment. 

pagamutan (noun)	Meaning	Halos dalawang buwan din siya sa pagamutan.
hospital	An institution providing medical care	He was confined to the hospital for almost two months.

impeksyon (noun)	Meaning	Gumaling na ang impeksyon na dulot ng kanyang sugat.
infection	The process or state of being infected	The infection caused by his wound has healed.

dugo (noun)	Meaning	Kinailangan ni Jane magpasalin ng dugo.
blood	Body fluid in humans and animals that transports oxygen and nutrients throughout the body via the circulatory system	Jane had to have a blood transfusion.

nalapnos (verb)	Meaning	Nalapnos ang malaking bahagi ng kanyang balat dahil sa sunog.
peeled off	The process of the skin being peeled off due to extreme heat	A large part of his skin was peeled off as a result of the fire.

bakuna (noun)	Meaning	Tumulong sila sa pagbibigay ng bakuna sa daan-daang katao.
vaccine	A substance used to stimulate antibodies for the purpose of providing immunity against sickness	They helped give the vaccine to hundreds of people.

duwal (verb)	Meaning	Ang kanyang pagsusuka ay sinusundan ng isang pakiramdam ng labis na pagduwal.
nausea	The sensation of wanting to vomit	His vomiting was followed by a feeling of extreme nausea.

plema (noun)	Meaning	Ang paghinga ng tuyong hangin ay maaaring maging sanhi ng pamumuo ng plema sa baga.
phlegm	A viscous substance secreted by the mucous membrane	Breathing in arid air can cause a buildup of phlegm in the lungs.

pigsa (noun)	Meaning	Isang misteryosong karamdaman ang nagbalot sa kanyang katawan ng mga pigsa.
a boil on the skin	An inflamed swelling on the skin	A mysterious illness enveloped his body with boils.

sipon (noun)	Meaning	Huwag kang magpaulan at uso na naman ang sipon ngayon.
common cold	A viral infection of the upper respiratory tract	Don’t get yourself wet in the rain as it’s the cold season already.

bukol (noun)	Meaning	May nakapang maliit na bukol si Nora sa kanyang likod.
lump or tumor	A localized area of swelling in any part of the body	Nora felt a small lump on her back.

virus (noun)	Meaning	Hindi siya nahawa ng virus.
virus	An infectious agent of small size and composition that causes illness or disease	He was not infected with the virus.

ubo (noun)	Meaning	Gumaling na ang matinding ubo ni ate.
cough	A sudden expulsion of air from the lungs that serves as the body’s natural mechanism of clearing the air passages	My sister’s severe cough has healed.

katarata (noun)	Meaning	Inoperahan siya dahil sa katarata.
cataract	An eye condition that gradually causes the lens of the eyes to become opaque	He was operated on for cataracts.

binat (noun)	Meaning	Manatili ka sa kama para hindi ka mabinat.
relapse	A deterioration in someone’s health after a temporary improvement	Stay in bed so you won’t have a relapse.

benda (noun)	Meaning	Binalot nila ng benda ang kamay niyang nasugatan.
bandage	A strip of cloth used to bind an injured part of the body	They wrapped his injured hand with a bandage.

gamot (noun)	Meaning	Kailangan kong mag-imbak ng mga gamot para sa hika.
medicine	A compound used for the prevention or treatment of an illness	I need to stock up on asthma medications.

sintomas (noun)	Meaning	Unti-unting nawala ang mga sintomas niya.
symptom	A manifestation of an underlying sickness	His symptoms gradually disappeared.

buntis (adjective)	Meaning	Nagalak silang malaman na buntis si Laura.
pregnant	Having a child developing in the uterus	They were excited to learn that Laura was pregnant.

impatso (noun)	Meaning	Ang tsaa ay mabuti para sa impatso.
indigestion	A difficulty in digesting food	Tea is good for indigestion.

bituka (noun)	Meaning	May sakit siya sa bituka.
intestine	The tubular part of the digestive tract connecting the stomach and the anus	He has a disease in the intestines.

kombulsyon (noun)	Meaning	Huwag maglagay ng anuman sa bibig ng iyong anak para subukang pigilin ang kombulsyon.
convulsion	A sudden violent, often involuntary, movement of the body	Never put anything in your child’s mouth to try to stop the convulsion.

turok (noun)	Meaning	Ang mga turok ng insulin ay tumutulong na makontrol ang antas ng glucose sa dugo.
injection	A thing being injected into the body as a form of medical treatment	Insulin shots help regulate blood glucose levels.

butlig (noun)	Meaning	Tinubuan ng makati at mahapding butlig ang braso ni Karen.
rash	An area of redness and slight swelling on the skin	An itchy, burning rash developed on Karen’s arm.

Tanging ang bakuna na lamang na ito ang makakatulong sa kanya. (“Only this vaccine will be able to help him now.”)

pulikat (noun)	Meaning	Nagkaroon siya ng pulikat habang tumatakbo.
cramp	A painful, involuntary muscle contraction	He had a cramp while running.

kirot (noun)	Meaning	Nakaramdam siya ng kirot sa kanang bahagi ng kanyang tiyan.
sharp pain	A sudden, intense spike of localized pain	He felt pain in his right abdomen.

manggagamot (noun)	Meaning	Sa wakas! Nakahanap din sila ng magaling na manggagamot.
doctor	One who is qualified to practice medicine	Finally! They were able to find a good doctor.

reseta (noun)	Meaning	Nakalimutan niya ang reseta niya sa bahay.
medical prescription	A written instruction by a doctor authorizing a patient to be provided medicine	He forgot his prescription at home.

trangkaso (noun)	Meaning	Hindi siya nakalabas nang dahil sa trangkaso.
flu	A contagious viral infection of the respiratory passages	He was not able to leave because of the flu.

operasyon (noun)	Meaning	Bukas nakatakda ang kanyang operasyon.
operation	Surgery performed on a patient	His operation is scheduled for tomorrow.

pangunahing lunas (noun)	Meaning	Sa Red Cross Club natutunan ni Lea kung paano magbigay ng pangunahing lunas.
first aid	Initial help given to an injured person	Lea learned how to apply first aid at the Red Cross Club.

