Tagalog idioms and sayings
35 idioms · tap 🔊 to hear them
Literally: Leave it to Bathala (God)
Means: Come what may; whatever happens, happens.
“Hindi ako handa sa exam, pero bahala na.”
A2
Literally: Onion-skinned
Means: Overly sensitive; easily hurt.
“Huwag kang balat-sibuyas, biro lang iyon.”
B1
Literally: Cogon-grass fire
Means: Enthusiasm that starts strong but quickly fizzles out.
“Ningas-kugon siya sa pag-eehersisyo.”
B2
Literally: Shallow tears
Means: Cries easily.
“Mababaw ang luha niya sa mga pelikula.”
B1
Literally: Hard-headed
Means: Stubborn; doesn't listen.
“Matigas ang ulo ng anak ko.”
A2
Literally: Thick-faced
Means: Shameless; brazen.
“Makapal ang mukha niyang humingi ulit ng pera.”
B1
Literally: Long-tailed
Means: Spoiled; does whatever they want.
“Mahaba ang buntot ng bunso nila.”
B2
Literally: Carve it in stone
Means: Mark my words; I promise it will happen.
“Babalik ako, itaga mo sa bato.”
B1
Literally: Hole in the pocket
Means: Broke; has no money.
“Butas ang bulsa ko ngayong linggo.”
A2
Literally: Counting lamp posts
Means: Unemployed; has no job.
“Tatlong buwan na siyang nagbibilang ng poste.”
B2
Literally: Blood is boiling
Means: Very angry.
“Kumukulo ang dugo ko sa trapik.”
B1
Literally: Half of the heart
Means: Spouse; one's other half.
“Siya ang kabiyak ng puso ko.”
B1
Literally: Pillar of the home
Means: Father.
“Ang tatay ang haligi ng tahanan.”
B1
Literally: Child of sweat
Means: A labourer; the working class.
“Ipinagmamalaki niyang anak-pawis siya.”
B2
Literally: When the crow turns white
Means: Never.
“Magbabayad siya ng utang pagputi ng uwak.”
B2
Literally: Can't break a plate
Means: Prim, proper and gentle-mannered.
“Mukha siyang di-makabasag-pinggan.”
C1
Literally: A guard who raids
Means: Someone trusted who betrays that trust.
“Bantay-salakay pala ang guwardiya.”
C1
Literally: May you have an angel's tongue
Means: I hope what you said comes true.
“Papasa ka raw? Magdilang-anghel ka sana!”
B2
Literally: The head got bigger
Means: Became arrogant or conceited.
“Lumaki ang ulo niya nang sumikat siya.”
B1
Literally: A wet chick
Means: Pitiful and helpless.
“Para siyang basang sisiw pagkatapos ng ulan.”
B2
Literally: Frying-pan ears
Means: Pretending not to hear.
“Nagtataingang-kawali siya kapag inuutusan.”
C1
Literally: Branching tongue
Means: A liar; someone who keeps changing their story.
“Huwag kang maniwala, sanga-sanga ang dila niya.”
C1
Literally: Where there's patience, there's stew
Means: Hard work and patience pay off.
“Mag-aral ka nang mabuti – kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga.”
B1
Literally: One who doesn't look back at where they came from won't reach where they're going
Means: Never forget your roots.
“Tumulong siya sa kanyang probinsya – hindi niya nakalimutan ang pinanggalingan.”
C1
Literally: Mercy is with God, work is with man
Means: God helps those who help themselves.
“Magdasal ka, pero magtrabaho rin – nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.”
B2
Literally: What use is grass if the horse is already dead?
Means: Help that comes too late is useless.
“Dumating ang tulong pagkatapos ng lahat – aanhin pa ang damo…”
C1
Literally: If you tuck something away, you'll have something to take out
Means: Save for a rainy day.
“Mag-ipon ka – pag may isinuksok, may madudukot.”
B2
Literally: The prepared beats the hardworking
Means: Being early and prepared beats hard work alone.
“Mag-book na tayo ngayon – daig ng maagap ang masipag.”
B2
Literally: As the tree, so the fruit
Means: Children take after their parents.
“Magaling magluto ang anak niya – kung ano ang puno, siya ang bunga.”
B2
Literally: Spend all the blessings today, stare blankly tomorrow
Means: Don't waste everything now; think of tomorrow.
“Huwag mong gastusin lahat – ubos-ubos biyaya, bukas nakatunganga.”
C1
Literally: A person in a tight spot clings to a blade
Means: Desperate people take desperate measures.
“Nagnakaw siya dahil sa gutom – ang taong nagigipit, sa patalim kumakapit.”
C1
Literally: The feet are now level
Means: Dead (said euphemistically).
“Hindi ako titigil hangga't hindi pantay ang mga paa ko.”
C1
Literally: A tomato turning unripe again
Means: An older person acting or dressing much younger.
“Nagmumurang kamatis si Tito sa bago niyang damit.”
C1
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