edad
/ʔeˈdad/
The English word 'age' is edad in Tagalog.
edad refers to the amount of time since the birth of a being or the beginning of a thing. While edad is the direct word for 'age', in natural conversation, Filipinos typically ask for someone's age using the phrase 'Ilang taon ka na?' (How many years are you already?) rather than using the word edad itself.
Meaning: amount of time since the birth of a being or the beginning of a thing (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
edad is a loanword from the Spanish word 'edad', which means 'age'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that someone is the same age as another person, the prefix kasing- is often attached to edad to form kasing-edad.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʔeˈdad/
When do people say it?
When guessing someone's age, people might use the phrase 'Para kang binata' or 'Para kang dalaga' as a playful way to imply the person looks youthful. Conversely, 'Mukhang matanda' is used if someone looks older than their actual age.
Did you know?
- In traditional Filipino culture, the concept of age is often linked to social hierarchy, where older relatives are addressed with honorifics regardless of the specific edad.
- The word edad is a linguistic traveler that arrived in the Philippines via Spanish. It traces its roots back to the Latin word aetās, linking Tagalog directly to the ancient roots of many European languages.
- When people want to say someone looks old, they use the phrase Mukhang matanda. The word mukha means 'face', so the phrase carries the nuance of 'your face looks old'.
Examples in context
- Pareho tayo ng edad.We are both the same age.This sentence shows how to state that two people are the same age using edad.Tatoeba #10170105 by theSardonyx, translation #6390862 by CarpeLanam
- Mga kasing edad ka ni Tom.Tom is approximately the same age as you.This sentence uses edad to show that someone is approximately the same age as another.Tatoeba #11659201 by qwertzu, translation #6528081 by CK
- Kasama ng edad ang karunungan.Wisdom comes with age.This sentence uses edad in a metaphorical way to say wisdom comes with age.Tatoeba #11597389 by qwertzu, translation #4496706 by CK
- 34 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Juan and Christina are filling out forms at a clinic.
- JuanAno ang edad mo, Christina?What is your age, Christina?
- ChristinaDalawampu't dalawa na ang edad ko.My age is twenty-two.
- JuanKailangan din ba ang edad ng mga magulang?Is the age of the parents also needed?
- ChristinaOo, isulat mo rin ang edad nila.Yes, write their age too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “age” translations and entries edad, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries edad, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