4. Advanced Legal Words

Whether you’re preparing for law school in the Philippines, want to learn more about the Philippine judicial system, or find yourself in the middle of an unfortunate misunderstanding, these advanced Filipino words will prove useful. 

abogado (noun)	Meaning	Si Rommel ay isang magaling na abogado.
lawyer	A person qualified to practice law	Rommel is a great lawyer.

naabswelto (verb)	Meaning	Naabswelto siya dahil napatunayan na wala siyang sala.
acquit	To free someone of a criminal charge	He was acquitted because he was found to be innocent.

akusado (noun)	Meaning	Pinalaya nang pansamantala ang akusado.
defendant / accused	An individual or company accused in a court of law	The accused was briefly released.

alegasyon (noun)	Meaning	Hindi totoo ang kanilang mga alegasyon.
allegation	An assertion that a person has done something illegal	Their allegations were false.

areglo (noun)	Meaning	Ang kumpanya ay nagbayad ng humigit-kumulang isang milyon sa mga multa at areglo.
settlement / compromise	An official agreement made to resolve a dispute	The company paid approximately one million in fines and settlements.

asunto (noun)	Meaning	Limang asunto ang naihain laban kay Edgar.
lawsuit / case	Legal action to be decided in a court of law	Five lawsuits had reportedly been filed against Edgar.

benepisyaryo (noun)	Meaning	Tatlong benepisyaryo ang naghihintay sa kanya.
beneficiary	A person receiving a benefit or advantage from something	Three beneficiaries are waiting for him.

kapabayaan (noun)	Meaning	Ang kapabayaan sa mga anak ay maaaring humantong sa malaking problema ng pamilya.
negligence	Failure to take proper care of someone or something	Neglect of children can lead to serious domestic problems.

kapatawaran (noun)	Meaning	Nakatanggap siya ng kapatawaran para sa kanyang mga krimen.
pardon	The remission of legal consequences of a conviction	He received pardon for his crimes.

karapatang-pantao (noun)	Meaning	Ang ginawa nila ay labag sa karapatang-pantao.
human rights	Fundamental rights belonging to a human being	What they did was a human rights violation.

kasabwat (noun)	Meaning	Nahuli ang kasabwat ni Cardo sa krimen.
accomplice	A person associated with another in performing a crime	Cardo’s accomplice was caught.

kolateral (noun)	Meaning	Inilagay niya ang kanyang tindahan bilang kolateral upang makalikom ng pera.
collateral	Property pledged by a borrower to protect the lender	She put up her store as collateral to raise the money.

kaso (noun)	Meaning	Pagkalipas ng sampung taon, muling binuksan ang kaso.
case	Legal action to be decided in a court of law	After ten years, the case was reopened.

kustodiya (noun)	Meaning	Si Jane ay inilagay sa kustodiya ng kanyang ina.
custody	An immediate charge exercised by a person	Jane was placed under her mother’s custody.

danyos (noun)	Meaning	Nagbayad siya ng dalawang milyong piso bilang danyos sa pamilya ng biktima.
damages	Monetary compensation imposed by law for injury or loss	He paid two million pesos in damages to the victim’s family.

magdemanda (verb)	Meaning	Napilitan siyang magdemanda laban sa kanyang amo.
to sue / to file a lawsuit	A process by which a legal court makes a decision to settle a dispute	He was forced to file a lawsuit against his boss.

depensa (noun)	Meaning	Mahina ang naging depensa niya sa kaso.
defense	A challenge against allegations proposed regarding a criminal action	His defense in the case was weak.

desisyon (noun)	Meaning	Kailangan maihain ang desisyon ng korte bago pa matapos ang araw.
verdict	The decision of a jury on an issue in a criminal case	The court’s verdict must be filed before the end of the day.

ebidensya (noun)	Meaning	Nasa kanila ang lahat ng ebidensya na kailangan nila.
evidence	Information used to establish facts in a legal investigation	They have all the evidence they need.

hatol (noun)	Meaning	Ang kanyang hatol ay habambuhay na pagkakulong.
sentence	The punishment assigned to an individual found guilty by a court	His sentence was life in prison.

Ang dalawang bata ay inilagay sa kustodiya ng kanilang ina. (“The two children were placed in the custody of their mother.”)

hukom (noun)	Meaning	Bihira ka lang makahanap ng mabuting hukom.
judge	A public official who decides cases in a court of law	You rarely find a good judge.

lisensya (noun)	Meaning	Ang kanyang lisensya ay nakumpiska dahil sa isang paglabag.
license	A permit issued by authority to do a particular thing or to own and use something	His license was confiscated due to a violation.

litigasyon (noun)	Meaning	Nagawa nilang makaiwas sa litigasyon.
litigation	The process of settling a dispute in a court of law	They were able to avoid litigation.

maysala (noun)	Meaning	Ayaw makipagtulungan ng biktima sa maysala.
guilty / offender	A person justly chargeable with a crime	The victim refused to cooperate with the offender.

motibo (noun)	Meaning	Inaalam pa rin ang motibo sa krimen.
motive	A reason for doing something	The motive for the crime is still being determined.

multa (noun)	Meaning	Malaki ang multa sa paglabag ng batas na ito.
fine	Money exacted by authority as a penalty for breaking the law	There are large fines for violating this law.

nasasakdal (noun)	Meaning	Tinanggihan ng hukuman ang katwiran ng nasasakdal.
plaintiff	One who brings a case against another in a court of law	The court rejected the plaintiff’s argument.

paglilitis (noun)	Meaning	Mabilis natapos ang paglilitis.
trial	The formal examination of the facts of a case before a competent tribunal	The trial ended quickly.

