Basic Greetings and Expressions in Tagalog

Overview

Learning basic greetings and everyday expressions is the natural starting point for any Tagalog learner at the CEFR A1 level. Tagalog greetings are warm and often reflect the communal, relationship-centered culture of the Philippines. Many common phrases incorporate the politeness particle po, which signals respect toward elders and authority figures.

Unlike English, where "Hello" works in almost any context, Tagalog greetings are often time-specific. The greeting formula Magandang [time of day] (literally "Beautiful [time of day]") is the standard, and choosing the correct time word matters. Everyday pleasantries like Salamat (Thank you) and Kumusta? (How are you?) appear in virtually every interaction.

Filipino culture places great importance on hospitality and politeness in speech. Even at the beginner level, using po in your greetings will earn you respect and appreciation from native speakers.

How It Works

Time-based greetings follow a consistent pattern:

Tagalog	English	Time
Magandang umaga	Good morning	Morning
Magandang tanghali	Good noon	Around noon
Magandang hapon	Good afternoon	Afternoon
Magandang gabi	Good evening	Evening/Night

Add po at the end for politeness: Magandang umaga po!

Common everyday expressions:

Tagalog	English
Kumusta ka?	How are you? (informal)
Kumusta po kayo?	How are you? (formal/respectful)
Mabuti naman.	I'm fine.
Salamat / Salamat po	Thank you / Thank you (polite)
Walang anuman.	You're welcome.
Oo / Hindi	Yes / No
Opo / Hindi po	Yes (respectful) / No (respectful)
Paalam na. / Paalam na po.	Goodbye. / Goodbye (polite).
Pasensiya na.	I'm sorry. / Excuse me.
Ingat ka!	Take care!

Examples in Context

Tagalog	English	Note
Magandang umaga po!	Good morning! (polite)	Standard morning greeting
Kumusta ka?	How are you?	Informal, for peers
Salamat po.	Thank you. (polite)	Adding po for respect
Paalam na po.	Goodbye. (polite)	Taking leave respectfully
Mabuti naman, ikaw?	I'm fine, and you?	Common reply to kumusta
Oo, kumain na ako.	Yes, I already ate.	Common response
Tara na!	Let's go!	Casual invitation
Tuloy po kayo.	Please come in. (polite)	Welcoming guests
Sandali lang.	Just a moment.	Asking someone to wait
Sige, paalam!	Okay, goodbye!	Casual farewell

Common Mistakes

Forgetting Po in Formal Situations

• Wrong: Magandang umaga, Lola.
• Right: Magandang umaga po, Lola.
• Why: When addressing elders (like Lola = grandmother), omitting po is considered impolite in Filipino culture.

Using the Wrong Time Greeting

• Wrong: Magandang umaga! (said at 3 PM)
• Right: Magandang hapon!
• Why: Time-based greetings must match the actual time of day, unlike a general "hello."

Overusing Kumusta

• Wrong: Greeting a stranger on the street with Kumusta ka?
• Right: Use Magandang [time] for strangers; Kumusta is for acquaintances.
• Why: Kumusta implies some familiarity. A time-based greeting is more appropriate for strangers.

Usage Notes

Filipino greetings often come with physical gestures. The mano (touching an elder's hand to your forehead) often accompanies a polite greeting. Kumusta is borrowed from Spanish (como esta) and is used among people who already know each other.

The expression Kumain ka na ba? ("Have you eaten?") is a quintessential Filipino greeting that doubles as an expression of care — it does not always require a literal answer about your meal status.

Practice Tips

• Practice the four time-based greetings until choosing the right one becomes automatic — this builds a great first impression.
• Always pair greetings with po when speaking to anyone older than you or in a position of authority; it is one of the simplest ways to sound respectful.
• Listen to how Filipinos greet each other in videos or media — notice the warmth and the frequent use of follow-up questions like Kumusta na?

Related Concepts

• Next steps: Food and Eating Expressions — food culture and the greeting "Kumain ka na ba?" are deeply connected to everyday Tagalog expressions