Guide · Tagalog words

Tagalog terms of endearment, and who they’re for

Filipinos almost never call the people they love by their plain first names. Partners are mahal or beh, best friends are bes, the youngest child is bunso, and the older cousin is kuya or ate forever. Here’s what each means and when to use it.

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Couples№ 25

What small thing I do on a normal day makes you feel chosen?

Anong maliit na ginagawa ko sa ordinary day ang nagpaparamdam sa'yo na pinipili kita?

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A note

Feeling chosen does not always come from big promises. Often, it comes from steady attention in ordinary moments.

Hindi laging big promises ang nagpaparamdam na pinipili ka. Madalas, galing ito sa steady na attention sa ordinary moments.

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In short

The idea

Terms of endearment in the Philippines do more than signal affection. Many also mark a relationship and a place in it: kuya and ate tell you who is older, anak who is the child, pare that you are close enough to be family. They are often used instead of names, and using the right one is a small act of respect.

The list below covers Tagalog and common Taglish terms, with a few from other Philippine languages that you’ll hear across the country and abroad.

Tips

When in doubt with a family, use what your partner uses.
Kuya and ate are polite for strangers too: the driver, the waiter, the store clerk.
Sinta and irog are lovely in a card or a toast, a little dramatic in daily speech.
Never call an elder by their bare first name; add tita, tito, lola or lolo.

Decks for this

For a partner

Tagalog terms of endearment for a partner
Term	Meaning	Notes
mahal, mahal ko	Love, my love	The classic. Also means “expensive”, a joke every couple makes. “Mahal kita”: I love you.
beh, bebe, baby, babe	Baby, babe	The everyday Taglish choice, especially for younger couples.
hon, honey	Honey	Common among married couples and parents.
sinta, irog, giliw	Beloved, darling, dear	Old-fashioned and poetic, from songs and kundiman. Sweet when used playfully.
palangga, langga	Beloved	Cebuano and Hiligaynon, used across the Visayas and Mindanao.
jowa	Partner (slang)	Not a pet name, but how friends ask about yours: “Kumusta ang jowa mo?”

For friends

bes, besh, beshie: best friend.
pare and mare: close male and female friends; originally co-godparents (compadre, comadre).
tol: bro, from utol (sibling).
lodi: idol, spelled backward; for a friend you admire (slang).
kabarkada: a member of your barkada.

For family

anak or ’nak: child; what parents call their kids at any age, and what elders call young people.
bunso: the youngest child, often a lifelong nickname.
kuya and ate: older brother and older sister; also a respectful way to address any slightly older man or woman.
iho and iha: from the Spanish hijo, hija; elders to young men and women.
neneng and totoy: little girl and little boy, affectionate.
inday and dodong: Visayan pet names for a girl and a boy.
lolo, lola, tito, tita: grandparents, uncles and aunts, also used for older family friends.

The questions

Questions for the people you have pet names for

For your mahal, your bes and your family. English and Filipino on every card.

For your mahal

6 questions

Couples questions about greetings, habits and feeling chosen.

What kind of greeting from me makes you feel most welcomed?

Anong klaseng bati mula sa akin ang pinaka-nagpaparamdam sa'yo na welcome ka?

Back of the card

The way you greet each other matters. Even a small hello can make coming back to each other feel warmer.
Mahalaga kung paano ninyo binabati ang isa't isa. Kahit simpleng hello, puwedeng gawing mas warm ang pagbalik ninyo sa isa't isa.
What small habit of mine makes you feel cared for?

Ano yung maliit kong habit na nagpaparamdam sa'yo na inaalagaan kita?

Back of the card

Care does not always have to be big. Sometimes it is a small pattern your partner has learned to count on.
Hindi kailangang grand ang care. Minsan maliit na habit lang siya na natutunan mong asahan sa akin.
What small thing I do on a normal day makes you feel chosen?

Anong maliit na ginagawa ko sa ordinary day ang nagpaparamdam sa'yo na pinipili kita?

Back of the card

Feeling chosen does not always come from big promises. Often, it comes from steady attention in ordinary moments.
Hindi laging big promises ang nagpaparamdam na pinipili ka. Madalas, galing ito sa steady na attention sa ordinary moments.
What small action helps us reconnect after a misunderstanding?

Anong maliit na action ang tumutulong sa atin mag-reconnect after a misunderstanding?