5. Alternative Words to Make an Impression

Whether you’re taking a Tagalog proficiency exam, writing an essay for school, or giving an oral presentation, one way you can make an impression is by showcasing a broad selection of stellar vocabulary. In this section, we present to you a list of Filipino adverbs, verbs, conjunctions, prepositions, and other words you can use as more compelling alternatives to simpler words. 

1 – Alternative Adverbs

tama	wasto	Gamitin ng wasto ang iyong kaalaman.
correctly	correctly	Use your knowledge correctly.

espesyal	natatangi	Siya ay isang natatanging musikero.
uniquely	uniquely	He is a uniquely talented musician.

magkahiwalay	magkabukod	Magkabukod silang dumating.
separately	separately	They arrived separately.

talaga	sadya	Sadyang mabilis magsalita si Aristotle.
very	simply	Aristotle simply talks fast.

kaunti	bahagya	Ibinaba niya ng bahagya ang bintana ng kotse.
slightly	slightly	She slightly lowered the window of her car.

doon	sa dako roon	Sa dako roon ay maraming tubig.
over there	over there	There is a lot of water over there.

kahit saan	sa lahat ng dako	Mayroong mga paalala ng kaligtasan sa lahat ng dako.
everywhere	everywhere	There are safety reminders everywhere.

mabilis	matulin	Tumakbo siya nang matulin para mahabol ang bus.
fast	fast	He ran fast to catch the bus.

dahan-dahan	banayad	Banayad na umihip ang hangin sa mukha ni Mandy.
slowly	softly / gently	The wind blew lightly on Mandy’s face.

malapit na	sa lalong madaling panahon	Malalaman nila ang katotohanan sa lalong madaling panahon.
soon	soon	They will know the truth soon.

kaagad	kagyat	Ang iyong mungkahi ay maaaring kagyat na makaantig ng interes.
immediately	immediately	Your proposal may arouse immediate interest.

hindi masyado	bahagya	Ang mga petsa ay magkaiba nang bahagya.
barely	a little	The dates vary a little.

kamuntik	halos	Naaalala niya kahit pagkalipas ng halos isang dekada.
almost	almost	She remembers even after almost a decade.

palagi	pirme	Pirme niyang pinagmamasdan ang larawan ng asawa.
always	constantly	He constantly looked at his wife’s picture.

kadalasan	karaniwan	Karaniwan ay wala siyang imik.
usually	usually	He is usually silent.

hinding-hindi	hindi kailanman	Ang pag-ibig ko sa’yo ay hindi kailanman magbabago.
never	never	My love for you will never change.

2 – Alternative Verbs

inabuso	minaltrato	Naalala niya kung paano siya minaltrato ng kanyang asawa.
abused	mistreated	He remembers how his wife mistreated him.

pinatay	kinitilan ng buhay	Limang katao ang kinitilan ng buhay sa trahedyang naganap.
killed	killed	Five people were killed in the tragedy.

magnakaw	mandambong	Sinamantala niya ang sitwasyon upang mandambong at manloob.
to steal	to plunder	He took advantage of the situation to plunder and loot.

kumilos	umayos	Umayos kang kagalang-galang.
to act	to act	Act like a gentleman.

umalis	lumisan	Huwag kang lumisan nang basta-basta.
to leave	to leave	Don’t just leave.

kantahin	awitin	Awitin natin ang paborito mong kanta.
to sing	to sing	Let’s sing your favorite song.

namatay	pumanaw	Pumanaw ang matalik mong kaibigan.
died	passed away	Your best friend has passed away.

umiwas	lumayo	Lumayo ka sa masamang impluwensya upang hindi ka mapahamak.
to avoid	to flee	Stay away from bad influences so you won’t get in trouble.

nasira	napinsala	Dalawampu’t-dalawang bahay ang napinsala ng bagyo.
broken	damaged	Twenty-two houses were damaged by the typhoon.

sumali	umanib	Umanib sila sa hari.
to join	to enlist / to be allies with	They allied themselves with the king.

bumisita	dumalaw	Dumalaw ka sa amin palagi.
to visit	to visit	Come and visit us always.

nakatira	nananahan	Nananahan kami nang matiwasay bago sila dumating.
living	dwelling	We were dwelling in the land peacefully before they arrived.

gustuhin	hangarin	Hangarin mo na maging katulad niya.
to want	to aspire	Go and aspire to be like him.

magtago	magkimkim	Mahirap magkimkim ng sama ng loob.
to hide	to harbor	It is difficult to harbor resentment.

sinayang	nilustay	Nilustay niya ang pera ng kanyang ama.
wasted	squandered	He squandered his father’s money.

isinaksak	itinarak	Itinarak niya ang tabak sa lupang tigang.
stabbed	thrusted	He thrusted his sword into the parched ground.

itinayo	itinatag	Itinatag niya ang kumpanya para makatulong sa mga mahihirap.
built	established	He established the company to help the poor.

ikutin	pihitin	Pilit mang pihitin ang busol ay hindi niya mabuksan ang pinto.
to rotate	to twist	Even if he tried to turn the knob, he could not open the door.

3 – Alternative Conjunctions

dahil	sapagkat	Huwag kang matakot sapagkat ako’y naririto.
because	for	Do not be afraid, for I am here.

pero	datapuwat	Ang sabi niya ay mahal niya ako. Datapuwat, kailangan niyang lumayo.
but	however	He said he loves me. However, he had to stay away for a while.

kahit	bagaman	Bagaman wais, hindi matalino si Lumen.
even though	although	Although clever, Lumen was not that intelligent.

kahit na	gayunman/gayunpaman	Hindi ako mayaman. Gayunpaman, alam kong magtatagumpay ako.
even though	nevertheless	I am not rich. Nevertheless, I know I will succeed.

ngunit	subalit	Bulag si Sabel, subalit nakikilala niya ang tinig ko.
but	however	Sabel is blind, but she recognizes my voice.

kahit ano	anuman	Anuman ang sabihin nila, susuportahan pa rin kita.
whatever	whatever	Whatever they say, I will still support you.

kaya	dahil diyan	Wala siya dito. Dahil diyan, iminumungkahi ko na bumalik ka bukas.
so	therefore	He is not here. Therefore, I suggest you come back tomorrow.

para	upang	Kailangan mong magtrabaho upang makaraos.
so that	to	You have to work to survive.

kung kaya	anupa’t (ano pa at)	Mabagal siyang kumilos. Anupa’t hindi niya sila naabutan.
that is why	therefore	He moved very slowly. Therefore, he was not able to catch up with them.

imbes	bagkus; sa halip	Hindi lamang ito isang laro, bagkus ito ay buhay ko.
instead	rather	This is not just a game; rather, it is my life.

kung	kapag	Kapag nahanap mo ang tamang daan, huwag ka nang lilingon pa.
if	once	Once you find the right path, do not ever look back.

4 – Alternative Prepositions

tungkol	ukol	Ano ang pananaw mo ukol sa sitwasyong ito?
about	on	What is your view on this situation?

laban sa	labag sa	Labag sa kalooban niya ang nangyari.
against	against	What happened was against his will.

ayon sa	alinsunod sa	Alinsunod sa patakaran ng paaralan, kailangan masuspende ng mag-aaral.
according to	in accordance with	In accordance with school policy, the student must be suspended.

sa tabi	sa piling	Ang gusto ko ay palagi kang nasa piling ko.
beside	with	I want you to always be with me.

iyan	yaon	Yaon ang sabi niya kay Sebastian.
that	that	That’s what he told Sebastian.

Awitin natin ang paborito mong kanta! (“Let’s sing your favorite song!”)

Learn More Advanced Tagalog Words with FilipinoPod101!

There you have it: our list of advanced Tagalog words! This is not an exhaustive list, so if you feel like we missed any good words you know, please share with us in the comments! 

We know that you’re excited to apply what you’ve learned here, but you also probably know that this is not the end of your Filipino learning journey. There is still so much more to learn, not only about the language but also about the culture of the Philippines. That’s where FilipinoPod101 comes in.

At FilipinoPod101, you can expand your vocabulary and refine your grammar skills with the help of various free resources, blog posts, word banks, and more! FilipinoPod101 employs an innovative approach to helping students learn Filipino, so you can rest assured that all the lessons are unique and dynamic. Not to mention that you can have lessons tailored to your needs, as well. All that via our MyTeacher service. Go ahead and sign up now!

What is the most defining moment you will face this year? From memories that you immortalize in a million photographs, to days you never wish to remember, one thing’s for certain: big life events change you. The great poet, Bukowski, said, “We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well, that death will tremble to take us.” The older I get, the more I agree with him!

Talking about significant events in our lives is part of every person’s journey, regardless of creed or culture. If you’re planning to stay in Philippines for more than a quick visit, you’re sure to need at least a few ‘life events’ phrases that you can use. After all, many of these are shared experiences, and it’s generally expected that we will show up with good manners and warm wishes.

Table of Contents

1. Life Events
2. Marriage Proposal Lines
3. Talking About Age
4. Conclusion

1. Life Events

Do you know how to say “Happy New Year” in Filipino? Well, the New Year is a pretty big deal that the whole world is in on! We celebrate until midnight, make mindful resolutions, and fill the night sky with the same happy words in hundreds of languages. No doubt, then, that you’ll want to know how to say it like a local!

Big life events are not all about fun times, though. Real life happens even when you’re traveling, and certain terminology will be very helpful to know. From talking about your new job to wishing your neighbors “Merry Christmas” in Filipino, here at FilipinoPod101, we’ve put together just the right vocabulary and phrases for you.

1- Birthday – kaarawan

If you’re like me, any excuse to bring out a pen and scribble a note is a good one. When there’s a birthday, even better: hello, handwriting!

Your Filipino friend will love hearing you wish them a “Happy birthday” in Filipino, but how much more will they appreciate a thoughtful written message? Whether you write it on their Facebook wall or buy a cute card, your effort in Filipino is sure to get them smiling! Write it like this:

Maligayang kaarawan

Now that you know the words, I challenge you to put them to music and sing your own “Happy birthday” song in Filipino! It’s not impossible to figure out even more lyrics, once you start discovering the language from scratch.

2- Buy – bumili

If there’s a special occasion, you might want to buy somebody a gift. As long as you’ve checked out Filipino etiquette on gift-giving (do a Google search for this!), it will be a lovely gesture. If you’re not sure what to buy, how about the awesome and universally-appealing gift of language? That’s a gift that won’t stop giving!

3- Retire – magretiro

If you’re planning to expand your mind and retire in Philippines, you can use this word to tell people why you seem to be on a perpetual vacation!

Retirement is also a great time to learn a new language, don’t you think? And you don’t have to do it alone! These days it’s possible to connect to a vibrant learning community at the click of a button. The added benefit of a Daily Dose of Language is that it keeps your brain cells alive and curious about the world. After all, it’s never too late to realize those long-ignored dreams of traveling the globe…

4- Graduation – pagtatapos

When attending a graduation ceremony in Philippines, be prepared for a lot of formal language! It will be a great opportunity to listen carefully and see if you can pick up differences from the everyday Filipino you hear.

5- Promotion – pagtaas ng ranggo

Next to vacation time, receiving a promotion is the one career highlight almost everyone looks forward to. And why wouldn’t you? Sure, it means more responsibility, but it also means more money and benefits and – the part I love most – a change of scenery! Even something as simple as looking out a new office window would boost my mood.