Back of the card

Reconnecting does not erase what happened. It helps both of you return to the conversation with a little more care.
Hindi binubura ng pag-reconnect ang nangyari. Tinutulungan lang kayong bumalik sa usapan nang may mas care.
What makes you feel like I am really paying attention to you?

Ano yung nagpaparamdam sa'yo na talagang nakikinig at attentive ako?

Back of the card

Attention feels like love when it feels personal. Specific examples help your partner know what to keep doing.
Mas ramdam ang love kapag personal ang attention. Kapag specific ang example, mas alam ng partner mo kung ano ang ipagpapatuloy.
What kind of touch or closeness feels comforting to you after a stressful day?

Anong klaseng closeness o touch ang comforting sa'yo after a stressful day?

Back of the card

Comfort should feel free, not expected. Naming what helps makes closeness kinder and less guessy.
Dapat free ang comfort, hindi expected. Kapag nasabi kung ano ang helpful, mas kind at hindi hulaan ang closeness.

For your bes, pare or mare

5 questions

Friendship questions for the people you text first.

What kind of message from a friend is easy for you to reply to?

Anong message mula sa friend ang madali mong sagutin?

Back of the card

You could write an example with no names or real chat details.
Puwede kang gumawa ng halimbawa na walang pangalan o detalye ng totoong chat.
What small task would you happily ask a friend to help with?

Sa anong simpleng gawain mo gustong magpatulong sa friend?

Back of the card

Would their help save time, make it more fun, or simply give you company?
Makakatipid ba ng oras ang tulong nila, mas magiging masaya, o magkakaroon ka lang ng kasama?
What goal would you like to reach and celebrate with friends?

Anong goal ang gusto mong maabot at i-celebrate kasama ang friends?

Back of the card

Pick the celebration's mood: quiet, silly, or a little of both.
Piliin ang gusto mong celebration: tahimik, makulit, o kaunti ng pareho.
After a tiring day, would you rather get a funny message, a call, or a quiet hangout?

Pagkatapos ng nakakapagod na araw, mas gusto mo ba ng funny message, tawag, o tahimik na bonding?

Back of the card

Choose the first five minutes: a little catching up, a little laughter, or no talking yet.
Piliin ang unang limang minuto: kumustahan, tawanan, o wala munang usapan.
What line do your friends often hear you say?

Anong linya ang madalas marinig ng friends mo sa'yo?

Back of the card

Imagine your usual line printed on a shirt.
Isipin na naka-print sa shirt ang madalas mong sabihin.

For anak, bunso, kuya and ate

4 questions

Family questions across the ages.

Name a small thing people close to you know you always do.

Sabihin yung small thing na alam ng close sa'yo na lagi mong ginagawa.

Back of the card

Being known often lives in tiny details. The little things people remember can feel surprisingly sweet.
Minsan nasa tiny details yung feeling na kilala ka. Sweet din kapag naaalala ng tao yung small things mo.
Tell us about a small thing you can do now that would have amazed you as a kid.

Kuwento mo yung maliit na bagay na kaya mo na ngayon na maa-amaze ka kung bata ka pa.

Back of the card

Progress can look ordinary from the outside. But younger you might know exactly how big that ordinary thing is.
Mukhang ordinaryo minsan ang progress. Pero baka alam ng batang ikaw kung gaano kalaki yung ordinaryong bagay na yan.
How do you usually show a friend that you care?

Paano mo usually pinapakita sa friend na may care ka?

Back of the card

Care has many shapes: checking in, feeding people, remembering details, giving space, or staying when it gets inconvenient.
Maraming itsura ang care: nangangamusta, nagpapakain, nakakaalala ng details, nagbibigay ng space, o nananatili kahit hassle.
What useful skill did someone patiently teach you?

Anong kasanayan ang matiyagang itinuro sa'yo ng isang tao?

Back of the card

Imagine you are teaching the skill now. What would you show a beginner first?
Isipin na ikaw naman ang nagtuturo nito. Ano ang una mong ipapakita sa baguhan?

Tagalog terms of endearment

Frequently asked questions

What are Tagalog terms of endearment?

Common ones are mahal (love), beh or baby, hon, the poetic sinta and irog for partners; bes, pare and mare for friends; and anak, bunso, kuya and ate in families.

What does mahal mean?

Mahal means “love” or “dear”, and also “expensive”. “Mahal kita” means “I love you”, and “mahal” on its own is a pet name for a partner.

What do kuya and ate mean?

Kuya means older brother and ate means older sister. Filipinos also use them politely for any man or woman a little older than they are.

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