6- Anniversary – anibersaryo

Some anniversaries we anticipate with excitement, others with apprehension. They are days marking significant events in our lives that can be shared with just one person, or with a whole nation. Whether it’s a special day for you and a loved one, or for someone else you know, this word is crucial to know if you want to wish them a happy anniversary in Filipino.

7- Funeral – libing

We tend to be uncomfortable talking about funerals in the west, but it’s an important conversation for families to have. Around the world, there are many different customs and rituals for saying goodbye to deceased loved ones – some vastly different to our own. When traveling in Philippines, if you happen to find yourself the unwitting observer of a funeral, take a quiet moment to appreciate the cultural ethos; even this can be an enriching experience for you.

8- Travel – bumiyahe

Travel – my favorite thing to do! Everything about the experience is thrilling and the best cure for boredom, depression, and uncertainty about your future. You will surely be forever changed, fellow traveler! But you already know this, don’t you? Well, now that you’re on the road to total Filipino immersion, I hope you’ve downloaded our IOS apps and have your Nook Book handy to keep yourself entertained on those long bus rides.

9- Graduate – makatapos sa pag-aaral

If you have yet to graduate from university, will you be job-hunting in Philippines afterward? Forward-looking companies sometimes recruit talented students who are still in their final year. Of course, you could also do your final year abroad as an international student – an amazing experience if you’d love to be intellectually challenged and make a rainbow of foreign friends!

10- Wedding – kasal

One of the most-loved traditions that humans have thought up, which you’ll encounter anywhere in the world, is a wedding. With all that romance in the air and months spent on preparations, a wedding is typically a feel-good affair. Two people pledge their eternal love to each other, ladies cry, single men look around for potential partners, and everybody has a happy day of merrymaking.

Ah, but how diverse we are in our expression of love! You will find more wedding traditions around the world than you can possibly imagine. From reciting love quotes to marrying a tree, the options leave no excuse to be boring!

11- Move – lumipat

I love Philippines, but I’m a nomad and tend to move around a lot, even within one country. What are the biggest emotions you typically feel when moving house? The experts say moving is a highly stressful event, but I think that depends on the circumstances. Transitional periods in our lives are physically and mentally demanding, but changing your environment is also an exciting adventure that promises new tomorrows!

12- Be born – ipinanganak

I was not born in 1993, nor was I born in Asia. I was born in the same year as Aishwarya Rai, Akon, and Monica Lewinsky, and on the same continent as Freddy Mercury. When and where were you born? More importantly – can you say it in Filipino?

13- Get a job – makakuha ng trabaho

The thought of looking for a job in a new country can be daunting, but English speakers are in great demand in Philippines – you just have to do some research, make a few friends and get out there! Also, arming yourself with a few Filipino introductions that you can both say and write will give you a confidence boost. For example, can you write your name in Filipino?

14- Die – mamatay

Death is a universal experience and the final curtain on all other life events. How important is it, then, to fully live before we die? If all you have is a passport, a bucket list, and a willingness to learn some lingo, you can manifest those dreams!

15- Home – bahay

If home is where the heart is, then my home is on a jungle island completely surrounded by the turquoise ocean. Right now, though, home is an isolation room with a view of half a dry palm tree and a tangle of telephone wires.

If you’re traveling to Philippines for an extended stay, you’ll soon be moving into a new home quite unlike anything you’ve experienced before!

16- Job – trabaho

What job do you do? Does it allow you much time for travel, or for working on this fascinating language that has (so rightfully) grabbed your attention? Whatever your job, you are no doubt contributing to society in a unique way. If you’re doing what you love, you’re already on the road to your dream. If not, just remember that every single task is one more skill to add to your arsenal. With that attitude, your dream job is coming!

17- Birth – kapanganakan

Random question: do you know the birth rate of Philippines?

If you’re lucky enough to be invited to see a friend’s baby just after they are born, you’ll have all my respect and all my envy. There is nothing cuter! Depending on which part of the country you’re in, you may find yourself bearing witness to some pretty unexpected birth customs. Enjoy this privilege!

18- Engaged – makisali

EE Cummings said, “Lovers alone wear sunlight,” and I think that’s most true at the moment she says “yes.” Getting engaged is something young girls dream of with stars in their eyes, and it truly is a magical experience – from the proposal, to wearing an engagement ring, to the big reveal!

In the world of Instagram, there’s no end to the antics as imaginative couples try more and more outrageous ways to share their engagement with the world. I love an airport flashmob, myself, but I’d rather be proposed to on a secluded beach – salt, sand, and all!

Engagement customs around the world vary greatly, and Philippines is no exception when it comes to interesting traditions. Learning their unique romantic ways will inspire you for when your turn comes.

Speaking of romance, do you know how to say “Happy Valentine’s Day” in Filipino?

19- Marry – magpakasal

The one you marry will be the gem on a shore full of pebbles. They will be the one who truly mirrors your affection, shares your visions for the future, and wants all of you – the good, the bad and the inexplicable.

From thinking up a one-of-a-kind wedding, to having children, to growing old together, finding a twin flame to share life with is quite an accomplishment! Speaking of which…

2. Marriage Proposal Lines

Ah, that heart-stopping moment when your true love gets down on one knee to ask for your hand in marriage, breathlessly hoping that you’ll say “Yes!” If you haven’t experienced that – well, it feels pretty darn good, is all I can say! If you’re the one doing the asking, though, you’ve probably had weeks of insomnia agonizing over the perfect time, location and words to use.

How much more care should be taken if your love is from a different culture to yours? Well, by now you know her so well, that most of it should be easy to figure out. As long as you’ve considered her personal commitment to tradition, all you really need is a few words from the heart. Are you brave enough to say them in Filipino?

3. Talking About Age

Part of the wonder of learning a new language is having the ability to strike up simple conversations with strangers. Asking about age in this context feels natural, as your intention is to practice friendly phrases – just be mindful of their point of view!

When I was 22, I loved being asked my age. Nowadays, if someone asks, I say, “Well, I’ve just started my fifth cat life.” Let them ponder that for a while.

In Philippines, it’s generally not desirable to ask an older woman her age for no good reason, but chatting about age with your peers is perfectly normal. Besides, you have to mention your birthday if you want to be thrown a birthday party!

4. Conclusion

Well, there you have it! With so many great new Filipino phrases to wish people with, can you think of someone who has a big event coming up? If you want to get even more creative, FilipinoPod101 has much to inspire you with – come and check it out! Here’s just some of what we have on offer at FilipinoPod101:

• Free Resources: Sharing is caring, and for this reason, we share many free resources with our students. For instance, start learning Filipino with our basic online course by creating a lifetime account – for free! Also get free daily and iTunes lessons, free eBooks, free mobile apps, and free access to our blog and online community. Or how about free Vocabulary Lists? The Filipino dictionary is for exclusive use by our students, also for free. There’s so much to love about FilipinoPod101…!
• Innovative Learning Tools and Apps: We make it our priority to offer you the best learning tools! These include apps for iPhone, iPad, Android and Mac OSX; eBooks for Kindle, Nook, and iPad; audiobooks; Roku TV and so many more. This means that we took diverse lifestyles into account when we developed our courses, so you can learn anywhere, anytime on a device of your choice. How innovative!
• Live Hosts and One-on-One Learning: Knowledgeable, energetic hosts present recorded video lessons, and are available for live teaching experiences if you upgrade. This means that in the videos, you get to watch them pronounce those tongue-twisters, as if you’re learning live! Add octane to your learning by upgrading to Premium Plus, and learn two times faster. You can have your very own Filipino teacher always with you, ensuring that you learn what you need, when you need to – what a wonderful opportunity to master a new language in record time!
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Learning a new language can only enrich your life, and could even open doors towards great opportunities! So don’t wonder if you’ll regret enrolling in FilipinoPod101. It’s the most fun, easy way to learn Filipino.

The internet gives birth to different trends every now and then. Among them are internet slang words. Expressions like “ASL please,” “CTC?” and “BRB” used to dominate the internet chat scene, particularly during the era of mIRC and Yahoo! Messenger. Now that we have FB Messenger, Twitter, Viber, and WhatsApp, the list has been expanding and will probably continue to do so.

When sending Filipino text messages or chatting online, knowing the lingo is essential. There’s not a lot of internet slang words in Filipino, but the ones that do exist can be very useful to know when you’re communicating with Pinoy friends online or via text.

In the Philippines, there are Filipino slang words that have been around even before the internet. And then there are Tagalog Internet slang words, or those that were given birth through social media. In this article, we’ll focus on the latter.

But why is it so important to learn slang words used in Filipino text messages and chat rooms? Well, let’s just say you don’t want to be left clueless when chatting with friends in the Philippines, particularly with your millennial friends.

→ By the way, to learn more about Filipino slang, read our entry on how slang words can make you fluent in Filipino.

Table of Contents

1. Philippines: Text & Net Capital of the World
2. Most Common Internet/Text Slang
3. When Shopping Online
4. Online Gaming Language
5. Multi-Layered Slang Words
6. Ease the Confusion with FilipinoPod101

1. Philippines: Text & Net Capital of the World

The Filipinos are arguably among the most highly social people in the world. It’s probably the reason that you’ll find Pinoys in practically every country and region around the world. We simply love communicating, which is why it’s no surprise that the Philippines has been labeled as “The Text Capital of the World.” One can argue that it’s just because SMS is more affordable than voice calls in the Philippines, and that Pinoys are kuripot (stingy or just thrifty? It’s up to you to decide.), which is why most Pinoys prefer texting. SMS is indeed a cheaper option, but regardless, it can’t be denied that Filipinos have this deep sense of wanting to stay connected with their friends and loved ones, and one way they do that is through SMS chat.

But that’s not all. It seems that Pinoys want to up their reputation to another level, because just recently, the Digital 2019 report done by Social and Hootsuite has revealed that the Philippines is no longer simply the text capital of the world, but is also “The Net Capital of the World.” And that’s an impressive feat, considering that the country is one of the slowest on the planet in terms of internet speed. It seems to me that nothing will ever stop the Filipino people’s desire to stay connected to each other!

Now, without further ado, let’s move on to some of the most common Filipino slang words for text and the internet.

2. Most Common Internet/Text Slang

Filipinos are geniuses when it comes to inventing words and expressions. That said, the list of available Filipino internet and text slang words is so huge that we can’t make them fit in this short article. Nevertheless, we’ll do our best to provide you with the ones you’ll find most useful for everyday use.

Let’s begin!

1- Teks

We want to pay tribute to this very important word by putting it at the top of our list. Teks is the Filipinized form of the word “text,” which refers to a text message sent via Short Message Service (SMS). It’s not very common to see this word anymore, but it’s amusing to know that it’s the same length as its English spelling, “text.”

• Teks mo ako pag nakauwi ka na.
  “Send me a text message once you get home.”

→ Don’t forget to visit our entry on the most common Tagalog texting slang.

2- Wer na u?

The expression Wer na u? first became popular as a form of textspeak. It’s the code-switching of the question, “Where are you now?” using a combination of English and Tagalog. It was adopted for the internet when social media sites like Facebook became popular.

It’s often followed by Hir na me, or “I’m here already.”

You use this Filipino text slang when you’re first to arrive at a rendezvous and would like to check on the location of the person (or people) you’re meeting.

• Guys, wer na u? Hir na me.
  “Where are you, guys? I’m here already.”

3- Hir na me.

Just like the previous expression on the list, Hir na me is a form of code-switching, this time for the expression, “I’m here already.” It’s often preceded by Wer na u? although the order of the two is interchangeable. So instead of saying, Were na u? Hir na me, you can also say, Hir na me. Wer na u? In most cases, it can also stand on its own.

• Guize, hir na me. Bakit ang tagal ninyo?
  “Guys, I’m here already. What’s taking you so long?”

Wer na u, guize? Tatlong oras na akong naghihintay!
(“Where the heck are you, guys? I’ve been waiting for three hours!” )

4- Guize

Speaking of guize, it’s the fourth word on our list, and as you already know from the previous example, it’s a Filipino slang word for “guys.” It’s believed to have been given birth by Jejenese, the sociolect of the Jejemons, which is a popular hipster culture in the Philippines.

• Guize, pasyal tayo kina Rain!
  “Guys, let’s go to Rain’s place!”

5- OTW/OMW

This is not necessarily from the Philippines originally, but it’s a very popular Filipino slang. It’s shorthand for “On the way” and “On my way,” respectively.

• Guize, wait lang ha. OTW/OMW na.
  “Please wait for me, guys. I’m on my way.”

6- GBU

Filipinos are a religious people, so we usually end our messages with a little blessing to our text or chat mates. GBU is short for God Bless U, which is text speak for “God bless you.”

• Ingat. GBU.
  “Take care. GBU.”

7- OL ka ba?

Always wondering whether a friend is online or not? Asking them OL ka ba? is the best way to find out. OL is short for “online.” If someone wants to spend time chatting or texting with you, they’d readily reply with Oo, OL ako. (“Yes, I’m online.” )

8- SLR

What do you say to a friend if you’ve missed replying to their text or chat messages? Simple: SLR.

No, SLR doesn’t stand for “Single-Lens Reflex,” but rather “Sorry, late reply.” In most cases, this initialism is enough as a form of apology for not getting back right away to a friend who texted you.

• Besh, SLR. Na empty bat ako kanina.
  “Hey girl, sorry if I replied just now. My phone died earlier.”

9- Besh

Since we’re at it, let’s talk about the word besh (sometimes beshie). The expression is simply a variant of the word bes, a word Filipinos use as a shortened form for “best friend.” Keep in mind that this expression is mostly used by females and very seldomly by males.

If you’re a male, we recommend that you use the expression pare or ‘tol instead. While pare is Tagalog for “buddy” or “dude,” ‘tol is the contraction of the Tagalog word utol, which itself is short for kaputol, meaning “sibling.”

Anyway, here’s another sentence using the word besh.

• Hi, besh! Kamusta ka na? Kailan tayo kakain dun sa bagong Korean restaurant?
  “Hey, girl! How are you? When are we visiting that new Korean restaurant?”

10- Kyah

Kyah is a modern Filipino slang for kuya, which is Filipino for “big brother.” It can also be used to mean “sir,” and is used to refer to a male seller.

• Kyah, magkano po ang smartwatch?
  “How much is the smartwatch, sir?”

3. When Shopping Online

With the global phenomenon that online shopping has become, it’s not very uncommon nowadays to see people selling things on social media. Filipinos, in particular, have taken advantage of this sensation and have themselves come up with their own set of online shopping expressions.

1- HM

HM is short for “How much?” Instead of typing the entire phrase, Pinoy online shoppers simply say HM when inquiring about the price of a certain product. On social sites like Facebook, for instance, you’ll often find the comment section of a particular item for sale flooded with HM from different users.

2- PM is the key

The next time you decide to sell that old sweater you’ve been wanting to get rid of for some time now and someone messages you with HM, you respond with “PM is the key.” PM is short for “Personal Message,” and it’s used to convey the fact that you want to keep the transaction private, and don’t want to disclose the price of the item in public.

• Buyer: Hi po. HM po ang sweater?
  “Hi! How much for the sweater?”
• You: PM is the key.
  “Send me a private message for more details.”

3- LP

You’re browsing online for a pair of boots and you find just the exact pair you’ve been looking for. The price is a tad bit higher than what you can afford, though. What do you do? You click that private message button and type in LP? Of course, LP here doesn’t stand for “Long Playing,” which is another word for “album.” It stands for “lowest price,” and is an expression used for bargaining.

• Hi po. LP po ng boots?
  “Hi. What’s the lowest price you’d accept for the pair of boots?”

4- SKL/FKL

SKL is short for Share ko lang. This expression is commonly used on social media whenever you want to share something online, such as important news, an update regarding a particular hobby, or just about anything you believe people will find interesting. It’s not necessarily an online shopping term, but a lot of people use it when sharing items they’ve bought online.

• SKL bago kong halaman na binili ko kahapon.
  “Allow me to share this new plant I bought yesterday.”

FKL, on the other hand, stands for Flex ko lang. Flex is a slang term meaning “to show off.” It’s like when you want to show off your muscles by flexing them.

Pinoys usually use this Filipino internet slang by saying, Flex ko lang (insert anything you want to share here).
It works the same way as SKL.

• Flex ko lang itong bago kong Jordan shoes.
  “Allow me to ‘flex’ my new pair of Jordans.”

→ Check our entry on the top 20 words you’ll need when using the internet.

4. Online Gaming Language

The Philippine online gaming industry has constantly been on the rise in the last decade, and is forecasted to continue growing. Along with its rise is, of course, the need to invent online gaming language, which is exactly what Filipinos did.

1- Dot-Dot

Dot-dot is the Tagalog slang for DOTA, or Defense of the Ancients, a multiplayer online game that first came out in 2003 and eventually became the go-to video game of many Filipinos, young and old alike. Unless you’re a DOTA player yourself, you probably won’t encounter this word a lot—but if you are, then it’s one of those Pinoy slang words you need to familiarize yourself with.

• Dot-dot pa more! Bagsak ka tuloy sa exam!

This is a sarcastic way of telling a person that he failed his test because of spending more time playing the popular video game rather than studying.

2- Rak na itu!

This expression means “Let’s rock!” It’s a kind of battlecry, motivating oneself and one’s team members to do their best, while at the same time not forgetting to have fun. It’s also another way of saying, “This is gonna be fun!”

3- Rapsi

The term rapsi is an alternative of the word rapsa, which is the Tagalog slang word for sarap (“delicious”). It’s an expression often used after gaining anything in the game that’s significant, such as an upgrade, a kill, or a special item.

• Rapsi nitong bagong armor ko!
  “This new armor tastes good!”

4- Ge

Ge is short for sige, which means “sure” or “go ahead.” It’s something you say when you’re agreeing with someone about something. When invited to go on a quest, for instance, you say ge if you want to come.

• Gamer Friend: ‘Tol, teammates tayo.
  “Hey, man. Let’s be teammates.”
• You: Ge.
  “Sure.”

5- Kati

Kati is the Tagalog word for “itchy,” and is used to describe a challenging opponent or quest. When faced with an opponent that produces high damage, for instance, you say:

• Ang kati naman nito.
  “This guy’s tough!”

6- FTW

This is one popular internet slang word, so chances are that you’ve seen it floating around several times already. It’s an acronym for the expression, “For the win,” which was first used in the 60s American game show Hollywood Squares.

Today, online gamers use it after they’ve won a game, especially when they do it for a team. You can also use it when you’re inches away from victory. And it’s not only for gaming. You can also use it if you’re nearing the completion of a project you’ve been working hard on and wanted to share online.

7- GG

Always end a game in good spirits. Win or lose, never forget to say, “GG” after a game. It means “Good game.”

→ Do you know that playing games can help you learn faster? This post will show you the reasons why.

5. Multi-Layered Slang Words

And then there are multi-layered slang words, those Tagalog millennial words that need the likes of Sherlock Holmes to decrypt. The following Filipino millennial slang words highlight the genius of Filipino millennials when it comes to inventing new terms and expressions. Just a warning: Some of the words may be confusing at first. But you’ll eventually get the hang of it.

1- SHARKS

Sharks are basically marine animals, portrayed as fearsome creatures waiting for a swimmer to devour. But this isn’t that kind of shark. Sharks as an expression means “Let me see.” The connection isn’t clear at first, but here’s the explanation. The English word “shark” is translated as pating in Tagalog. “Let me see,” or “Can I see,” on the other hand, is patingin. Remove the last two letters and you’re left with pating, which in English is “shark.” Clever, ain’t it?

• Malamang maganda ang bagong phone mo. Sharks!
  “There’s no doubt your new phone is to die for. Let me see!”

2- SALT

We all know salt as a condiment, but when it comes to popular internet slang words in Tagalog, salt means “as in.” The explanation is pretty simple. The Tagalog word for “salt” is asin, which sounds like “as in.”

• Nakakahilo ang mga bagong millennial words ngayon. Salt!
  “This millennial talk is making me dizzy. As in!”

3- SAGS

Let’s go to Filipino tropical fruits this time. Whenever you hear someone use the expression SAGS, they’re implying that something is “forced” or “unnatural,” which in Tagalog is pilit. But what’s the connection? Well, sags is actually short for saging, which is the Tagalog word for “banana.” And what do you do with a piece of banana? Simple. You “peel it.” Get it? Peel it? Pilit? Oh well.

• Huwag naman masyadong sags ang ngiti mo.
  “You don’t need to force your smile.”

4- SCOOBS

If you’re a 90s kid, or what Pinoys would refer to as Batang 90s, then you’re definitely familiar with Scooby Doo, the talking Great Dane who helps four teenagers solve mysteries involving the supernatural (or not so supernatural, really, if you know what I mean).

Well, the expression scoobs made its way to Millennial language because of him. When a Filipino teenager says scoobs, he’s actually saying “Hell no” or “Can’t be.” Here’s how that happened. Scooby Doo is a Great Dane, right? “Dane” sounds like dein or dehin, which is a slang word for hindi, which in Tagalog means “no” or “not.”

Here’s how to use one of the most popular Filipino slang words:

• Pupunta ka ba sa U2 concert?
  “Are you going to that U2 concert?”

  Scoobs, bro! Alaws arep.
  “I can’t, man. My budget isn’t enough.”

Alaws, by the way, is slang for wala, which means “none,” while arep is slang for pera, which is the Tagalog word for “money.”

I know. Please bear with me. We have one last word to decipher.

5- GUMPS

This word sounds like goosebumps, or worse, a name for some kind of disease. But, in reality, it simply means “thank you.” How did that happen? “Gumps” came from the word “Gump,” as in Forrest Gump. Yes, that 90s film that starred Tom Hanks. And Tom Hanks is T. Hanks. And T. Hanks is…you got it…thanks!

• Ang ganda ng suot mo!
  “Your dress is beautiful!”

  Talaga? Gumps!
  “Really? Thanks!”

6. Ease the Confusion with FilipinoPod101

It’s one thing to learn a new language, and it’s another thing to learn a new language within that new language you’re trying to learn. Wow! Even I got confused with that one! But hey, with FilipinoPod101, you can ease the confusion as you study Internet slang words in Filipino.

FilipinoPod101 isn’t your ordinary language-learning system. It provides students with new lessons regularly, so that whether it’s key Filipino phrases or conversation techniques you want to know more about, you can rest assured that there’s a fresh lesson for you to learn.

So, what are you waiting for? Sign up with FilipinoPod101 and gain access to exclusive Tagalog lessons, as well as useful blog articles like this one.

And before we forget, please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts with us in the comments section! What are popular internet and text slang words in your own language?

Until next time!